Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

CBJ Mood Mondays - Utter Disaster

January 30, 2024, 4:06 AM ET [4 Comments]
Zak MacMillan
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Things are continuing to get worse in the Ohio Capitol before they get better regarding the state of the Union Blue to conclude the first month of the calendar year.

Only one win of four in the Pacific Northwest over the last week. First regulation win of the calendar year is the biggest positive from the trip to Canada and Seattle. One more road game and then it is the All Star Break.

Trade rumors and speculation continue to worse alongside player emotions getting out to the media. This is a tire fire and the organization is doing nothing to help the cause but let the players sit there and deal with the loss.

To top it all off, it is looking like Adam Fantilli might be done for the season with an Achilles injury. He was not far behind Connor Bedard for Calder, but this blew that in Seattle.

CBJ PG48 — Comeback Captured

The Columbus Blue Jackets fail to hold onto the three goal in lead in defeat to one of the west’s best.

The Vancouver Canucks win over the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4.

Period I

No penalties and goals scored. Elvis stopped all 12 shots faced. Demko shooed away 4 attempts.

Period II

Columbus opened and closed the second with all four of their goals scored. Two early, followed by a Vancouver goal, and two late.

The Frenchman on the Trade Block, Alexandre Texier, opened the scoring of the game minutes into the second period on a successful shorthanded attempt. His eighth of the season and second goal in two games was assisted by the former Jersey Devil Damon Severson.

Less than two minutes after, the former Bruin Sean Kuraly extended the Columbus lead with his seventh of the year. Texier got his second point of the night with the primary assist. Justin Danforth had the secondary assist getting himself to double digits on the season.

Late in the second, Brock Boeser broke the hopes of the shutout for the Blue Jackets with his career high 28th goal of the year. The All Star had his goal assisted by the Ohio native JT Miller and Pius Suter.

Columbus answered back with their final two goals, coming 57 seconds apart before the end of the frame.

Former Hurricane Jake Bean responded to the Canucks’ goal with his fourth of the campaign from Yegor Chinakov. Chinny got himself to double digit assists. This is the young Russian’s first season ever recording 10 assists.

Kirill Marchenko matched his point total from last season with his 15th goal and 24th point of the season. The money makers got the assists - Johnny Gaudreau and Zach Werenski.

Fin of Columbus scoring. Fin the Orca rallies the home team.

Period III

Vancouver scored three powerplay goals in the first 6 min and 30 seconds of the period. The three goals were actually scored in 5 minutes and 15 seconds.

Elias Petterson got the first powerplay goal of the period for his 15th of the year from the East Palestinian Miller and All Star co-captain, Quinn Hughes.

Boeser notched his second of the night and 29th of his career year from from Suter and Hughes.

Boeser got the hat-trick and first career 30 goal season to even the game at 4 from Pettersson and Miller.

Overtime

Pettersson got the overtime winning game winning goal in the final minute for his second of the evening and 16th of the campaign from Boeser and Hughes.

Players to Watch

Voronkov came into tonight with goals in back to back games, but that did not extend. Against the Canucks, he had 2 minor penalties and was a -1 in 13:56TOI.

Pettersson got 2 goals and an assist with 5 shots on goal in 21:50. Big time player looking to make big time bucks. Alvin and Rutherford have their hands full this summer.

Goaltenders

Not the greatest night for either one in front of Anna Cathcart and the Lunar New Year theme night.

Elvis Merzlikins allowed 5 goals on 34 shots for a 0.853 save percentage.

Thatcher Demko stopped 25 of 29 shots faced for a 0.862 save percentage.


CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Alexandre Texier — goal (8), assist (8)

2. Sean Kuraly — goal (7), +2

3. Jake Bean — goal (4), +1

CBJ PG49 — Seattle Sweep

The Columbus Blue Jackets suffer the loss of a season sweep to the Seattle Kraken, and the loss of top prospect Adam Fantilli.

The final score of the game was 4-2.

Period I

Days after appearing in trade rumors, Jordan Eberle exploded with a three point first period for the home Kraken.

Eberle opened the scoring on the powerplay with his eighth goal of the year from All Star Oliver Bjorkstrand and played to Watch Vince Dunn.

Jared McCann, the only Kraken 40 goal scorer, got his third straight 20 goal season next. His goal was assisted by Eberle and late trade acquisition Tomas Tatar.

Eberle closed the scoring of the first for the Kraken with the eventual game winning goal for his second of the night and ninth of the season. McCann and Columbus draft pick Bjorkstrand had the helpers.

Period II

No goal scoring.

