Sean Monahan picked a pretty fitting night to hit a milestone, but the Blue Jackets still walked out of St. Louis with the same old problem hanging over them. Columbus built a 2-0 lead, watched it disappear, then saw the Blues finish the job in a 4-3 loss.
The Jackets were back in action after five days off and opened the second half of their back-to-back with Jet Greaves in net and Jake Christiansen back in the lineup for Emil Andrae. The early pace was choppy, with both teams trading rushes and not doing much with them.
Through the first 15 minutes, there were only nine shots total. St.
Louis kept forcing turnovers and turning them into chances, but those looks rarely became real danger, and Greaves handled the ones that did.
Columbus finally broke through at 16:10 of the first when Erik Gudbranson helped set up a faceoff play in the offensive zone and Monahan buried the rebound for his 900th career game celebration.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL - Sean Monahan from Erik Gudbranson - 16:10 1st Period
The Jackets added to it late in the period. Kent Johnson came flying down the wing and snapped one past Jordan Binnington at 19:48, giving Columbus a 2-0 cushion heading into the intermission. It was Johnson’s second goal of the young season, already at 28% of his total from last year.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL - Kent Johnson from Adam Fantilli and Zach Werenski - 19:48 1st Period
The second period swung hard the other way. It started with a fight between Mattieu Olivier and Ross Johnston, and Olivier ended it early after drawing blood. From there, Columbus lost control.
Damon Severson was called for interference about four minutes in, and while the Jackets killed the penalty, St. Louis struck just 16 seconds later. Jake Neighbours buried a rebound in front, with the play helped along by an uncalled high stick on Carson Soucy.
BLUES GOAL - Jake Neighbours from Justin Barron and Dylan Holloway - 6:10 2nd Period
Jimmy Snuggerud then took over the middle of the game. First, a centering pass from Barron deflected off his skates and in past Greaves.
Bowness considered challenging for a distinct kicking motion, then passed. A few minutes later, Snuggerud was left alone in the low left circle and ripped another one home.
BLUES GOAL - Jimmy Snuggerud from Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway - 9:02 2nd Period
BLUES GOAL - Jimmy Sunggerud (2) from Robert Thomas and Dylan Holloway - 12:32 2nd Period
Columbus barely threatened in the period, getting outshot 12-3. Even when the Jackets finally drew a penalty on Adam, David Jiricek’s more successful brother, holding Conor Garland, they wiped it out by sending two extra attackers on the delayed call.
The third period opened with the lines in full blender mode, and Columbus did at least push back. That pressure paid off at 6:51 when Charlie Coyle drove in from center ice, worked the puck to the far corner, and fed Cole Sillinger for the tying goal.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL - Cole Sillinger from Charlie Coyle and Carson Soucy - 6:51 3rd Period
Silly finds the back of the net and Soucy finds his first point as a Jacket!
CBJ x @FanaticsSports pic.twitter.com/5FIykqjJwt
- Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 11, 2026
But the tie lasted only three minutes. Jonathan Berggren finished another scramble in front at 9:33, lifting one over the outstretched Greaves.
BLUES GOAL - Jonathan Berggren from Mason McTavish and Colton Parayko - 9:33 3rd Period
From there, Columbus offered almost nothing. The Jackets managed just three shots on goal in the final 10 minutes, and when they pulled Greaves with about 2:30 left, Pavel Buchnevich iced it from the red line moments later.
The Blue Jackets are back Tuesday for the Frozen Frenzy, with a game against the Panthers set for 6:15 PM.
In Other News...
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Blue Jackets Fans Get An Early Read On Bowness' Game Plan
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The projected group reflects a team trying to work around a few absences while keeping its structure intact, and the scratches and injured reserve list only sharpen the focus on how Bowness wants this one played. For Columbus, the lineup watch matters just as much as the result against St. Louis, because the choices on the sheet can hint at where the coach sees stability and where he still needs answers. [Read more 🡒]