Well, well, well.
The Blue Jackets took down the Kings in comeback style, winning 3-2 in overtime after tying the game up late in the third period.
Zach Werenski, Boone Jenner, and Pierre-Luc Dubois (GWG) scored for the Blue Jackets, while Adrian Kempe and Jeff Carter got on the board for Los Angeles.
Joonas Korpisalo saved 23 of 25 shots, and his counterpart Jack Campbell saved 25 of 28. The Blue Jackets went 2-for-2 on the penalty kill and went 1-for-4 on the power play.
| 1 | 2 | 3 (OT) | F (OT) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 1 | 0 | 1 (1) | 3 |
| KINGS | 1 | 1 | 0 (0) | 2 |
The first period didn't start the way the Blue Jackets wanted it to. Just 42 seconds into the game, the Kings made it 1-0 on a goal from Adrian Kempe (6). The Blue Jackets stuck to their game plan, and two minutes and 13 seconds later, Zach Werenski tied the game at 1 apiece with a goal on the power play (7). Assists went to Gustav Nyquist (16) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (12), and the first period ended with a score of 1-1.
A little Werenski goal, as a treat. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/qyW3TEkw1l
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 20, 2019
In the second period, Cam Atkinson was hauled down on a clear breakaway, but the referee did not award a penalty shot. The Blue Jackets did not score on the resulting power play, and a short matter of time later, former Blue Jacket Jeff Carter converted a wrist shot (11) to make it 2-1, Kings. To make things worse, Atkinson left the game late in the second period with a lower-body injury and would not return.
As originally reported by @JacketsInsider, Atkinson didnt finish 2nd period, was taken down by Prokhorkin just under 15 minutes into the second.
— Alison (@AlisonL) December 20, 2019
Seemed to favor his right leg/ankle when he came up and headed to the locker room. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/1XTM5Nw1v8
The third period saw captain Nick Foligno draw a penalty, but the Blue Jackets couldn't do much with it. Apart from the power play, the injury-depleted Blue Jackets didn't do much offensively over the last 20 minutes of the game, fading through the period. But then, with just under two minutes left, the Blue Jackets won an offensive-zone draw with an extra skater on for Korpisalo. Werenski threw the puck on net, and Jenner (7) tipped it in to tie the game with one minute and 43 seconds remaining in the period. Assists went to Werenski (11) and Bjorkstrand (11).
In overtime, Nyquist found Dubois streaking through the offensive zone, and Dubois made no mistake.
THE STUNNING SAUCE FROM NYQUIST AND THE SUBLIME SHOT FROM PLD.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/TZvZJEJtT9
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 20, 2019
Assists went to Nyquist (17) and Jones (16).
Injury Update
RW Cam Atkinson left tonight's game in the second period with a lower-body injury and did not return...D David Savard missed tonight's game with an illness...RW Josh Anderson is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury...LW Sonny Milano is day-to-day with an upper-body injury...D Andrew Peeke is out 4-6 weeks with a broken hand...F Emil Bemstrom is out 6-8 weeks from 12/7 with a dislocated rib and broken cartilage...D Ryan Murray is week-to-week with an upper-body injury...D Markus Nutivaara is practicing with the team, but there is no update on a return to the lineup...F Brandon Dubinsky is out indefinitely with a wrist injury...
Next Up
The Blue Jackets (15-14-6) will host the New Jersey Devils (11-17-5) on Saturday night at Nationwide Arena. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m.
