Roslovic lifts Columbus Blue Jackets to OT win, Fantilli scores first NHL goal

ST. PAUL, Minn. ― The Blue Jackets dominated puck possession in an exhilarating game, creating a night that young player Adam Fantilli will always remember. Fantilli, who was selected third overall in the NHL draft, scored his first career goal, earning a shaving cream “pie” celebration after Jack Roslovic’s overtime winner led the Blue Jackets to a thrilling 5-4 victory at Xcel Energy Center.

 

The Blue Jackets completed a challenging back-to-back sweep, with a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames at Nationwide Arena the previous night. “It’s a gutsy win,” commended Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent. “We played exceptionally well and truly deserved the victory. Our mindset was perfect, striving for excellence through hard work and intelligence, which we showcased tonight.”

 

Columbus outshot the Minnesota Wild 54-28, intensifying their dominance from the start of the second period until Roslovic’s overtime goal. They could have won by a larger margin if not for the exceptional performance by Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson, who made an outstanding 49 saves to keep his team in the game.

 

Elvis Merzlikins secured the goaltending win for the Blue Jackets with 24 saves. Justin Danforth, Kent Johnson, Boone Jenner, and Adam Fantilli scored the regulation goals for Columbus, with Fantilli’s power-play goal providing a 4-3 lead with only 5:19 remaining in the third period. Marcus Johansson quickly responded with a goal to tie the game at 4-4, forcing overtime where Roslovic ultimately secured the win with his wrist shot.

 

Fantilli expressed his joy, stating, “It feels great to score my first NHL goal. But I’m also proud of the effort I put in away from the puck. It was only a matter of time before the goal came, and I’m thrilled that we came out victorious tonight.”

 

The turning point of the game occurred when Mats Zuccarello scored a power-play goal for the Wild, seemingly giving them a 4-3 lead with eight minutes left in the third period. However, the Blue Jackets successfully challenged the goal after discovering an offside violation. The score was reversed to 3-3, and Columbus managed to kill the remainder of the penalty before scoring their own power-play goal, securing a 4-3 lead through Fantilli’s efforts.

 

Roslovic’s winning goal in overtime was the result of his exceptional individual performance in back-to-back games. After seven shots on goal, he finally found the back of the net with a wrist shot from between the circles.

 

The Columbus Dispatch recognized the following players as the three stars of the game: Jack Roslovic, Adam Fantilli, and Boone Jenner. Roslovic’s overtime winner earned him the first star, while Fantilli’s milestone goal secured him the second star. Jenner, who scored a crucial tying goal, received the third star.

 

Several notable events unfolded during the game. The Blue Jackets’ shot total of 54 tied for the fourth-highest in franchise history. Additionally, the team benefited from three overturned goals in the first five games, including two in one period during a previous victory against the New York Rangers. Unfortunately, Patrik Laine missed the game due to an upper-body injury caused by an elbow to the head from Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson. Andersson received a four-game suspension from the NHL’s department of player safety. Furthermore, the Blue Jackets lost Liam Foudy to NHL waivers as the Nashville Predators claimed him. Foudy, the 18th overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft, finished his Blue Jackets career with 19 points in 90 games.

 

Lastly, the Columbus Blue Jackets’ lineup for the game against the Minnesota Wild was as follows:

 

Forwards:

Defensemen:

Goalies:

Scratched: