Tag: Columbus Blue Jackets

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Blue Jackets to host struggling Flyers, who are having a rough patch, after strong home performances

Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)

After breaking their recent losing streak on the road, the Columbus Blue Jackets are heading back home, where they’ve been performing well this season. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers are still searching for their first win in December.

The Blue Jackets, who are on a five-game home point streak, will look to hand the Flyers their fourth straight loss on Tuesday night.

Columbus began its recent five-game road trip with a 6-3 win over struggling Chicago, but then lost the next three games despite scoring five goals in each of those matches. However, the Blue Jackets ended the trip on a positive note, securing their fourth road win with a 4-1 victory against Winnipeg on Sunday.

Kent Johnson scored two goals in the third period, and Elvis Merzlikins made 24 saves. Columbus had given up 11 goals in their previous two games.

“I think it shows a lot of character,” said Columbus defenseman Ivan Provorov after the win. “Play the game the right way on the last game of the road trip, it shows a lot about this team … I think we’re trending in the right direction.”

At home, things have been going well for the Blue Jackets. They are 8-3-1 at home and are currently on a 4-0-1 stretch. Heading into Monday’s games, Columbus ranked second in the NHL, averaging 4.25 goals per game at home.

Defenseman Zach Werenski, who had an assist on Sunday, leads the team with 28 points and has five goals and eight assists in a six-game home point streak. Johnson has three goals and five assists, earning a point in each of the six home games he’s played this season.

Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)

Merzlikins has a 3.22 goals-against average and .891 save percentage at home, with a 6-2-1 record. Backup goalie Daniil Tarasov is 2-1-0 with a 3.05 goals-against average at home, compared to 1-4-1 with a 4.86 goals-against average on the road.

Philadelphia, after winning three straight games to close out November, is now on a 0-2-1 slide, giving up 15 goals during this stretch, including a 4-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Sunday. Flyers forward Joel Farabee, who broke a 12-game goal drought in the loss, said, “We just didn’t have that edge to us (Sunday).”

The Flyers also gave up a power-play goal for the fourth game in a row on Sunday, with their opponents converting 7 of 17 power plays during this stretch.

“I thought our back end looked tired (versus Utah),” Flyers coach John Tortorella said. “(We) have killed a lot of penalties. If there’s the wear and tear from killing penalties the way we have, it’s the back end.”

Columbus has scored on 5 of 17 power plays in their last six home games.

Philadelphia goalie Samuel Ersson, who returned from an 11-game injury absence, made 21 saves in Sunday’s loss. It’s unclear if he will start again on Tuesday.

Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov, who turned 20 on Monday, is on a four-game point streak with three goals and five assists. He’s scored seven of his 11 goals this season on the road.

Philadelphia’s six-game point streak against the Blue Jackets ended with a 6-2 loss in Columbus on April 6, in their most recent meeting. Werenski scored two goals and added an assist in that game.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Strong third period lifts Blue Jackets over Jets

Columbus Blue Jackets and Winnipeg Jets

Kent Johnson scored two goals in the third period to help the Columbus Blue Jackets break a three-game losing streak and finish their five-game road trip with a 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.

Johnson scored both of his goals less than 2 1/2 minutes apart, marking his second two-goal game of the season. His first goal came when Sean Monahan passed the puck to him near the net, giving Columbus a 2-1 lead with 12:45 left in the game.

Johnson added another goal with 10:18 remaining, finishing a two-on-one rush with a pass from James van Riemsdyk. Van Riemsdyk also had another assist during the game.

Johnson’s goals came after a strong defensive effort from Columbus against one of the top teams in the league. The Jets, who had 44 shots in their previous meeting with the Blue Jackets, only managed 25 shots on Sunday.

The Jets’ only goal came from Kyle Connor, who scored his team-leading 15th goal on a power play with 8:09 left in the second period. Josh Morrissey got his 24th assist on the play.

St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets

Columbus has allowed a power-play goal in 13 straight games, but the Jets’ lead didn’t last long. Brad Lambert was penalized for high-sticking Ivan Provorov with 6:58 left in the second period. Just 51 seconds later, Dmitri Voronkov tied the game with his seventh goal of the season.

Elvis Merzlikins made 24 saves to earn the win. Eric Comrie of Winnipeg stopped 24 shots but took his fourth straight loss in goal.

Sean Kuraly scored an unassisted empty-net goal with 1:22 left to seal the victory for Columbus and end Winnipeg’s two-game winning streak.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Blue Jackets take on tough test in matchup with 20-win Jets

Winnipeg Jets (NHL)

The Columbus Blue Jackets are hoping to finish their five-game road trip on a positive note when they face the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, but it will be a tough challenge.

