SJS 3, CBJ 2: Blue Jackets’ 12-Game Home Point Streak Ends in Heartbreaker

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CBJ GOALS:  Denton Mateychuk (1st, 0:31) Cole Sillinger (2nd, 12:09)

Igor Chernyshov's third-period goal with 1:25 remaining broke a 2-2 tie as the San Jose Sharks came away with two points and the 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night at Nationwide Arena. 

Alex Nedeljkovic made 22 saves to improve to 7-1-3 against the Jackets in his career. Chernyshov had two goals, and Macklin Celebrini scored early in the third period to tie the game at two apiece.

Denton Mateychuk and Cole Sillinger scored for Columbus. Elvis Merzlikins made 33 saves.

The Blue Jackets got off on the right foot with Mateychuk's goal, his 12th of the season, 31 seconds into the game. However, Chernyshov scored at 17:17 to knot things up 1-1 through 20 minutes.

Columbus reclaimed the lead with Sillinger's second in the last five games to take a 2-1 lead into the third period before Celebrini's game-tying goal 57 seconds into the frame.

Chernyshov's game-winner for the Sharks ended a six-game losing streak and ended the Jackets' 12-game home point streak, putting a dagger into the Jackets' playoff chances as they cling to the second Eastern Conference wild card spot. Sunday's opponent, the Boston Bruins, occupy the first wild card spot in the East and lead the Jackets by three points.

The Detroit Red Wings, who are one point behind the Blue Jackets, play the Philadelphia Flyers later tonight and could take over the second wild card spot, leaving Columbus on the outside looking in after bumping up to second place in the Metropolitan Division earlier in the week.

"We didn't have our legs," Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness said. "Simple as that. We just didn't have our legs.

"These guys have to learn, when you don't have your legs, you try to simplify the game a little bit. Even though we didn't have our legs, we tried making plays that just weren't there."

Dmitri Voronkov and Kent Johnson returned to the lineup after both missed Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens as healthy scratches. Danton Heinen and Miles Wood sat out against the Sharks. It was Voronkov's first game since Mar. 12, having sat out seven straight games and 10 of the last 11 coming in. He left in the third period due to an upper-body injury and did not return. Bowness said he will not play on Sunday and will be reevaluated on Monday. Damon Severson is out week-to-week (upper body). Jake Christiansen played in his first game since Mar. 12.

Here's how the Blue Jackets fell to 1-3-0 in their last four games:

1st Period:

(0:31 — CBJ Goal): Mateychuk's tally to get the Blue Jackets going continued a trend by a defenseman on the club as they scored its franchise best 55th goal. Adam Fantilli is up to a career best 33 assists on the season, and his 54th point matches last season's career high.

Mateychuk from Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko. pic.twitter.com/OX5ResFf7q #CBJ

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 28, 2026

That's the fastest goal to start a game this season for #CBJ. Mateychuk's 12th of the season, tying him for 11th among NHL defensemen.

55 goals by D this year for CBJ, a franchise record and NHL best.

— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) March 28, 2026

(17:17 — SJS Goal): As the Blue Jackets tried to move the puck up ice out of their zone, Chernyshov retrieved the puck, had a give-and-go with Will Smith, and buried his fourth. Smith picked up assist No. 27. The goal is Chernyshov's first since Dec. 31, when he rode a three-game goal streak between Dec. 27-31.

Cherny ties it up! #TheFutureIsTeal pic.twitter.com/y7aN03f2k2

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) March 28, 2026

2nd Period:

(12:09 — CBJ Goal): The second-period tally by Sillinger (8) matched his career high in points (33) set last year. Ivan Provorov has 20 assists on the season after picking off a clearing attempt.

Cole Sillinger
2-1 #CBJ pic.twitter.com/AapZrFVbb3

— JD Young (@MyFryHole) March 28, 2026

3rd Period:

(0:57 — SJS Goal): Celebrini's 36th goal tied the game for San Jose.

The goal is Celebrini's sixth on the power play. Dmitry Orlov (27) and Alexander Wennberg (32) assisted on the goal, coming right off the face-off to Merzlikins' right.

Macklin Celebrini ties it up on the power play!
2-2 #TheFutureIsTeal pic.twitter.com/BVKHGpcsIo

— JD Young (@MyFryHole) March 28, 2026

(18:35 — SJS Goal): Chernyshov only had three goals coming into his 19th career game, and Saturday's game goes down as the biggest of his career. His second-career game-winning goal and first career multi-goal game were enough to jolt the Sharks and disrupt the Jackets in their bid for the playoffs.

CHERNYSHOV WITH THE LATE GO-AHEAD
pic.twitter.com/UyHkhtVWMq

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) March 28, 2026

The second-year pro, Celebrini, played 70 games total last season. Through 71 games this year, he has upped his point total by 35 and, with 98 points, the 19-year-old is about to become just the sixth teenager ever to record a 100-point season.

Stat Chat:

• Despite falling twice to the Sharks this season, the Jackets entered Saturday's contest with some mojo against the Sharks overall. Coming in, Columbus had points in seven of the last seven games against the Sharks (5-1-1) and 10 of the past 14 (9-4-1).
   
• Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness (71 years old) is the oldest coach in the NHL, as he went up against Ryan Warsofsky (38 years old), the youngest coach in the league.
   
• The Sharks' 34th shot on goal midway through the third period (36 total) is the most allowed by the Blue Jackets under Bowness this season.

Up Next:

The Blue Jackets are right back at it less than 24 hours later from Nationwide as they host the Boston Bruins, who currently hold down the first spot in the Eastern Conference wild card race. Puck-drop is set for 5:00 p.m.