Another game, another gut punch for the Blue Jackets.
Despite holding two two-goal leads in the third period against the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 10 at Rogers Place, including 4-2 with six minutes left, the Jackets fell 5-4 in overtime on a breakaway goal by former Blue Jackets forward Jack Roslovic, who’s from Columbus.
Roslovic, who didn’t sign with the Oilers until Oct. 8, scooped a loose puck at his own blue line in overtime and skated it into a breakaway. He finished it with a shot that beat Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves to complete an improbable comeback victory for the Oilers (7-6-4), who’d tied it 4-4 late in regulation on goals by Connor McDavid with 5:21 remaining and defenseman Jake Walman with 58 seconds left and Edmonton short-handed while Roslovic sat in the penalty box.
Walman’s equalizer, his second goal of the game, was scored after the Blue Jackets coughed up the puck in their own end during a late power play that could’ve sealed a victory. Instead, they’re winless in their past four games (0-3-1) and lost three late in regulation: Nov. 2 at the New York Islanders, Nov. 8 at the Vancouver Canucks and now Edmonton.
McDavid also scored two goals for the Oilers, who were reeling after an embarrassing 9-1 loss Oct. 8 on home ice against the Colorado Avalanche. Stuart Skinner picked up the goaltending win for Edmonton, while Greaves took the loss for the Blue Jackets (7-7-1).
Adam Fantilli and Boone Jenner led Columbus with two on a goal and assist each. Seven other Blue Jackets recorded points, including goals by Ivan Provorov and Sean Monahan.
Trailing 3-1 to start the third, McDavid pulled the Oilers within a goal 58 seconds into it on a Spin-O-Rama shot for his first goal of the game. Pulling up sharply in the slot, he spun to his backhand and fired a shot that beat Greaves to the blocker side.
Fantilli countered 3:17 later, putting the Jackets up 4-2 with a one-timer off a backhand feed from Kirill Marchenko to cap a 2-on-1. Provorov, Monahan and Jenner scored the first three goals for Columbus, which used a neutral zone defensive structure that slowed Edmonton’s elite transition game for two-plus periods.
McDavid’s second goal of the game made it 4-3 with 6:21 remaining, scored with a turbo boost to get around Marchenko before cutting sharply to the net. That set up a chaotic finish that included Roslovic taking a high-sticking penalty with 2:18 left to give Columbus a power play.
Marchenko nearly scored on it, firing just wide of the left post, but the Oilers eventually cleared the puck and pinned the Blue Jackets into their own end.
Zach Werenski’s pass around the rim to Denton Mateychuk, his defensive partner, hopped over the intended stick and created a turnover that led to Walman’s second goal. Pouncing on the loose puck, Walman carried it toward the net before attempting a pass to Leon Draisaitl set up in the right circle.
Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier tried to break it up, reaching his stick out, but got just enough of the puck to send it into his own net over Greaves’ right shoulder. It was Jackets’ second “own goal” to lose a lead in their winless streak, following similar luck for Werenski on a late tying goal against the Islanders.
The Jackets’ latest bit of terrible luck forced OT and set the stage for Roslovic redeem himself with a breakaway goal against his hometown team, which sent him to the New York Rangers on March 8, 2024 in a deal before the NHL trade deadline.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.socialÂ