Fantilli Overtime Winner: Blue Jackets Beat Golden Knights 2-1

Adam Fantilli ended it fast in Columbus.

The Blue Jackets center scored a power-play goal 59 seconds into overtime Saturday night, and Columbus beat the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 at Nationwide Arena. Fantilli set up at the bottom of the right circle and fired a one-timer from a sharp angle off a pass from Charlie Coyle.

Watch Fantilli’s winner:

Fantilli was asked about the shot after the game and explained how he got it off.

“You never know how far down you’re going to have to sink for one of those one-timers,” Fantilli said. “Just working on the angles, and Charlie made a great pass.”

The goal mattered for another reason. It was Columbus’ first power-play goal in 23 chances since the Oct. 1 season opener against Buffalo, when the Blue Jackets went 2-for-3. Coach Rick Bowness said the first power play looked good and the second did not, so he was glad to see the third one win it.

Denton Mateychuk opened the scoring at 11:51 of the first period with a backhand over Carter Hart, and Kent Johnson picked up two assists. Tomas Hertl tied it for Vegas at 17:13 of the first when he cleaned up a rebound in front.

Cam Talbot made 26 saves, 13 of them in the third period. The 39-year-old backs up Jet Greaves, and he said he was glad Bowness gave him the start to finish the homestand.

Columbus moves to 4-5-0 after losing four of its last five. Fantilli, who signed his extension last month after a long holdout, has now delivered the kind of moment Columbus fans were waiting on. We also covered what he said about why keeping Kirill Marchenko would have been a nightmare for opponents.

Vegas has now lost three straight and fell to 8-4-1. Mitch Marner missed his second game in a row to be with his wife for the birth of their second child, and the Golden Knights had given up six goals in each of their previous two losses.