Werenski scores in OT as Blue Jackets rally to beat Utah 3-2

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Zach Werenski scored on a breakaway 1:01 into overtime and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Utah Hockey Club 3-2 on Friday night.

Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson scored in the third period to rally Columbus from a two-goal deficit. Danil Tarasov stopped 34 shots.

Nick Schmaltz and Alexander Kerfoot scored for Utah and Clayton Keller assisted on both goals. Karel Vejmelka finished with 20 saves as Utah lost its second straight in overtime and fourth in a row overall.

In the extra period, Cole Sillinger swiped the puck from Barrett Hayton and passed to Werenski, who snapped the puck past Vejmelka’s outstretched stick.

Schmaltz tapped in the puck at the tail end of a power play, putting Utah on the board 41 seconds into the second period. Utah extended its lead to 2-0 when Kerfoot scored on a long-distance wrist shot 29 seconds into the third.

Werenski scores in OT as Blue Jackets rally to beat Utah 3-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40) saves the puck against Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller, center, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Marchenko got Columbus withing one at 6:25 after snapping in the puck from close range. Johnson tied it with 8:18 left.

Takeaways

Blue Jackets: Columbus has now scored two or more goals in four straight road games.

Utah: Schmaltz has found the scoresheet in 10 of his last 11 games with five goals and seven assists in that stretch.

Key moment

Werenski scores in OT as Blue Jackets rally to beat Utah 3-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Utah Hockey Club center Nick Bjugstad (17) looks to shoot the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Marchenko’s 21st goal of the season breathed new life into Columbus after offensive struggles limited the Blue Jackets to 15 shots on goal through the first two periods.

Key stat

Utah is a league-leading 66 for -74 on penalty kills over its last 28 games.

Up Next

Blue Jackets play at Dallas on Sunday, and Utah hosts St. Louis.

Werenski scores in OT as Blue Jackets rally to beat Utah 3-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Utah Hockey Club center Nick Schmaltz (8) and center Barrett Hayton (27) go after the puck against Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Mikael Pyyhtia (82) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
Werenski scores in OT as Blue Jackets rally to beat Utah 3-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller (9) moves the puck on the ice against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
Werenski scores in OT as Blue Jackets rally to beat Utah 3-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller (9) goes after the puck against Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40) and defenseman Dante Fabbro, second from right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
Werenski scores in OT as Blue Jackets rally to beat Utah 3-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Utah Hockey Club center Nick Schmaltz skates with the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
Werenski scores in OT as Blue Jackets rally to beat Utah 3-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) skates with the puck against Utah Hockey Club center Alexander Kerfoot (15) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
Werenski scores in OT as Blue Jackets rally to beat Utah 3-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Columbus Blue Jackets players celebrate after a goal by right wing Justin Danforth (obscured) against the Utah Hockey Club in overtime of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
Werenski scores in OT as Blue Jackets rally to beat Utah 3-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) skates with the puck against Utah Hockey Club defenseman Olli Maatta (2) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
Werenski scores in OT as Blue Jackets rally to beat Utah 3-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Utah Hockey Club defenseman Michael Kesselring (7) skates with the puck against Columbus Blue Jackets center Kent Johnson (91) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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