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Cali Collapse: 0-for-3 out West; COL/CBJ in Finland; Kids Game v Oilers |
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The Columbus Blue Jackets found their cruise control in California, losing all three games to all three teams in the state cleanly in regulation time. Their first game was against the Los Angeles Kings, in a 3-2 defeat. Second, they were on the back to back nights with an Easter Sunday game to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 6-4. Lastly, their contest last night to the San Jose Sharks came to a 3-2 defeat.
Los Angeles got the first and only two goals for them in the first period. Dustin Brown opened the scoring 101 seconds into the game with his 9th of the season. Forward Blake Lizotte had the lone helper. Phillip Danault got the eventual game winner with his 24th as an LA King; forwards Viktor Arvidsson and Trevor Moore had the final assists.
Sean Kuraly ended the shutout hopes with the lone Columbus goal on the scoreboard. Kuraly’s lonely goal was his 13th on the season; rookie Carson Meyer had the primary assist for his second career helper; and Gustav Nyquist had the secondary assist.
Elvis Merzlikins had 36 saves on 38 shots; Jonathan Quick was able to stop 21 of 22 shots for a 0.955 save percentage, helping the Kings sweep the season series against the Jackets, and make their playoff hopes a near reality. Win number 19 of the season for his team could help him become a three time cup champion, and a potential lock for the hockey hall of fame.
CBJ Three Stars of the Game
1. Sean Kuraly— goal (13)
2. Gustav Nyquist — assist (30)
3. Carson Meyer— assist (2)
A eggnormous amount of goal on Easter Sunday led to a 6-4 Anaheim Mighty Ducks win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Breakout star of the year Troy Terry opened the affair with his 35th regular season goal, multiplying his original season total five times over; his high last season was 7. Captain Ryan Getzlaf had the opening assist in his last career matchup against the Union Blue.
Jake Bean responded 50 seconds later for his 6th tally of the campaign, evening the game at 1 a piece. The defenseman’s goal was supported by center Jack Roslovic and Russian partner Vladislav Gavrikov.
Another 90 seconds would pass by before Terry answered back with his second of the game and 36th this year; defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk and Cam Fowler had the helpers.
Two minutes would pass before the last goal of the first period was scored, from waiver claim Gerald Mayhew. Mayhew got his 9th of the season. The former Flyer was got assists from another former in Derek Grant and potential Calder finalist Trevor Zegras.
The next goals weren’t scored until the second period, and both came from Columbus. Bean’s second of the game and seventh of the season was assisted by just Adam Boqvist. Sean Kuraly’s 14th in a Columbus uniform was assisted by undrafted forwards Eric Robinson and Justin Danforth.
Trevor Zegras got the Ducks the lead with his 21st of his career in the opening minute of the third period. Former Flyers Grant and Mayhew got the assists.
Cam Fowler’s 9th of the season would be the eventual game winning goal for the Ducks; Terry and Getzlaf had the helpers.
Cole Sillinger got the last Columbus goal of the game with his 14th of his career; Jakub Voracek got his 50th assist of the regular season; Gustav Nyquist had the secondary.
Derek Grant closed the scoring with an empty net goal for his 15th of the season, and was unassisted.
John Gibson stopped 31 of 35 shots for a 0.886 save percentage; Jean-Francois Berube stopped 26 of 31 for a 0.839 save percentage. Not a night for being in the pipes.
Speaking of nights, Ryan Getzlaf had his last against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Getzlaf’s last game against a team from the Eastern Conference, the captain was a first round pick in 2003 and won a Stanley Cup in 2007. In 40 career games against the Blue Jackets, the number one center had 46 points (13 goals, 33 assists). That counts for a 1.15 points per game against a team he played that was also a part of both the Western and Eastern Conferences in his playing career.
CBJ Three Stars of the Game
1. Jake Bean— 2 goals (7)
2. Jakub Voracek— assist (50)
3. Cole Sillinger— goal (14)
The San Jose Sharks 3-goal first period ended their 10-game consecutive losing streak the final score was 3-2 in regulation.
Rookie Scott Reedy opened the scoring on a backhander for his 4th career goal. Forward Noah Gregor and captain Logan Couture had the helpers. Former Senator Rudolf Balcers extended the lead with his 11th of the season; rookie Thomas Bordeleau had his second career point. Reedy’s second of the game and 5th career goal was the eventual game winner; forward Sasha Chmelevski had the lone assist.
Jack Roslovic’s two third period goals was would lead to his 18th and 19th of the season. On the first goal, Justin Danforth had the primary assist; Kent Johnson got his first career point with the secondary assist. On the other goal, Jakub Voracek had the primary helper; Jake Bean had the secondary.
Kappo Kakkonen had 22 saves on 24 shots for a 0.917 save percentage; Elvis Merzlikins stopped 25 of 28 for an 0.893 save percentage.
CBJ Three Stars of the Game
1. Jack Roslovic— 2 goals (19)
2. Kent Johnson—assist (1); first career NHL point
3. Jakub Voracek— assist (15)
It has been announced this afternoon that the Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche will be participating in the 2022 Global Series, with games in Tampere, Finland. This markets Patrik Laine and Mikko Rantanen playing in their native country. The games are November 4 and 5, 2022. Finnish GM Jamo Kekalainen will be in the press box for the game.
The other announcement by the organization is the “Kids Takeover Day” will be held Sunday, in their second last home game of the season against the Edmonton Oilers. There will be a kids color guard; anthem singers; and in-arena hosts for the game, as well as announcing the starting the lineups with the PA announcers prior to the puck drop. Nasher, the gamer, not the assistant to the GM; and Stinger will also be in the concourse for photos and autographs. What a great league to do so much for the game.
Next up is the Ottawa Senators, in a game which will determine the winner of their season series.
More to come…
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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