A successful way to end November.
Adam Fantilli scored twice to lift the Columbus Blue Jackets over the Calgary Flames 5-2 on Friday afternoon at Nationwide Arena. Kent Johnson scored to continue an eight-game point streak and Zach Werenski scored to tie a career-high seven-game point streak.
Columbus completed a 3-0-1 homestand and has points in five straight games. Elvis Merzlikins made 27 saves and picked up his seventh win. He's won five of his last six starts. Dustin Wolf made 29 saves for Calgary.
CORRECTION
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) November 30, 2024
The last time #CBJ had a five-game point streak was April 25 to May 5, 2021.
- not 2020 as posted earlier
Brad Larsen, an assistant with the Flames, gets a Welcome Back message. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/HEtE0FDPUq
— CBJ Stats (@BlueJacketStats) November 29, 2024
Fantilli Breaks Out
Who’s goal is it anyway?
Rightfully credited to Fantilli at the 11:56 mark of the opening period, the Blue Jackets TV broadcast thought James van Riemsdyk might've tipped the puck for his fourth goal of the year. Instead, it was Fantilli scoring his fourth and breaking a 13-game goalless drought.
Most importantly, it was 1-0 Blue Jackets.
Off the far post and in for Adam Fantilli!#CBJ | Watch on FanDuel Sports Network pic.twitter.com/W95i97qGUL
— FanDuel Sports Network Columbus (@FanDuelSN_CBUS) November 29, 2024
Ivan Provorov picked up his sixth assist on the play.
When one falls, they tend to come in bunches. Fantilli scored his second of the game at 4:46 of the third period after coming out of the penalty box to give Columbus a 4-1 lead. The Jackets killed a Merzlikins two-minute minor for roughing, which Fantilli served.
The #CBJ make it a 4-1 game on Adam Fantilli's second of the game, but that pass from Marhcenko? Ruthless.pic.twitter.com/VrVqvElbhc
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 29, 2024
Kirill Marchenko (14) picked up his second assist of the game and Dante Fabbro (3) got one as well.
Scoring Streaks Ablazing
How hot is Kent Johnson?
The young forward continued his scoring trend with a first-period goal at 16:42, giving Columbus the 2-0 lead. He has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in all eight games, giving him a career-long point streak. Cole Sillinger had his 10th assist after returning to the lineup following an upper-body injury that sidelined him on Wednesday.
Kent Johnson has no issue ripping one home on the odd man rush for his 5th goal of the year!#CBJ pic.twitter.com/JQ7TpH4lWK
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) November 29, 2024
Werenski also stayed hot with his eighth goal to continue a seven-game point streak (five goals, nine assists). Marchenko had the first of his two assists and Dmitri Voronkov (5) added his first of two assists on the day. Voronkov is on a five-game point streak (three goals, four assists).
Marchenko also scored the empty-net goal to make it 5-2 for his team-leading ninth of the season with Voronkov picking up his second assist and Werenski (16) getting one. Werenski's seven-game point streak ties a career-high from 2019-20 and he leads the team in points (24) and assists.
The Z goal to make it 3-0 in favor of the #CBJ.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 29, 2024
Zach Werenski is now tied for the league lead in goals by a defenseman, and has extended his point streak to seven games.
Oh, sorry, that's Norris-candidate defenseman Zach Werenski.pic.twitter.com/WGYbCF0qnD
Werenski is tied with Cale Makar for first among all defensemen with eight goals this year.
Zach Werenski finished the month of November with 5-11-16 in 13 games, setting #CBJ records for most assists (tied) and points by a defenseman in a single month. The previous record of points was 14 recorded by Werenski (Mar. 2024) and Seth Jones (Mar. 2018).
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) November 30, 2024
He posted points
Olivier is A Dude
It started with a hit ultimately resulting in a two-minute minor for boarding. Then Mathieu Olivier answered the bell yet again with two second-period fights.
First, his challenger was Martin Pospisil. Then it was Ryan Lomberg late in the period.
Mathieu Olivier lands a heavy hit on Joel Hanley, and Martin Pospisil drops the gloves for the second time today. pic.twitter.com/B665VTC6uO
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 29, 2024
"Bring it on!"
— FanDuel Sports Network Columbus (@FanDuelSN_CBUS) November 29, 2024
Mathieu Olivier delivers a clear message to the Flames bench after a fight.#CBJ | @BlueJacketsNHL pic.twitter.com/O2xXKq63hM
Mathieu Olivier vs Jake Paul when pic.twitter.com/Jjhh6eRphi
— nhlmemecentral (@nhlmemecentral) November 29, 2024
There were three fights in the second period as Jake Christiansen got into his first career fight, also with Pospisil.
Jake Christiansen crushes Andrei Kuzmenko.
— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 29, 2024
Martin Pospisil sticks up for his teammates and drops the gloves.
: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/YyhO056Fd1
Jake Christiansen got high marks in the #CBJ locker room for taking the fight today -- at the end of a shift -- after he delivered a clean hit.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) November 30, 2024
Dean Evason: "I probably cant express how much I like it."
Mathieu Olivier: "I thought Christy did a hell of a job. He didn't need to
Long Road Trip
The Blue Jackets embark on a five-game road trip beginning with the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 3:00 p.m. ET. Then they’ll play four in Western Canada starting with the emotional rematch with Calgary on Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Saddledome.
