The Columbus Blue Jackets made history by hosting their first outdoor NHL game at Ohio Stadium, drawing a massive crowd of 94,751 fans. In a thrilling contest against the Detroit Red Wings, the Blue Jackets emerged victorious with a score of 5-3. Justin Danforth's game-winning goal, alongside 44 saves from Elvis Merzlikins, highlighted the matchup.

Despite being outshot 46 to 21, Columbus showcased resilience, capitalizing on key opportunities. Boone Jenner’s feed to Denton Mateychuk opened the scoring early, and after a brief tie, Columbus rallied back with goals from Dmitri Voronkov and Danforth. The Red Wings, led by Alex DeBrincat, made a late push to tie the game, but Merzlikins and the Blue Jackets held firm, securing a critical win in the playoff race.

Mason Marchment made a triumphant return to the Dallas Stars lineup after a lengthy absence due to a facial injury, which sidelined him for 17 games. The forward initially got hurt on December 27 against the Minnesota Wild after being struck by a puck. Following surgery, he resumed skating with the team late last month.

In his comeback game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Marchment wasted no time making an impact, scoring a crucial goal that tied the game 1-1 late in the first period. He redirected a shot from Lian Bischel past Blue Jackets' goaltender Elvis Merzlikins.

Prior to his injury, Marchment had established himself as one of the Stars' key contributors, tallying 12 goals and 15 assists in 33 games this season. His return is expected to boost the Stars as they continue to push for a strong playoff position.

In a recent game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and goalie Elvis Merzlikins found themselves in a rare and amusing situation that led to mutual penalties. Matthews picked up Merzlikins' stick off the ice and used it during play, while Merzlikins had previously taken Matthews’ stick. This unusual incident sparked confusion among fans, as it seemed like a light-hearted moment rather than a rule violation. However, according to Rule 10.3 of the NHL's rules, such actions are strictly prohibited.

The NHL's rulebook contains some peculiar regulations designed to maintain the flow of the game and prevent distractions. Among these is Rule 66.1, which allows officials to forfeit a game if a team refuses to comply with official rules. Another strange rule prohibits goalies from tying their jerseys at the armpits to avoid creating an obstruction. Additionally, goaltenders may play with a broken stick but must receive a new one in a specific manner, or they risk penalties for illegal stick retrieval.

Cole Sillinger returned to the lineup after an upper-body injury to score the game-winning goal just 52 seconds into overtime, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Adam Fantilli, in his 100th NHL game, also scored for Columbus, while Elvis Merzlikins made 25 saves. Tomas Hertl netted his 20th goal of the season for Vegas, extending his point streak to 11 games. Despite a strong start from the Golden Knights, Columbus held strong defensively and secured a crucial win, maintaining their competitive edge with points in 10 of their last 12 games.

The Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers are now tied for first place in the Pacific Division with 68 points. Meanwhile, Merzlikins' victory marked his 87th career win, tying him with Joonas Korpisalo for third-most in Blue Jackets history. Columbus now prepares to face Utah, while Vegas heads to New York to take on the Rangers.

Kirill Marchenko scored a dramatic overtime goal to secure a 3-2 victory for the Columbus Blue Jackets over the Los Angeles Kings, maintaining their strong home performance with a fifth consecutive win at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets, who now sit in a wild-card position in the Eastern Conference, saw goals from Zack Werenski and Dante Fabbro, while Elvis Merzlikins made 31 saves. The Kings, despite tying the game late in the third period with goals from Phillip Danault and Quinton Byfield, could not clinch the win during their five-game road trip.

The game was thrilling, with Werenski extending his home point streak to 19 games, tying for the fifth-longest streak by a defenseman in NHL history. Marchenko's clinching shot came after a missed overtime penalty by Werenski, showcasing the intensity and competitiveness of the clash. This victory solidifies Columbus' home dominance as they prepare to face off against Las Vegas in their next game.