Cam Talbot Steals One From the Golden Knights
Denton Mateychuk scores for Columbus while Jack Eichel keeps getting denied by the veteran between the pipes.
Columbus 2, Vegas 1 — and the Blue Jackets owe this one to Cam Talbot. Vegas did more of the shooting and had the better chances, but Talbot kept closing the door.
The Golden Knights outshot Columbus 27-19. Their chances were worth 3.85 expected goals, a measure of how likely each shot was to go in. Columbus's chances were worth 2.32. Vegas should have scored three or four. It got one, from Tomas Hertl.
Talbot stopped 26 of 27. Jack Eichel fired six shots and came away with nothing. Trevor Connelly set up the lone goal.
Carter Hart was sharp at the other end, stopping 18 of 19. Denton Mateychuk scored for Columbus, with assists from Valeri Nichushkin and Kent Johnson. Sean Monahan rang a shot off the post.
The Columbus power play went 0 for 3, so the goalie had to carry the night. For a 3-5-0 club, this was a much-needed win.
