The Columbus Blue Jackets were dismantled over this past weekend by two of the best teams in the National going, being outscored 13-4 in the games played.
This column will discuss the weekend that was for the Blue Jackets.
CBJ PG10 v Winnipeg Jets — First Class
The Columbus Blue Jackets’ three game home winning streak was snapped by the first place Winnipeg Jets by the final score of 6-2.
Nikolaj Ehlers opened the scoring for the road team on a clapper for his fifth of the regular season from veteran Colin MIller.
Sean Kuraly evened the game at one a piece with his first goal of the year. James van Riemsdyk had the lone assist.
Ehlers got the second Winnipeg goal unassisted for his sixth of the 24-25 season.
Period II
Mason Appleton extended the Jets’ lead for his fourth of the year from Neal Pionk and captain Adam Lowry.
Sean Monahan scored his milestone 250th career goal against his former club in front of the Johnny Gaudreau banner. His power play goal goes as his sixth with the Blue Jackets. Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko had the assists.
Ehlers had the hat-trick with 69 seconds left in the middle frame for his seventh of the campaign, also unassisted.
Period III
Josh Morrissey scored the only road team power play goal of the evening. The defender’s second goal of the season came from Mark Scheifele and Ehlers.
Gabriel Vilardi closed out the goal scoring with his fourth of the year from Kyle Connor and Morrissey.
Players to Watch
Kyle Connor, the hottest player on the Jets to start the new year continued his production with an assist in 17:26TOI.
Dmitry Voronkov was buried in his debut with a -3 and minor penalty in 13:24TOI.
Goaltenders
Eric Comrie backstopped the road team to 20 saves from 22 shots on net from the Columbus offense for a 0.909 save percentage.
Elvis Merzlikins saved 38 of a possible 44 shots from the forceful Winnipeg offense for a 0.864 save percentage.
CBJ Three Stars of the Game
1. Sean Monahan — PPG (6)
2. Sean Kuraly — first goal of the season (1)
3. Kirill Marchenko — assist (8)
CBJ PG11 @ Washington Capitals — The Chase Continues
The Columbus Blue Jackets begin their five game road trip in the losing column with a 7-2 loss to the Washington Capitals.
Period I
Washington put up five unanswered first period goals.
Aliaksei Protas set the tone 56 seconds into the game for his fourth of the year. Dylan Strome and Alexander Ovechkin had the assists.
Connor McMichael followed up 46 seconds later for his sixth of the season from Rasmus Sandin.
Andrew Mangipanie, one of Gaudreau’s pallbearers, recorded his third goal with Washington from Jakub Vrana and Hendrix Lapierre.
Ovechkin registered his 859th career goal for the Great 8’s sixth of the season. Strome and Protas got the apples
Nic Dowd recorded his fourth of the season from JvR’s brother, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Brandon Duhaime.
Period II
Damon Severson broke the Capitals’ shutout hopes 49 seconds into the second period for his third of the regular season from sophomore Adam Fantilli
McMicheal potted in his second of the contest and seventh of the year from Tom Wilson and Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Kevin Labanc got the poke in on the Caps’ goaltending to get his first goal as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Labanc’s first goal not in a Sharks’ Jersey was assisted by veterans Zach Aston-Reese and Sean Monahan.
Period III
Dylan Strome closed the scoring with 96 seconds remaining in the game for his fourth of the regular season from Ovi and Taylor Raddysh
Players to Watch
Alex Ovechkin —
Sean Monahan — his fifth assist of the season is his 299th for the Canadian forward’s career. The Brampton native is one point away from 550 overall; and one helper away from 300 assists. Monahan was a -1 with a minor penalty and shot on goal in 16:32TOI
Goalkeepers
Logan Thompson remains unbeaten at a 5-0-0 start to the season. Thompson stopped 34 of 36 shots for a 0.944 save percentage .
Daniil Tarasov allowed 7 goals on 22 shots for an abysmal 0.682 save percentage.
CBJ Three Stars of the Game
1. Kevin Labanc - first goal with CBJ
2. Damon Severson - goal (3)
3. Zach Aston-Reese - assist(2)
Next Telecast
Tomorrow night against the returning Macklin Celiberini and San Jose Sharks at 10.00p.m.
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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