Three Things: Spoiler, Werenski Returns Home In Style, Showtime Wins It

By Will Chase on March 20, 2024 at 8:15 am
Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski shoots the puck during the first period of the game against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena.
Brian Bradshaw Sevald-USA TODAY Sports
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Showtime.

Patrick Kane scored 48 seconds into overtime to lift the Detroit Red Wings over the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 on Tuesday night at Little Caesars Arena.

Kane also had two assists to extend a five-game point streak (two goals, five assists).

Lucas Raymond scored twice for Detroit to continue a five-game point streak (seven goals, one assist). Raymond's 24 goals on the year set a career-high. Moritz Seider had a goal and an assist.

Robby Fabbri, Ben Chiarot, Michael Rasmussen, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Alex DeBrincat each had an assist. Rasmussen is on a three-game point streak (zero goals, three assists). Gostisbehere is on a six-game point streak (one goal, five assists).

James Reimer had 32 saves.

Zach Werenski had three points with a goal and two assists. Alexandre Texier and Kirill Marchenko scored.

Damon Severson and Johnny Gaudreau each had an assist.

 Daniil Tarasov made 23 saves.

Turning The Page

Detroit already had the season series clinched against the Blue Jackets, having won the first two games against Columbus entering Tuesday, but they have bigger things in mind in what was a true must-win on Tuesday night for the Wings.

Detroit came into the night having lost eight of their previous nine games and one point out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Blue Jackets split their weekend with a win over the rebuilding San Jose Sharks and a loss against the Stanley Cup contenders, the Winnipeg Jets.

Labeling it a loss would be putting things mildly.

Winnipeg shellacked Columbus 6-1 on Sunday night, including four second-period goals against the Blue Jackets. Columbus was eager to turn the page as they go on a season-long five-game road trip.

So what was in store for Tuesday's game in the Motor City?

Werenski Returns Home In Style

Werenski's unassisted breakaway goal at 5:56 came in style for the local Michigander.

His fifth goal of the season was his first career goal in Detroit, and third overall against the Red Wings in 22 games lifetime against them.

The first period got better for Werenski when he hooked up with Texier on a goal at 13:43. Texier had just left the penalty box when Werenski connected with him on the pass, and Texier buried the breakaway.

Marchenko's goal at 4:26 of the third period gave Columbus the lead back.

Coming into the game, Marchenko's last goal was Feb. 25 against the New York Rangers. He only had one assist in the games since (Mar. 4 vs Vegas). Werenski blocked a shot in the third period and walked off but returned.

Werenski led the game with eight shots.

With the two assists on the night, Werenski tied David Vyborny for second on the all-time franchise list with 204. Rick Nash is first with 258.

Showtime Wins It

The Blue Jackets failed to close out Detroit late in the third period before Raymond's second goal of the game tied it 3-3 with 12.6 seconds left.

Boone Jenner attempted to ice the game with a shot at the empty net but instead iced the puck, setting up the face-off in the defensive zone and helping set up Detroit’s tying goal.

Kane scored 48 seconds into overtime for his 15th of the year. He has six game-winning goals this season and points in 14 of the last 15 games against Columbus.

The goal was controversial from the Blue Jackets' perspective. Gaudreau was livid at a non-call on a hook. He was assessed a 10-minute misconduct after the game was over when speaking to the official. 

An Avalanche

The Blue Jackets embark on the second of their five-game road trip to battle the Colorado Avalanche on Friday, Mar. 23, at 9:00 p.m. ET.

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