Oof.
The Blue Jackets didn't show up ready to play tonight, and the Wild certainly did. Although the Blue Jackets fought back, the Wild took the two points tonight, winning 5-4.
The Wild dominated the first period, and they were first on the scoresheet. Eric Staal scored just 1:34 into the game, giving the Wild a 1-0 lead.
1-0 #MNWild
— Alison (@AlisonL) February 26, 2020
Staal capitalizes off some solid pressure from the Wild. May have banked off Harringtons skate. pic.twitter.com/a3Xt0TNkhz
The Blue Jackets found themselves down, but they fought back. Shots on goal were 12-1 at one point, but with the Blue Jackets' second shot on goal of the game, Nick Foligno capitalized on a wonky rebound and tied the game at 1.
1-1
— Alison (@AlisonL) February 26, 2020
Stalock cant corral the puck off a Nyquist attempt, but Foligno can. He gets the score. #CBJ #MNWild pic.twitter.com/adJoF7Sh67
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| WILD | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
Just before the period ended, the Wild added another goal off the stick of Ryan Donato to make it 2-1.
2-1 #MNWild
— Alison (@AlisonL) February 26, 2020
Donato capitalizes on a rebound in return. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/L3BzsLHBlA
In the second period, it was more of the same one-way traffic. Mikka Koivu made it 3-1 Wild with 12:08 gone.
Koivu makes it 3-1 #MNWild#CBJ pic.twitter.com/yttuvF2VVd
— Alison (@AlisonL) February 26, 2020
The Wild weren't done, and neither was Koivu. With just 10 seconds left in the period, he made it 4-1.
4-1 #MNWild
— Alison (@AlisonL) February 26, 2020
Koivus second on Minnesotas 30th (!) shot of the night. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/DeOhdsiEo6
After 40 minutes were gone, shots on goal were 31-16, Wild.
The Blue Jackets weren't out of it yet though. After Devin Shore hit the post, Emil Bemstrom buried the rebound to make it 4-2 Wild just 1:55 into the third period.
#CBJ get one back.
— Alison (@AlisonL) February 26, 2020
4-2 now.
Hustle via Shore
Finish via Bemstrom #MNWild pic.twitter.com/7pAOFg02uW
Then, just 2:21 later, Pierre-Luc Dubois scored to make it a 4-3 game.
4-3 now.
— Alison (@AlisonL) February 26, 2020
Dubois this time. Goal comes off of lots of little battles won by #CBJ. Not pretty, but it counts all the same. #MNWild pic.twitter.com/ElhT2j4OmL
Then, a puck glanced off of the linesman to give the Wild a lucky break. Kevin Fiala took a feed from Staal and made no mistake, making it 5-3.
#MNWild restore the two-goal lead with a Fiala score.
— Alison (@AlisonL) February 26, 2020
5-3 with just over 10 to play. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/ypXd4GTGod
A common theme occurred again: the Blue Jackets didn't give up. Zach Werenski drove the net and scored with 3:06 remaining in the game to cut the deficit to 5-4.
FILTHY #CBJ | @ZachWerenski pic.twitter.com/n2NgBRhbTN
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 26, 2020
Unfortunately, the Blue Jackets ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard when all was said and done. The final score was 5-4, Wild.
Injury Update
Riley Nash and Elvis Merzlikins missed out tonight with injuries sustained Monday night against the Senators.
Cam Atkinson, Ryan Murray, and Alexander Wennberg have been skating.
Next Up
The Blue Jackets will host the Wild on Friday night at Nationwide Arena. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m.
