Three Things: Capitalize On Fast Start, Top Two Rookies Go At It, Take What You Can

By Will Chase on March 3, 2024 at 8:15 am
Columbus Blue Jackets' Boone Jenner celebrates his goal against the Chicago Blackhawks with teammates during the first period at the United Center.
Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
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The Columbus Blue Jackets are undefeated in March and two-for-two against Connor Bedard.

Behind five goals by five different goal scorers, the Blue Jackets defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 at the United Center on Saturday night to extend Chicago's losing streak to six games.

Alexandre Texier, Boone Jenner, Mathieu Olivier, Cole Sillinger, and Johnny Gaudreau all scored. Sillinger is on a three-game point streak (three goals, zero assists) and has his first career three-game goal streak.

Zach Werenski and Jack Roslovic each had two assists. Alex Nylander and Adam Boqvist each picked up an assist.

Elvis Merzlikins made 25 saves.

Philipp Kurashev and Ryan Donato each had two points with a goal and an assist for Chicago.

Bedard and Alex Vlasic each had an assist.

Arvid Soderblom made 26 saves.

Sean Kuraly played in his 200th game as a Blue Jacket and the 470th of his career. Nylander celebrated his 26th birthday.

Capitalize On Fast Start

Texier and the Blue Jackets started fast with a goal 33 seconds into the game. It's the fastest goal to start a game for the Blue Jackets this season.

The 24-year-old forward converted off a Seth Jones turnover for his ninth goal of the campaign.

Texier's tally broke a nine-game drought dating back to Jan. 27 in Vancouver. He had just two assists since then — both in Anaheim on Feb. 21 — coming into the night.

Jenner added to the Jackets' lead at 14:05 on a deflection for his team-leading 19th. Werenski and Roslovic picked up the assists.

Top Two Rookies

Saturday's contest featured two of the best rookie goal-scorers in the league, with Bedard coming into play leading all rookies with 40 points and tied with Marco Rossi with 17 goals. Dmitri Voronkov entered the game with 16 goals and fifth with 30 points.

Adam Fantilli has been out of the lineup since Jan. 28 with a calf laceration but is tied for ninth with 27 points, is tied for ninth with 15 assists, and is tied for fifth with 12 goals.

Bedard added to his point total with his 24th assist in the first period on Kurashev's goal at 17:32.

Take What You Can

As hard as wins have been to come by this season for the Blue Jackets, they never really struggled against Chicago this season.

On Nov. 22, Thanksgiving Eve, Columbus sank the Blackhawks behind seven goals as they cruised to a 7-3 win at Nationwide Arena. The Jackets had a three-goal first and four-goal second period in that game, and Werenski set a record for Blue Jackets defensemen with four assists in a game.

It was nearly the same on Saturday night.

Columbus scored twice a piece in the first- and- second periods to make quick work of Chicago and sweep the two-game season set. They outscored Chicago 12-5 in two games. Bedard had two assists across both games, and Werenski had six assists and was +9 in the two games. There were a combined 35 blocked shots in Saturday's game, with Chicago taking the 21-14 edge. Bedard went down on a blocked shot as the Jackets scored their fourth goal but he stayed in the game.

Champs Visit Columbus

The Blue Jackets host the defending Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights at Nationwide Arena on Monday, Mar. 4, at 7:00 p.m. ET.

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