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CBJ — On Caps Game, Nyquist, Gaudreau, Gavrikov |
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The Columbus Blue Jackets close the All Star break out with a losing streak, extending it in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals.
Five minutes into the first period, Capitals’ fourth line right winger Garnet Hathaway opened the scoring with his 8th of the season from Les Eller and Nic Jensen.
Five minutes left in the first, Caps’ defender Trevor van Riemsdyk extended the visiting team’s lead with his 5th this year; winger Nicolas Aube-Kuebel had the lone helper.
Andrew Peeke replied seconds afterward to bring Columbus into the game. His snapper was his 5th of the campaign. Patrik Laine continues his point streak with an assist.
Midway through the second period, TvR brought the Capitals’ lead back to two with his second of the game and 6th of the year. Evgney Kuznetsov and Erik Gustafsson had the assists.
Columbus game back with their final two goals.
Late in the second, Eric Robinson got his 4th from Mathieu Olivier on a quick shot.
In the third, Johnny Gaudreau evened the game with his 14th as a Blue Jacket from Gavin Bayreuther.
Just 26 seconds into overtime was the overtime game winning goal from Evgney Kuznetsov for his 7th of the season. The assists went to Marcus Johansson and Gustafsson.
Charlie Lindgren had 31 saves on 34 shots for a 0.912 save percentage.
Joonas Korpisalo had 30 saves on 34 shots for a 0.882 save percentage.
CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Johnny Gaudreau -- goal (14)
2. Eric Robinson -- goal (4)
3. Andrew Peeke -- goal (5)
Reaction to the Game
The Columbus reverse retro jersey is a top tier jersey to some of the others in the league.
Johnny Gaudreau is the most consistent producer on this team. Best player to Dawn the jersey since Artemi Panarin. He doesn't score as much as he makes the plays on the puck, but when he scored, what a treat. He deserves this.
Double the hits screams revenge from the Tom Wilson game a few weeks ago. They were alive and shoved everything that moved.
Three games in the month of January, and outscored 11-5. That's not a fun difference; one more game in March.
Gaudreau has 2 points in 3 games against Washington; same stat line for Gavin Bayreuther.
Injury Update
Gustav Nyquist is done for the regular season with a shoulder injury against Edmonton. Nyquist had 117 points in 200 games played, with 43 goals and 74 assists. The 33 year old Swede is a pending UFA with a cap hit of $5.25M. His last game played with Columbus was his 700th NHL career game. He also led the league last season in short handed goals with Alex Barkov with 4.
Adam Boqvist and Nick Blankenburg both sustatined minor injuries against the Canucks; both are expected to return against Toronto.
Yegor Chinakov is also practicing and is expected to return against Toronto. He has been out with an ankle injury.
The next closest after that would be Carson Meyer as Bean, Werenski, Danforth, Voracek, and now Nyquist are all done. Meyer may be closer to the deadline.
Trade Rumors
Friedman is suggesting Gavrikov and Boston; recent price talk is a first and a third round draft picks for the pending UFA. This may go up if cap is retained.
Nyquist may be out, but could be moved at half salary for the playoffs to a team that can afford him.
Korpisalo talk has been silent, but may be moved to a contender.
Demko and Columbus talk has gone on in the rumor mill, haven't heard anything. Not sure if the money is here for him as there is Merzlikins and Tarasov signed with term beyond this season. Tary is the future.
Boeser and Garland have also been discussed by Eklund earlier in the week, hard to see the logic when the club is deep on the wing. Big need here is an elite number one center and maybe a solid number two to compliment Werenski.
Johnny Gaudreau is participating in the All Star Game Skills Competiton event for the “Pitch n Puck.” That is the golf event. Lowest amount of shots wins for the hybrid hockey and golf event.
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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