VGK 3, CBJ 2: McNabb’s First of Season Downs Blue Jackets, Columbus Losing Streak At Five Games

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CBJ GOALS:  Coyle (1st, 7:02) Chinakhov (3rd, 4:49)

Brayden McNabb’s first goal of the season went down as the game-winner as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Saturday night at Nationwide Arena.

Columbus has lost a season-high five straight games (0-4-1).

Pavel Dorofeyev and Ben Hutton scored for Vegas. Mitch Marner had three assists. Carter Hart made 27 saves.

Charlie Coyle and Yegor Chinakhov scored for Columbus. Jet Greaves made 22 saves.

The Blue Jackets completed a stretch of 11 straight games against the Eastern Conference with Thursday’s 6-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Now, amidst a tough December stretch with five straight against the Western Conference, all against teams in playoff positioning, the Jackets know the time is now to stack wins.

Columbus had a hard practice on Friday and a team meeting to address the recent slide and the urgency needed to turn things around. Coyle, among Friday's most vocal, led by example, scoring his fifth of the season to give Columbus an early 1-0 lead at 7:02 of the first period.

Dorofeyev and the Knights answered early in the second period on the power play to tie the game 1-1. 

Chinakhov snapped a 19-game scoreless drought in the third period to make it 2-1 Columbus.

Ben Hutton tied the score once again for Vegas at 5:52. McNabb’s first of the season at 13:13 broke a 34-game goalless drought as he knocked home the deciding goal.

"The guys did a good job boxing out," Greaves said. "They did a good job tying up sticks. That's something we've talked about a lot in the last couple days is defending well.

"The guys did a good job, and I think it's on me at the end of the day to make some timely saves for us."

"We played our asses off," head coach Dean Evason said. "It's unfortunate we didn't get rewarded. They played hard. Played right. Whatever reason, we're not catching a break here and there. Couple posts.

"We have to keep working, obviously. Doing all the right things. Continue to do that and things will go good." 

Here's how the Blue Jackets' losing streak stretched to five:

1st Period:

(7:02 — CBJ Goal): Coyle's goal (5) gave Columbus an early 1-0 lead. He has six points in the last eight games. Zach Werenski (24) and Cole Sillinger (11) had the assists.

COYLE'S NOT MESSIN' AROUND!

CBJ x @FanaticsBook pic.twitter.com/miQAeeqbbA

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) December 14, 2025

The Golden Knights' best scoring chance of the first period came on a power play in which Greaves stopped Dorofeyev's one-timer, and Ivan Provorov cleared it out from the crease.

2nd Period:

(0:41 — VGK Goal): Dorofeyev was not denied in the second period as his 13th goal of the season tied the game 1-1 on the power play. Marner (24) and Jack Eichel (29) assisted on the goal.

we'll never get tired of Score-ofeyev power-play goals pic.twitter.com/BGxYiGTaUE

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) December 14, 2025

The Golden Knights won a challenge for offside at 2:25 to nullify Provorov’s potential go-ahead goal.

3rd Period:

(4:49 — CBJ  Goal): Chinakhov’s go-ahead tally made it 2-1. Dante Fabbro (4) and Kent Johnson (5) added the assists.

Chinny breaks his 19-game streak without a goal (or point) and gives the #CBJ a brief 2-1 lead. It's now knotted, 2-2, with less than ten minutes left in regulation.pic.twitter.com/r8Dh7P9EV9

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 14, 2025

(5:52 — VGK Goal): Hutton (4) tied the score 2-2. Marner (25) and Kaedan Korczak (3) got the assists.

HUTTTYYYYYYY GOAAALLLL pic.twitter.com/ZBHVi0rBuY

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) December 14, 2025

(13:13 — VGK Goal): McNabb's first of the season was the game-winner, assisted by Marner (26) and Shea Theodore (16).

HOLY SMOKES BRAYDEN MCNABB pic.twitter.com/u8UGoqmKy6

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) December 14, 2025

The Blue Jackets had a golden opportunity to tie the game after McNabb's high-sticking double minor, which left Fantilli bloodied and headed to the bench. Fantilli returned to the ice soon after for the power play.

Stat Chat:

• Tonight's contest marked the 599th career game played by Werenski, tying Nick Foligno (599) for fourth all-time in Blue Jackets franchise history. Werenski trails Cam Atkinson (627), Rick Nash (674), and Boone Jenner (759). Werenski extended his home point streak to 10 games (five goals, 12 assists).
   
• Brendan Gaunce played in his 200th career game.
   
• The Blue Jackets fell 7-7-0-1 all-time versus the Knights and 4-3-0-1 at home against Vegas.
   
• Columbus is 9-3-4 when scoring first.
   
• The Los Angeles Kings, Golden Knights (13), and Blue Jackets (12) have played the most overtime games. 

Up Next:

The Blue Jackets continue their homestand on Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks at 7 p.m.