Period III

Columbus got two goals back to back from Yegor Chinakov.

Chinny’s 13th game from Damon Severson and Johnny Gaudreau.

Chinakov’s other goal was unassisted for number 14.

Brandon Tanev got his fifth of the season on the empty net with 13 seconds remaining.

Players to Watch

Vince Dunn had an assist and was -1 in 21 minutes. No rematch with Sillinger. He had 4 shots on goal and a minor penalty seconds before Werenski.

Zach Werenski has a minor penalty and five shots on goal in his third game back from injury. In 28:44TOI, he had a minor penalty and hit; plus 4 blocked shots. Torts would be proud.

Goalies

Joey Daccord stopped 30 of 32 for a 0.938 save percentage. Great job Ottawa in letting him go for nothing in expansion.

Daniil Tarasov allowed 3 on 10 in the first, but stopped the final 15 shots faced. He ended up with a 0.880 save percentage.

CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Yegor Chinakov — 2 goals (14)

2. Damon Severson — assist (10)

3. Johnny Gaudreau — assist (24)

Patrik Laine -> Program

Patrik Laine is taking time away from the game before he returns with a mental health break.

The 26 year old has been thrown to the wolves over his career.

Between the hype of the 2016 draft blended with the Canadian teams atop the board; toxic locker rooms; and hockey coaches with unique beliefs to the player, he is going to clear his mind.

With his buddy on the scene in Columbus, this was going to be vines year for Laine. 6 goals in 18 games. That would’ve put him at 27 in 82 if healthy and playing like he did. That’s not elite money or an elite player.

Being thrown into the rumor mill the day before the announcement might’ve contributed to this, but this also worsens his trade value for the Jackets’ management.

The Dubois/Laine trade tree was bound to be bigger from this. Hopefully his Fortnite time and mental health help him come back to being a dominant player once again for Columbus, and maybe in an outdoor game? We never know a timetable return for a player in the program, wish Laine the best.

New Names on the Block

After learning of Laine and Ivan Provorov being shopped per Darren Dreger of TSN, Chris Johnston of the Athletic has also put out the Jackets are exploring trade options for Alexandre Texier.

Texier was the pick traded by Vegas for Keegan Kolesar in 2017. Imagine this tiem with him. Texier has been a good depth piece, but the year off has been a tough switch back to the North American style.

A contending team may covet his price point for a run. A mid or late round pick may be the package

Jiricek Jerking the Curtain

Defenseman David Jiricek is voicing his frustrations with the flip flopping of AHL and NHL minutes of service.

He is a top prospect and is bound to be a Top 2 defenseman. He must be on the main roster. He is the Seth Jones replacement. Look at what he did for the Czech team last WJC. Look at his time in Europe and the AHL. He doesn’t need to the there.

Guys like Simon Nemec and Kevin Korchinski were guys Jiricek compared himself to when looking at top young defenders getting his minutes.

Adam Boqvist and Andrew Peeke have both been on the trade market. Jake Bean and Ivan Provorov have both been rumored to be moved as well. Maybe this will clear up the space needed to get Jiricek on the roster.

They cannot afford to get another young prospect upset enough to see him move on. Nash asked out. Johansen and Dubois did not like Torts. Murray, Klesla, Brasssard, Voracek, Leclaire, and Picard all left were dealt. Every first round pick except Werenski has stated.

This trend needs to stop. Grow the home grown talent and stop losing them for less. This is the grossest failure on the management.

Trade Rumor Mill is Now as Follows

Boone Jenner - Colorado or Toronto

Adam Boqvist - Edmonton or Calgary

Elvis Merzlikins - Edmonton, Carolina, or New Jersey

Patrik Laine

Ivan Provorov (salary retained)

Alexandre Texier

Jack Roslovic

Andrew Peeke

Jake Bean

Already Gone

Spencer Martin -> Carolina -> claimed off waivers

What’s Next?

Columbus will face the St. Louis Blues in their last game before the All Star Game. Game is on the NHL Network. Jackets will become the 6th team of the 32 to play 50 games. This is the last game until February 10th.

We will see which team Boone Jenner lands on in the fantasy All Star Draft.
Join the Discussion: » 4 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Zak MacMillan
» CBJ Hockey Fights Cancer Night Goes High Scoring
» Hit List - Johnson, Lindstrom, Jiricek, Olivier  
» CBJ G17 @ Montreal Canadiens — On the Road Again
» CBJ G16 v Pittsburgh Penguins — Crosby Watch; Letang Illness
» News and Notes — KJ91, Jiricek Rumors Swirling, New Lines