Blue Jackets stay hot, deal struggling Sharks another loss

Field Level Media|published: Thu 16th January, 21:52 2025

NHL: San Jose Sharks at Columbus Blue Jackets

Jan 16, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Kent Johnson (91) controls the puck during the first period against the San Jose Sharks at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

James van Riemsdyk scored twice, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-1 victory over the visiting San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.

Kent Johnson scored and added an assist, and Adam Fantilli scored the other goal for the Blue Jackets, who have won six straight and nine of 11.

Columbus, which wrapped a two-game homestand on Thursday, has won eight of nine on home ice.

Elvis Merzlikins made 18 saves for his third career win against the Sharks.

Tyler Toffoli responded for the Sharks, who dropped to 6-13-5 on the road this season and have won just three of their last 15 games.

Alexandar Georgiev stopped 30 shots in the loss.

The Blue Jackets outshot the Sharks 13-6 in the first period and led 2-0 after 20 minutes.

Columbus opened the scoring at 12:11 of the first period as Zach Werenski broke up a Sharks attack and fed Fantilli for his 11th of the season. Fantilli has points in a career-high seven straight games.

With the assist, Werenski has points in a franchise-record 18 straight home games (12 goals, 23 assists), tying Hall of Famer Brian Leetch for the sixth-longest home points streak by a defenseman in NHL history.

Johnson doubled Columbus' lead, snapping a shot five-hole past Georgiev for his 12th of the season at 16:17 of the opening frame.

Columbus took a 3-0 lead at 6:37 of the second period as van Riemsdyk tipped in a Damon Severson point shot past Georgiev for his seventh of the season.

Toffoli got the Sharks on the board at 7:32 of the third, putting home the rebound off Macklin Celebrini's shot for his team-leading 17th goal of the season.

Van Riemsdyk added his second of the night into an empty net with 2:01 remaining in the third. The Blue Jackets forward has four goals and four assists over his last seven games.

Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic played in his 1,300th NHL game on Thursday, becoming just the 21st blue liner in league history to reach the milestone.

Thursday was the second of two meetings between the Blue Jackets and Sharks this season. San Jose edged Columbus 2-1 in overtime on Nov. 5 in the Bay Area.

--Field Level Media

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