Welcome back Patrik Laine.
Laine scored two goals in his return to the Columbus Blue Jackets lineup on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets at Canadien Tire Centre after missing the previous seven games with a sprained ankle.
Erik Gudbranson's first goal of the season stood up as the game-winner as he registered his 100th career point. Gus Nyquist also scored for the Blue Jackets, who played their first road game in three weeks, beating the Jets 4-1.
Gudbranson's first #CBJ goal, his 100th career point. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/xAPua9D20C
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 3, 2022
Johnny Gaudreau had three assists. Kent Johnson, Jack Roslovic, Boone Jenner, and Vladislav Gavrikov also picked up assists. Roslovic ended a six-game pointless drought while Jenner registered his 300th career point.
Pierre-Luc Dubois scored for the Jets.
Joonas Korpisalo made 37 saves in his second road start of the season. David Rittich made 22 saves for the Jets.
Elvis Merzlikins was activated off injured reserve on Thursday after missing six games with a hip injury.
Laine's Back
Returning three weeks to the day from when he left with a sprained ankle, Laine was back in the lineup and had quite the game in front of his old fans.
At 6:48 of the first period, Laine scored his third goal of the season to give the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead. Gaudreau picked up the first of three assists, extending his points streak to three games, giving him seven points (one goal, six assists) in that span.
PAT IS BACK. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/LUjyMdKFgF
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 3, 2022
In the second period, Laine scored his second goal at 3:19 for his fourth of the season to give Columbus the 3-0 lead. Jenner earned his 300th career point on the assist on a beautiful pass from the slot and Gaudreau added his second assist.
Two goals for Laine. Jenner with an insane feed for the goal. Gaudreau gets his second assist. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/3pR0OM80Um
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 3, 2022
For the game, Laine had two goals, was +2 with two shots, and had one blocked shot in 19:55. Laine was the game's second star of the night.
Johnny Hockey
Gaudreau also had quite the night. Which are most nights. But on this night, Gaudreau added another three assists to his team-leading 17 helpers and 25 points.
After assisting on two of Laine's goals, Gaudreau got into the act again when Nyquist scored his fourth goal at 12:21 of the second period. Gavrikov also picked up the point.
Another tic-tac-toe sequence. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/Si77zf7ZiI
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 3, 2022
In addition to his three assists, Gaudreau finished the game with two shots, one blocked shot, was +3, and one takeaway in 19:06. Gaudreau was the game's first star of the night.
#CBJ Gaudreau narrowly misses two empty-net shots in about a 20-second span
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) December 3, 2022
Big Game Joonas
It wasn't all about the offense.
Korpisalo had a huge game in goal, stopping plenty of big scoring opportunities by the Jets' attack. According to MoneyPuck, Korpisalo's goals saved above expected was 3.41. Winnipeg outshot the Blue Jackets 38-26 and had the edge in 5v5 expected goals (2.75-2.01). Columbus had 27 blocked shots to Winnipeg's 19.
Natural Stat Trick had Winnipeg with 4.74 expected goals in all situations, and the Jets only got one. Heck of a performance from Joonas Korpisalo.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 3, 2022
(#CBJ wasnt too shabby itself with 4.17 xG)
Dubois did get one past Korpisalo on the power play in the third period at 15:30. Cole Perfetti and Blake Wheeler picked up assists. Perfetti is on a four-game points streak (one goal, five assists). Wheeler is on a four-game points streak (three goals, six assists). Korpisalo was the game's third star of the night. Columbus was 4-for-5 on the penalty kill and 0-for-3 on the power play.
Back Home
The Blue Jackets are back home to face the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 6:00 pm ET. The Blue Jackets fell to the Red Wings, 6-1, on Nov. 19 at Nationwide Arena.
