COLUMBUS, Ohio — In an exciting matchup on Saturday night, Kirill Marchenko scored a pivotal goal with just 1:16 remaining in overtime, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a thrilling 3-2 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings.
The Blue Jackets saw contributions from Zack Werenski and Dante Fabbro, while goaltender Elvis Merzlikins showcased his skills by stopping 31 shots, marking the team’s fifth consecutive win on home ice. This victory positions Columbus in the thick of the playoff race, maintaining their wild-card status in the Eastern Conference and placing them fourth in the Metropolitan Division.
For the Kings, Phillip Danault and Quinton Byfield each found the back of the net, and Darcy Kuemper turned aside 21 shots. This loss places Los Angeles in third position within the Pacific Division.
Key takeaways from the game highlight Los Angeles’ struggle as they embark on a challenging five-game road trip. Despite successfully coming back from two one-goal deficits and leveling the score late in the third period, the Kings were unable to finish the game strong, even with a shot advantage of 33-24.
Conversely, Columbus continued to assert their dominance at Nationwide Arena, collecting their 17th home victory this season. This game also represents a lone contest amidst a demanding nine-game stretch, which consists of eight matches away from home.
A pivotal moment occurred when the Kings managed to equalize the score with just 1:05 left in regular time. Following Werenski’s missed penalty shot during overtime, Marchenko clinched the win with a powerful wrist shot during the extra period.
An interesting statistical highlight of the night involves Werenski, whose first-period goal extended his home point streak to an impressive 19 games. This achievement ties him with John Van Boxmeer for the fifth-longest streak among defensemen in NHL history. The all-time record is held by Bobby Orr, who recorded points in 25 straight home games during the 1974-75 season.
Looking ahead, both teams will hit the road, with the Kings set to face Detroit on Monday, while the Blue Jackets will take on Las Vegas on Thursday.
