Back in the win column.
Dmitri Voronkov's power-play goal in the third period proved to be just the insurance the Columbus Blue Jackets had in mind as they beat the Calgary Flames 5-2 on Thursday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Blue Jackets swept the season series from the Flames 2-0, while the Flames have lost four straight.
Yegor Chinakhov, Damon Severson, and Adam Fantilli each had two points with a goal and an assist. Alexandre Texier scored a shorthanded goal for Columbus.
Zach Werenski, Cole Sillinger, Sean Kuraly, and Erik Gudbranson had the assists.
Daniil Tarasov made 28 saves.
MacKenzie Weegar and Connor Zary scored for the Calgary Flames. Weegar is on a three-game point streak (three goals, zero assists).
Andrew Mangiapane, Blake Coleman, Matt Coronato, and Rasmus Andersson had the assists.
Jacob Markstrom made 27 saves.
David Jiricek's timeline:
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) January 25, 2024
Jan. 09: Played for CBJ @ WIN
Jan. 13: Scratch for CBJ vs SEA
Jan. 15: Scratch for CBJ vs VAN
Jan. 18: Sent to AHL
Jan. 19: Played for CLE
Jan. 20: Played for CLE
Jan. 21: Recalled by CBJ
Jan. 23: Scratch for CBJ @ EDM
Jan. 25: Sent to AHL#CBJ
#CBJ are the only club in NHL without a 30-point scorer yet this season. Johnny Gaudreau has 7-22-29 in 46 games.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) January 26, 2024
Put another way: five #NHL players have scored more goals (Matthews 39, Reinhart 35, Kucherov 31, MacKinnon and Pastrnak 30) than any #CBJ player has points.
1/2
With Werenski being activated off injured reserve (ankle) ahead of Thursday's game, David Jiricek was sent back to Cleveland. Jake Bean played his first game in his native Calgary, Alberta. His father, John, is the president and CEO of the Flames. Oliver Kylington made his season debut for the Flames after 19 months away due to addressing his mental health. AJ Greer left the game in the second period after an awkward collision into the boards and did not return. Adam Boqvist was hit with an errant puck on the bench in the third period and did not return. Jack Roslovic left the game in the third period after being on the receiving end of a hit by Jonathan Huberdeau and did not return. Huberdeau was assessed a 10-minute misconduct and a five-minute major for boarding.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| CAL FLAMES | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
1st Period
Columbus got on the board first with Chinakhov scoring his 12th of the season at 2:50. Werenski and Sillinger had the assists.
Chinakhov from Werenski and Sillinger. pic.twitter.com/ePZlgE6Jdg #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 26, 2024
At the 7:26 mark, Weegar tied the game with his 12th. Mangiapane and Coleman picked up the helpers.
MacKenzie Weegar goes top shelf for the tie. pic.twitter.com/I6JkJ6N77f
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 26, 2024
The Blue Jackets retook the lead 2-1 on Severson's sixth at 11:48.
Severson's sixth. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/M9MYU1eZyG
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 26, 2024
Markstrom was clearing the pick out behind the net, and Severson was there for the steal and the score before the goalie was set.
There was more scoring in the first.
Zary scored his 10th at 14:42, with Coronato and Andersson getting on the board with the assists.
Connor Zary ties the game! Great shift by the Kadri line!
— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) January 26, 2024
: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/UsXG3qW5Kl
2nd Period
The back-and-forth continued when Texier scored his seventh of the season while the Blue Jackets were shorthanded at 6:33. Kuraly and Gudbranson picked up the assists. It's the first shorthanded goal of the season for Columbus.
Texier from Kuraly. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/niIOkmMFu7
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 26, 2024
3rd Period
The Blue Jackets entered the third period leading 3-2 and came into the day with the worst third-period goal differential in the league (-36), with 73 goals given up in the third.
Huberdeau's misconduct and five-minute major in the third period on Roslovic set up a five-minute power play for Columbus. At 13:43, Dmitri Voronkov scored his 11th goal to give the Jackets a 4-2 lead. Fantilli and Severson had the assists.
Voronkov from Fantilli and Severson. pic.twitter.com/tj55PslBqv #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 26, 2024
Fantilli completed the day with his second point on the empty-net goal at 18:18 as the Blue Jackets won 5-2. Chinakhov added an assist for his second point of the night. Tonight marks the Blue Jackets' first regulation win since Dec. 19, 2023.
Stats
- Shots on Goal: CBJ 32-30 CGY
- Face-off %: CBJ 43.3-56.7 CGY
- Power play: CBJ 1/4-0/2 CGY
- Giveaways: CBJ 13-10 CGY
- Takeaways: CBJ 6-5 CGY
- Blocked shots: CBJ 10-19 CGY
- Hits: CBJ 15-12 CGY
-
5-on-5 stats (via naturalstattrick.com):
- Expected Goals (xG): CBJ 1.03-1.59 CGY
- Shot Attempts (CF): CBJ 42-46 CGY
- Shots on Goal (SF): CBJ 20-22 CGY
- Scoring Chances (SCF): CBJ 12-18 CGY
- High-Danger Chances (HDCF): CBJ 6-4 CGY
Injury Update
Patrik Laine (clavicle fracture) is still on IR but made the road trip and is expected to return soon.
Next Up
The Blue Jackets are back in action on Saturday in Vancouver to take on the Canucks at 10 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Ohio.
The club continues its road trip on Sunday in Seattle as they face the Kraken at 9 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Ohio.
