Overtime.
It has become the unofficial theme of Columbus' 20th NHL season.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | SO | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PANTHERS | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| BLUE JACKETS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
For the fourth time in five games, the Blue Jackets went to overtime.
But for the first time, they came out on top.
Mikko Koivu and Max Domi scored their first goals as Blue Jackets, and Alexandre Texier scored the lone goal in the shootout as the Blue Jackets defeated the Florida Panthers 3-2 Thursday night at Nationwide Arena. The win gives Columbus points in six straight games.
The Blue Jackets got the scoring underway late in the first period when Eric Robinson put his speed on display to get past the Florida defense. After circling the back of the net, his goal mouth pass to Koivu was easily put past Panthers goaltender Chris Driedger.
Eric Robinson lives the old adage never give up on a play and it results in Mikko Koivus first goal as a #CBJ player.
— Alison (@AlisonL) January 29, 2021
1-0 Jackets pic.twitter.com/3u8kBVcCk6
Florida tied the game in the second period when the Blue Jackets were unable to get the puck out of their zone on what seemed to be a relatively easy clear, but the Blue Jackets regained the lead just over six minutes into the 3rd period when Domi scored just the second power play goal of the season for Columbus.
An absolute RIP. Yowza. #CBJ https://t.co/9LpWmPqzOt
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 29, 2021
The Panthers would again tie the game with just over seven minutes remaining in the game, when the Blue Jackets again had trouble clearing their zone.
Both teams had chances to score in the overtime period. Elvis Merzlikins came up big for the Blue Jackets in net, making several key saves to keep the game alive. In all, Merzlikins stopped 33 of 35 shots.
With no goals through three rounds into the shootout, the Blue Jackets and Panthers went to extra frames in the shootout for the second consecutive game.
Texier would not let it go beyond that.
NICE SHOOTING, TEX. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/sDO1wDZIuk
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 29, 2021
Texier slid it through Driedger's five-hole to give Columbus the lead in the shootout, and moments later Patric Hornqvist was denied by Merzlikins to give the Blue Jackets two points.
Next Up
It'll be a quick turnaround for Columbus. The Blue Jackets head to Chicago for two with the Blackhawks. Puck drop in the first game is Friday at 8:00 p.m.