The Jets made history by becoming the first NHL team to reach 20 wins this season, with a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. Goals from Gabriel Vilardi, Nino Niederreiter, Mark Scheifele, and Mason Appleton, who also assisted on Niederreiter’s goal, secured the win. Kyle Connor contributed two assists, bringing his season total to a team-high 32 points.

Winnipeg, tied with the Washington Capitals and Minnesota Wild for the most points in the league with 40, has won two games in a row. They ended a four-game losing streak (0-3-1) with a 3-2 overtime win against Buffalo on Thursday. In both games against Buffalo and Chicago, the Jets came from behind after being down 2-1 in the first period.

Scheifele, who scored the game-winning goal in the third period on Saturday, said the team’s hard work and good positioning made them successful. “We all can get a loose puck, we all can make a pass, and we all can shoot,” he said. “So, when our spacing is correct, we’re a tough team to play against.”

This weekend marks the Jets’ first set of back-to-back games this season. Connor Hellebuyck, last season’s Vezina Trophy winner as the top goaltender, started in goal on Saturday and made just 12 saves—six after the first period—to earn his 17th win of the season, leading the league.

San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)

After winning the first game of their road trip last Sunday 6-3 against Chicago, the Blue Jackets have lost the last three games, each by three goals.

In their most recent game on Friday at Vancouver, the Blue Jackets took a 2-0 lead in the first period, but the Canucks tied it up in the second and pulled away for a 5-2 win. The tying goal came after a mistake by Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, who mishandled the puck in the defensive zone, allowing Vancouver’s Teddy Blueger to pass it to Kiefer Sherwood, who scored into the empty net.

Columbus coach Dean Evason was frustrated after the game, saying the first period was the best the team has played all season. “You have a start like that, and you have the momentum going our way; you have to almost play a boring hockey game at that point and not allow anything to happen,” Evason said. “We didn’t, and obviously, (the Canucks) gained momentum.”

The Blue Jackets also allowed another power-play goal in Friday’s loss, marking 12 straight games in which they have given up at least one. During this stretch, Columbus has allowed 17 goals on 44 power-play opportunities. On the other hand, the Blue Jackets’ own power play has struggled, scoring only 4 goals on 30 chances in the same period.

This could be a problem for Columbus, as Winnipeg has the third-best power play in the league, converting 29.3 percent of their opportunities.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Pius Suter scores two goals, leads Canucks comeback win over Jackets

Vancouver Canucks and Columbus Blue Jackets

Pius Suter scored twice in the third period, and Brock Boeser had a goal and an assist as the Vancouver Canucks came back from a two-goal deficit to win 5-2 against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.

Kiefer Sherwood and Jake DeBrusk also scored for the Canucks, who are on a 5-1-1 streak. Vancouver goalie Kevin Lankinen made 30 saves, and Quinn Hughes picked up two assists.

Mathieu Olivier and Damon Severson scored for the Blue Jackets, who have lost three straight games. Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins stopped 12 shots.

With the game tied at 2-2, Suter gave the Canucks their first lead of the game at 2:17 of the third period when he scored from the slot.

DeBrusk, continuing his strong play, scored a power-play goal midway through the third period, deflecting a shot from the point for his 12th goal of the season and his sixth goal in the last four games.

Suter completed the scoring with an empty-net goal at 18:55, his 11th of the season.

Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks

The Blue Jackets took a 2-0 lead after a strong first period. Olivier opened the scoring at 7:10 with his eighth goal of the season, and Severson increased the lead with 7:42 left in the period, scoring his sixth goal of the year.

The Canucks were outshot 17-2 in the first period but turned the game around in the second period.

Boeser got Vancouver on the board at 3:52 of the second period with a one-timer from just outside the right faceoff circle for his seventh goal of the season.

Sherwood tied the game at 2-2 with one minute left in the second period, taking advantage of a mistake by Merzlikins, who misfired on a clearing attempt, leading to Sherwood’s seventh goal of the season and setting up the comeback.

Canucks’ starting goalie Thatcher Demko, who has been out since last season with a knee injury, returned to the team on Friday as a backup.

Columbus defenseman Ivan Provorov left the game early in the second period after being tripped by Elias Pettersson and crashing into the boards.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Oilers dominate Blue Jackets with four-goal explosion in the second period

Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets

Zach Hyman had a strong return to the ice, scoring two goals to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a 6-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.

Hyman had missed the Oilers’ last five games because of an injury. Before that, he was struggling, with only three goals in the first 20 games, despite scoring 54 goals last season.

Along with Hyman, other key players for the Oilers contributed to the win. Leon Draisaitl scored twice, tying Florida’s Sam Reinhart for the most goals in the league with 19, while Connor McDavid had a season-high four assists. Jeff Skinner had a goal and an assist, and Evan Bouchard, Adam Henrique, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each assisted on two goals.

