The Columbus Blue Jackets dropped all three games in California, including two in 24 hours. Here is the recap if that and their newest addition, Dante Fabbro, who will dawn jersey number #15.
Player Profile - Dante Fabbro
Defenseman Dante Fabbro is originally from Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. The following is his biography from the NHL website
In the first round (No. 17) of the 2016 NHL Draft. Fabbro was coming off a 14-goal, 67-point season with Penticton of the British Columbia Hockey League, when he was named the league's best defenseman.
Fabbro had played in the BCHL to preserve his NCAA eligibility. He played the next three seasons at Boston University, where he had 80 points (22 goals, 58 assists) in 112 games, as well as helping Canada finish first at the 2018 IIHF World Championship, before signing with the Predators on March 27, 2019. He made his NHL debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets four nights later and scored his first goal one week later against the Chicago Blackhawks on April 6, 2019. Fabbro had one assist during Nashville's six-game loss to the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
After the Predators were eliminated, Fabbro helped Canada to a second-place finish at the IIHF World Championship. He stepped into a regular role on Nashville's defense during the 2019-20 season.
Fabbro signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Predators on March 3, 2023, toward the end of a two-year, $4.8 million contract he signed Aug. 5, 2021. He was claimed by the Blue Jackets off waivers from the Predators on Nov. 10, 2024.
Fabbro has been a projected top four pairing defenseman for most of his career. When Ryan Ellis was traded to Philadelphia and P.K. Subban was traded to New Jersey, the hope was the BC native would climb up the depth charts in the Predators’ system. It never came to fruit with Laviolette, Hynes, or Brunette. Trotz said enough was enough and to save on the cap, the chance for redemption in the minors would do that for the pending unrestricted free agent.
What does this mean for the Columbus defense? The right hand side just got better. With Erik Gudbranson potentially done for the season after shoulder surgery, Fabbro slides into competition with David Jiricek, Jack Johnson, and Jordan Harris for the 5/6/7 spots on the main roster.
Fabbro is a pending free agent, so he could be moved once again in the spring time, or Waddell signs him to an extension. He has 72 points, including 16 goals and 56 assists in 315 Nashville games.
CBJ PG13 @ Los Angeles Kings — Streak Continues
The Columbus Blue Jackets lose the first game of their back to back by the final score of 5-2 to the Los Angeles Kings.
Period I
Dmitry Voronkov opened the scoring with his first goal of his shortened season. The tip-in goal came with 7:34 remaining in the opening frame from a Justin Danforth shot.
Period II
Former Columbus defender Vladislav Gavrikov tied the game for his second of the year from Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar.
Warren Foegele got the go-ahead goal for the home team for his sixth as a King. Akil Thomas and Samuel Helenius had the assists. Helenius got his first career point in his NHL debut.
Period III
Trevor Moore got a quick goal 30 seconds into the final frame short handed. The former Maple Leafs’ forward got his second goal of the season. This would stand as the eventual game winner. Phillip Danault had the assists.
Only 19 seconds were shaved off the game clock when Ivan Provorov scored the powerplay goal the Blue Jackets needed. Provorov’s first of the season was assisted by Danforth and Adam Fantilli.
Alex Laferriere deflected his ninth goal of the season behind Elvis. Offseason acquisitions Joel Edmundson and Foegele had the apples.
Brandt Clarke closed the scoring with 31 seconds remaining in regulation for the youngster’s second of the year. The empty net power play goal was assisted once again by z Kopitar and Kempe.
Players to Watch
Anze Kopitar had two assists, on the first and last goals scored.
Ivan Provorov had his first goal of the season against the team that is paying part of his salary
Goalies
David Rittich back stopped the home team to victory with saving 24 of 26 shots. Big Save Dave had a 0.923 save percentage.
Elvis Merzlikins allowed 4 goals on 22 shots against for a 0.818 save percentage.
CBJ Three Stars of the Game
1. Ivan Provorov — PPG (1)
2. Dmitry Voronkov — goal (1)
3. Justin Danforth — 2 assists (4)
CBJ PG14 @ Anaheim — Bad Luck
The losing streak extends to 5 games as the Blue Jackets drop the second game in 24 hours to the Anaheim Ducks 4-2.
Period I
Brett Leason opened the scoring with his first of the year from Cutter Gauthier and Ross Johnston.
Yegor Chinakov tied the game on the powerplay for his fourth of the regular season with Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko earning the assists.
Period II
Jackson LaCombe earned his first tally of the year with the assists going to Radko Gudas and Troy Terry.
Period III
Leo Carlsson blasted a wrister halfway through the third past Tarasov for his fifth of the campaign from Brian Dumoulin and Ryan Strome.
Kirill Marchenko answered back for the road team unassisted recording his sixth of the season.
Issac Lundstrom closed the scoring on another empty net goal against the Jackets. Lundstrom’s second of the year was supported by Frank Vatrano and Brock McGinn.
Players to Watch
Troy Terry had an assist with 4 shots on goal in 20:29TOI.
Jake Christiansen was a defensive worse -2 in 15:59TOI.
Goaltenders
John Gibson stood on his head in his regular season debut. The starting goalie saved 38 of 40 Columbus shots for a 0.950 save percentage.
Daniil Tarasov allowed 3 goals on 26 shots for an 0.897 save percentage.
CBJ Three Stars of the Game
1. Kirill Marchenko — goal (6), assist (9)
2. Yegor Chinakov — PPG (4)
3. Zach Werenski — assist (7)
Next Matchup
Seattle Kraken for the final game of this road trip. Game time is at 10pm on FDSNOH and KHN. As Zach Werenski said:
We have to end this trip right
Right on. This trip has been unacceptable. They need to get the win before this current losing bender worsens into a runaway train.
More to come…
Obituaries
https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/john-michael-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYM9fikwQbNkPlcwmTBaP2udJZw1oMBCmyXjp-GyttBpDhIoWnqY8lxQSQ_aem_zW3gpaArqsSO7D5ZI-Pdog
https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/matthew-ryan-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZ33XNOJYMaSDfXxs3NcH7AY99EWfo9ObneKgMrpds4HwrC3U6Gkj0igr0_aem_qqWUcGWcBFf0sebC0an4RQ
Want to support the Gaudreau family? Here’s several ways how:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-madeline-and-baby-tripp-after-tragedy - Donate to Gaudreau Family Fund. At the time of writing it is at $691K
https://youtu.be/7ax8zyd8nk0?si=xoI63iohdyn2vVvD - View Johnny B Goode Tribute - personal touch. Loved this slowed down clip by the voice of Calgary. Skip to the 25 second mark.
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/giving - Nationwide Children's Hospital (Johnny's widow, Meredith's workplace) support the children today.
https://foundation.ohiohealth.com/ - Ohio Health Foundation (where donations from a joint mental health charity drive from Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine went) Johnny joined the mission after Laine attended the NHLPA assistance club last season
https://www.childrenshospital.ab.ca/ways-to-help/donate/ - Alberta Children's Hospital for those in need and touched by the loss
https://kidsportcanada.ca/donate/ - Donate to the Youth Sporting Charity in Canada (Johnny Gaudreau donated for money each goal he scored to the Calgary chapter)
https://sniderhockey.org/support-snider/ - the Philadelphia Youth Hockey Charity (where Johnny and Matthew are from and started their youth hockey)
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