Starting the month off right.
The Columbus Blue Jackets met the New Jersey Devils for their fourth and final meeting this season. They came in 2-1-0 against their Metropolitan Division rivals.
Patrik Laine had a goal and assist and Jake Voracek had two assists. The Blue Jackets also had goals from Oliver Bjorkstrand, Boone Jenner, and Jake Christiansen scored his first career goal as the Blue Jackets won 4-3.
Elvis Merzlikins made his second consecutive start. He made 30 saves on 33 shots. Nico Daws made his second start in as many days for the Devils following Monday's 7-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Daws made 27 saves on 31 shots.
Tale Of Two Periods
The Blue Jackets had the benefit of a day off whereas the Devils played on Monday night. The difference is, the Devils looked like the rested team in the first half of the first period.
Nico Hischier converted 54 seconds into the game on a quick power play opportunity for the Devils. Damon Severson and Nathan Bastian assisted. New Jersey outshot Columbus 11-3 nearly halfway into the period.
Boone Jenner missed high on a first period breakaway chance coming off a blue line steal of Yegor Sharangovich.
Then, we had a brand new game!
Jake Christiansen's first career goal at 13:08 tied the game at one. Max Domi's 16th assist was his 300th career point. Cole Sillinger also had his 10th helper. Christiansen is the sixth different Blue Jacket to score his first career goal in 2021-22.
Nothing like the first. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/2MRQCbNqRe
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 2, 2022
First career NHL goals for #CBJ this year -- Sillinger, Chinakhov, Hofmann, Danforth, Fix-Wolansky and now Christiansen.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) March 2, 2022
Oliver Bjorksrtand added his 18th goal at 17:35 giving the Blue Jackets the 2-1 lead through one period. It's his 101st career goal and second goal in as many games. He led the Blue Jackets and co-led the game with five shots alongside Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes.
Jake Voracek added to his assists lead with two on the night to give him 38 on the season. Jack Roslovic added his 16th assist which gives him three points in two games, and five points in four games (1 goal, four assists).
Bjorkstrand's 101st career tally. 12 in 18 games vs Devils. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/SHxL2Q5afs
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 2, 2022
Boone's Day
What else can you say?
Another game, another big goal from the captain.
Jenner's 23rd, and eighth on the power play, gave the Blue Jackets an early 3-1 lead 46 seconds into the second period. Voracek earned his second assist and Patrik Laine grabbed an assist, in addition to a goal, breaking a two-game pointless drought. That’s Laine’s 30th goal as a Blue Jacket in 80 games with the club.
Back to Jenner.
While he's not a point-per-game player, it feels like he is with the rate at which he's putting up points. He's leading the way at 0.80 points-per-game for the Blue Jackets and looks primed to set a new career mark in goals (30 – 2015-16).
Boone's 8th PPG extends the lead. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/85CEHRETU4
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 2, 2022
Great stat just shown on ESPN just now. Goals from the inner slot.
— Mark Scheig (@markscheig) March 2, 2022
Chris Kreider 26
Auston Matthews 19
BOONE JENNER 18#CBJ
Another D-man Injury
With word that Adam Boqvist would miss Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury, it was another blow for a team that went 0-2 since losing Zach Werenski to an injury. Jake Bean is still out which tests the Blue Jackets' defense further. Then Brendan Gaunce left the game with an upper-body injury.
That's why some key stats for the Blue Jackets really stuck out from this matchup:
- 10 first period blocked shots, 24 for the game. Columbus averages 13.48 (15th) a game. New Jersey had six.
- 30 hits to the Devils' five. Columbus averages 18.35 a game in that category which ranks 29th in the league.
- Nine takeaways to New Jersey's one.
- Blue Jackets' penalty kill 1-for-4, Power play 1-for-3.
- Sean Kuraly and Andrew Peeke had six hits and four blocked shots each respectively.
Vladislav Gavrikov and Peeke didn't have their best games. Both were -2 and Gavrikov had three minor penalties.
#NHL GameScore Impact Card for Columbus Blue Jackets on 2022-03-01:#CBJ pic.twitter.com/bihxfh18V4
— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) March 2, 2022
King's Ransom
The Blue Jackets face the Los Angeles Kings in the first of a home back-to-back on Friday at Nationwide Arena at 7:00 pm ET. It'll be the first matchup against the Kings in 2021-22.