Kevin Labanc gave Columbus an early lead, scoring just 2:31 into the game. Hyman’s first goal tied the game midway through the period.

Edmonton took control in the second period, scoring four goals. Draisaitl put the Oilers ahead with 17:38 remaining, assisted by Bouchard and McDavid. A failed Blue Jackets challenge led to a delay-of-game penalty, which Mattias Ekholm took advantage of with a power-play goal, making it 2-1.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Islanders (NHL)

Columbus has allowed a power-play goal in 11 consecutive games.

Hyman made it 4-1 less than three minutes later, with assists from McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins.

Damon Severson and Cole Sillinger scored for Columbus.

Edmonton, which went 2-for-5 on the power play, took 37 shots, while Columbus had just 22.

Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard made 19 saves, and Columbus’ Daniil Tarasov, playing for the first time since November 16, stopped 31 shots.

McDavid now has 49 regular season games with three or more assists and holds the record for most four-assist games among active players.

Additionally, McDavid became just the fourth player in NHL history to record 120 assists in a calendar year, including the postseason. Wayne Gretzky did this 11 times, and Adam Oates and Mario Lemieux did it once each.

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The Flames blanked the Blue Jackets in a game dedicated to remembering Johnny Gaudreau

Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets

Dan Vladar recorded his second shutout of the season, leading the Calgary Flames to a 3-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, ending a four-game losing streak.

The game had special meaning as the Flames honored the late Johnny Gaudreau, who spent nine years with the team before moving to Columbus in 2023. Gaudreau and his brother Matthew tragically passed away on August 29 in a bike accident.

Vladar wore a custom mask featuring images of both brothers and made 16 saves to secure his fourth career shutout. Rasmus Andersson, Kevin Bahl, and Yegor Sharangovich scored the goals for Calgary, with Mikael Backlund adding two assists.

Elvis Merzlikins stopped 19 shots for the Blue Jackets, who lost in regulation for the first time in seven games (5-1-1).

Andersson opened the scoring with a power-play goal midway through the second period, assisted by Backlund. This goal was particularly emotional for Andersson, who was close friends with Gaudreau. He said, “That was the most emotional goal I’ve ever scored.” The Flames have now scored on the power play in seven of their last eight games.

Columbus Blue Jackets and Boston Bruins

Bahl extended the lead with a power-play goal of his own, his first of the season, with just over two minutes remaining in regulation. Sharangovich sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final 20 seconds.

Columbus had a tough time getting shots on goal, registering their first of the second period at the 17:51 mark and going nearly 24 minutes without a shot. The Blue Jackets thought they had scored early when Zach Werenski found the net, but the goal was overturned after a successful offside challenge by the Flames.

Calgary also had a goal called back in the third period, as a Backlund deflection was waved off due to offside.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Blue Jackets continue their strong performance with a 6-3 victory against the Blackhawks

Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks

Sean Monahan scored a goal and added an assist for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who extended their point streak to six games with a 6-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.

Damon Severson recorded three assists, while Cole Sillinger and Zach Werenski each had two assists for the Blue Jackets, who are now 5-0-1 in their last six games. Elvis Merzlikins made 28 saves in goal.

Connor Bedard had a goal and an assist, and Petr Mrazek made 30 saves for the Blackhawks, who have lost six of their last eight games.

Bedard gave Chicago a 1-0 lead at 2:59 of the first period with a power-play goal. Ryan Donato collected a rebound in the slot and passed it to Bedard in the left circle for the score.

Ivan Provorov tied the game 1-1 at 4:27. Monahan passed the puck to Provorov, who took a shot from above the right circle and beat Mrazek on the blocker side.

Johnson gave Columbus a 2-1 lead at 11:23 with a one-timer from the right circle that went past Mrazek on the short side.

Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes

The Blackhawks tied the game again at 2-2 just three minutes into the second period with another power-play goal. Craig Smith redirected Taylor Hall’s shot from the slot inside the right post.

Chicago almost took the lead less than 30 seconds later, but Merzlikins made a toe save on Lukas Reichel’s shot off the rush.

Monahan gave the Blue Jackets the lead again when he fired a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle under Mrazek’s right arm at 4:50 to make it 3-2.

Dante Fabbro extended the lead to 4-2 at 3:08 of the third period with a shot from the right circle off the rush, using Blackhawks defenseman Alec Martinez as a screen.

Nick Foligno made it 4-3 at 8:08 with a power-play goal, tipping Teuvo Teravainen’s shot-pass on a 5-on-3 advantage.

Kirill Marchenko intercepted a clearing attempt by Wyatt Kaiser and scored from high in the right circle at 10:52, putting Columbus up 5-3.

Dmitri Voronkov sealed the win with an empty-net goal from his own end at 18:31, making it 6-3.