Nichushkin, Johnson Decide Shootout as Blue Jackets Edge Stars 2-1

Shootout Decider Lifts Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets secured a 2-1 victory over the visiting Dallas Stars on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The contest remained deadlocked through three regulation periods and an overtime period, ultimately falling to the home team in a shootout.

Valeri Nichushkin and Kent Johnson both found the back of the net during the sudden-death sequence to seal the win for Columbus. With a crowd of 15,020 in attendance, the game featured a tight defensive battle that required extra efforts to resolve.

Stalemate Through Regulation and Overtime

Neither team managed to score during the first two periods, leaving the scoreboard blank at the end of the second intermission. The action shifted in the third period when the Dallas Stars struck first. Mikko Rantanen scored his ninth goal of the season with a wrist shot, assisted by Wyatt Johnston, to give Dallas a 1-0 lead.

Columbus responded quickly to tie the game. Zach Werenski scored his first goal of the season with a backhand, assisted by Kent Johnson and Matthew Knies, making the score 1-1. The teams headed into overtime with the game still tied, and no further goals were recorded during the extra frame, forcing the decision to be made in the shootout.

Key Performers and Records

The shootout proved decisive, with Nichushkin scoring a backhand goal and Johnson adding a wrist shot goal to put Columbus ahead 2-0 in the penalty shots. In the scoring columns, Rantanen led the Stars with one goal and one point, while Wyatt Johnston recorded one assist. For the Blue Jackets, Werenski contributed one goal and one point, while Kent Johnson added one assist.

The result improves Columbus to a 7-7-0 record with 14 points, while the Stars drop to 9-5-2 with 20 points. The game concludes the day's action at Nationwide Arena, with both teams maintaining their respective standings in the league.

Sources

ESPN