Better late than never as they say.
Tuesday's contest between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks was originally slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET. Instead, a power outage across downtown Columbus forced the rescheduled start time of 8:30 p.m. ET.
Frank Vatrano scored the overtime game-winning goal to extend a three-game point streak (two goals, one assist) and lift the Ducks past the Blue Jackets 3-2. Ryan Strome and Brett Leason added goals for Anaheim.
Pavel Mintyukov, Mason McTavish, Ross Johnston, and Benoit-Olivier Groulx had the assists.
Adam Fantilli had two points including a goal and an assist. Emil Bemstrom scored on the power play.
Ivan Provorov, Jack Roslovic, and Jake Bean each picked up assists. Provorov is on a three-game point streak (zero goals, five assists). Roslovic is on a three-game point streak (one goal, two assists). Fantilli has three points in his last two games (two goals, one assist).
Lukas Dostal made 35 saves on 37 shots for Anaheim, while Elvis Merzlikins made his second consecutive start for Columbus, stopping 24 of 27 shots. Ducks' forward Trevor Zegras was benched in the third period.
No Leo versus Fantilli
This matchup could have featured two of the top three picks from last summer's NHL draft. Instead, second-overall pick Leo Carlsson did not play as the Ducks kept him out of the lineup due to a strength and development program.
Leo Carlsson will not be in the lineup tonight for the Anaheim Ducks. #NHLNow tries to dissect the entire situation. @JamieHersch | @MarkDParrish | @Rupper17 | #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/0CiUhK5IF9
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) October 24, 2023
Carlsson also sat out Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins.
Similar to 'load management' in the NBA, could this be the way the NHL trends going forward for their young stars?
True to the draft order of the top three picks, after Connor Bedard scored his first career goal with the Chicago Blackhawks, Carlsson scored his first goal in his NHL debut against the Dallas Stars, and then Fantilli scored against the Wild on Saturday.
Life Without Laine
Patrik Laine was placed on IR on Monday, Oct. 23, retroactive to Oct. 20, due to a high hit from Rasmus Andersson in the waning seconds of Friday's win over the Calgary Flames. On Tuesday, commissioner Gary Bettman upheld Andersson's suspension following an appeal and Andersson will sit out four games.
While Laine is officially listed as day-to-day, it's unknown when Laine will return to the ice. As the games continue on minus No. 29, the Blue Jackets march on with a new-look lineup.
For the start of this one, Fantilli was on the second line and back at center, where he played in Saturday's win over the Minnesota Wild, alongside Roslovic (one assist, two blocked shots) and Alexandre Texier (one shot, one blocked shot).
Johnny Gaudreau (four shots, one blocked shot) was on the first line with familiar linemate and center, Boone Jenner (three shots), and Kirill Marchenko (four shots) on the right wing.
In the third period, Marchenko and Bemstrom switched spots.
Fantilli Scores First Multi-Point Game
Fantilli picked up his second assist in the first period on Bemstrom's power-play goal at 16:49. He scored the go-ahead goal in the third period at 9:13. Tonight marked his first career multi-point game.
Bemstrom's first of the season, assisted by Ivan Provorov and Adam Fantilli #CBJ pic.twitter.com/iPOId1QH53
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) October 25, 2023
Fantilli's second point of the night, and first goal at home. Assist to Jack Roslovic. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/qvj2dLkXfO
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) October 25, 2023
Fantilli added four shots on goal with a takeaway.
An impressive game from Fantilli aside, one wonders what could have been. The Jackets were 1-for-7 on the power play with 14 shots on goal.
Le Habs
Columbus heads north of the border for the first time this season when they take on the Montreal Canadiens from Bell Centre on Thursday, Oct. 26, at 7:00 p.m. ET.
