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Mood Mondays — Eliminated |
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The Columbus Blue Jackets have become the first team eliminated from playoff contention in 2024. The join the list of San Jose, Chicago, and Anaheim at the bottom. This is the fourth consecutive season they miss playoffs. Over the weekend, the Blue Jackets suffered back to back defeats from the previous two Stanley Cup Champions. They were dominated in Denver, and defeated in Sin City.
CBJ PG70 @ Colorado Avalanche
The Columbus Blue Jackets were steam rolled by the red hot Avalanche en route to their eighth consecutive victory. The final score of the game was 6-1.
Period I
Damon Severson opened the scoring in what would be the Blue Jackets’ one and only goal for the game. Severson recorded his seventh career Columbus goal less than five minutes into the game with the assists belonging to Johnny Gaudreau and Boone Jenner on the one timer.
Norris winner Cale Makar evened the game at one all for his 18th goal of the season with the assists going to Artturi Lehkonen and Jonathan Drouin.
Period II
The former Tampa Bay cup winner Ross Colton got the eventual game winning goal early in the second period for his 15th as an Av from former Devils Miles Wood and to be retiring Zach Parise.
Miko Rantanen got his 38th goal of the season from Josh Manson and Samuel Girard.
Period III
Nathan MacKinnon continues his quest for the Hart on his team leading 43rd goal of the season with the lone apple going to Makar.
Rantanen’s second of the night was the only powerplay goal of the evening. His 39th came from the Nate Dogg and Drouin.
Valeri Nichuskin got his 26th goal of the season with the assists going to newcomer Casey Mittlestadt and Rantanen.
Players to Watch
Nathan MacKinnon continues to torch the league. His goal and assist continues the hottest point streak of the 21st century.
Alex Nylander was left off the scoresheet despite 3 shots and a block with a -1 in 16:20.
Goaltenders
Alex Georgiev allowed just one goal on 24 shots against for a 0.958 save percentage.
Elvis Merzlikins allowed 6 goals on 50 shots faced for a 0.880 save percentage.
CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Damon Severson — goal (7)
2. Johnny Gaudreau — assist (41)
3. Boone Jenner — assist (12)
CBJ PG71 @ Vegas Golden Knights
A four goal onslaught held the Golden Knights to even the series over Columbus by the final score of 4-2.
Period I
Erik Gudbranson opened the scoring for his fifth of the year from Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko. With the assist, Werenski has moved into second all time in assists for the Blue Jackets.
Period II
Ivan Barbashev got the game back even with his 15th of the season from Nicolas Roy.
Jack Eichel got his first of the night and 23rd of the season from Zach Whitecloud and Chandler Stepehenson.
Period III
Pavel Dorofeyev got his 10th of the season from Shea Theodore and newcomer Anthony Mantha. This would stand as the eventual game winner.
Eichel’s second of the night off the powerplay would be his 24th of the campaign. His tally got the cookies for Theodore and Stephenson again.
Carson Meyer got his first goal since 21-22 from Trey Fix-Wolansky, who got his first assist since 2021-2022.
Players to Watch
Noah Hanifin
Johnny Gaudreau was a -1 with 2 blocked shots in 18:31TOI
Goalies
Adin Hill allowed 1 goal on 13 shots faced for a 0.923 save percentage. Logan Thompson allowed 1 goal on 9 shots for a 0.889 save percentage.
Daniil Tarasov stopped 43 of 47 shots for a 0.915 save percentage.
CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Zach Werenski — milestone assist (39) career (205)
2. Carson Meyer — goal (1)
3. Trey Fix-Wolansky (1)
With the Blue Jackets out of the playoff hunt, they can try to wreck other team’s seasons. They get the debuting Josh Doan and Arizona Coyotes from the Mullett Arena followed by a home and home series with the Pittsburgh Penguins holding onto last playoff hopes.
The Blue Jackets also stood by as Elvis Merzlikins declare himself for the upcoming World Hockey championship for Latvia. Speaking of the goaltender, a former teammate, Rihards Cimmermanis, told a Latvian podcast the goalie is not a “team player”. This has since been shared by the Hockey News and other Columbus media sources sharing the podcast.
If true, this may be further decrease the value of Elvis. In my times with the team, he was sought after and seen as hungry. Not the comments of Cimmermanis. Teams must have known through draft interview processes or from other agents. Players may not since he has friends and a life away from the rink. But also, a teenage Elvis and adult Elvis may not be the same. He might be the same, we don’t know publicly.
We also have seen two Buckeyes announce their signings with big clubs. Camden Thiesing, undrafted, joins the New York Islanders. Stephen Halliday signed with his drafted club in Ottawa.
No updates on injuries and contracts, though Boqvist could be back for Pittsburgh.
More is coming from the desert town of Arizona State. Fear the fork.
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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