Knies Snaps 15-Game Drought in Blue Jackets Win

Matthew Knies scored a first-period goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning, ending a 15-game goalless stretch for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Hockey

Knies Snaps 15-Game Drought in Blue Jackets Win

Matthew Knies scored a first-period goal for the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nationwide Arena, ending a 15-game goalless streak. Knies redirected a pass from Kent Johnson past Dennis Hildeby to tie the score at 1-1.

Why it matters

The goal ends a long scoring drought for a player the Blue Jackets acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Kirill Marchenko. Columbus is hoping the goal opens the offensive floodgates for Knies going forward.

Knies' goal was his third of the season and 70th of his NHL career, snapping a 15-game goalless streak. The source does not indicate whether the streak-ending goal will lead to a sustained rise in his scoring output.

The players

Matthew Knies

Matthew Knies is a forward who was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Kirill Marchenko.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets are an NHL franchise based in Columbus, Ohio, that plays its home games at Nationwide Arena.

The details

Knies redirected a pass from Kent Johnson past Dennis Hildeby during the first period at home against the Lightning. The goal tied the score at 1-1 and came after Knies had scored twice in his regular-season debut for Columbus against the Buffalo Sabres last month.

Last month (October 2026): Knies scored twice in his Blue Jackets regular-season debut against the Buffalo Sabres.
Thursday, November 12, 2026: Knies scored against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nationwide Arena.

Season Trajectory

Knies' two-goal debut against the Buffalo Sabres in October set high expectations, and his 15-game goalless stretch that followed cut sharply against that start. This goal against the Lightning returns him to the scoring column as Columbus looks for more production from its newly acquired forward.

Knies' goal ends a 15-game scoreless run, which matters for fantasy managers who had him on their rosters during the slump. The Blue Jackets' offense now has one more reliable scorer to build lines around as the season continues.

The takeaway

Knies' goal shows that a streak of cold scoring can end quickly, so fans and fantasy managers should watch whether he keeps producing in the games ahead rather than judging him on the slump alone.