What a game that was.
The Columbus Blue Jackets started the second half of their season Tuesday from Capital One Arena in D.C. against the Washington Capitals.
Elvis Merzlikins (29 saves on 33 shots) was in goal for Columbus opposing Pheonix Copley (15 saves on 19 shots). Ilya Samsonov made six saves on seven shots in third period relief as the Blue Jackets hung on for the 5-4 win.
Patrik Laine's Surging
Patrik Laine was heating up heading into the All-Star Break with six points (four goals, two assists) in the three games leading into the break.
He's on fire now.
After scoring two goals in the second period, both on the power play for his first power play goals of the season — you read that right — he now has three consecutive two-goal games.
The first power play goal cut a two-goal deficit to one at 9:38, before his second goal with four seconds remaining in the period sent both teams to intermission at 3-3.
pic.twitter.com/iamfDoSaR2 #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 9, 2022
— Bally Sports Columbus (@BallySportsCBUS) February 9, 2022
Third straight game with two goals for Patrik Laine! #CBJ pic.twitter.com/710dOlCvIh
Laine has 12 goals this season with half of them coming in the last three games.
Three straight multi-goal games and four straight multi-point games for @PatrikLaine29.#NHLStats: https://t.co/Pdtbc80P0m pic.twitter.com/RIJe4GVkJu
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 9, 2022
He also added an assist on the night and was -1 with five shots in 17:39 ice time.
As we've mentioned previously, Laine is an RFA this summer. It'll be curious to see how this situation plays out if he continues to play this way for the rest of the season. Perhaps a team is willing to overpay for a streaking player by the trade deadline if Jarmo Keklainen doesn't feel confident in re-signing him to a long-term contract.
New Guys
Trey Fix-Wolansky made his NHL debut on Tuesday for the Blue Jackets while Brendan Gaunce made his Blue Jackets debut. Gaunce spent time previously with the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks but it was his first NHL game since 2019-20.
Trey Fix-Wolansky on the ice for the first time in an NHL game!#CBJ pic.twitter.com/xS9y8vrK8i
— Bally Sports Columbus (@BallySportsCBUS) February 9, 2022
Both players (Fix-Wolansky: 2:52, Gaunce: 3:51) had their minutes sheltered a bit through 40 minutes, which might not come as a surprise for two guys getting accustomed to NHL game speed.
Then, Fix-Wolansky had the moment he's waited for as he scored his first NHL goal in his first career NHL game to give the Blue Jackets a 4-3 lead 2:40 into the third period.
FIRST OF MANY #CBJ pic.twitter.com/yAIvKGLlk4
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 9, 2022
For the game, Fix-Wolansky was +1 with two shots in 5:23. Not a bad five minutes in the NHL. Gaunce had one shot (6:32).
Last But Not Least
Adam Boqvist and Boone Jenner were the other goal scorers for the Blue Jackets.
Boqvist's eighth goal of the season at 12:42 of the second period tied the game at 2-2. It was his first goal since New Year's Day versus the Carolina Hurricanes, and his first point since a two-assist game against the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 8.
Adam Boqvist continues his breakout year, following up and sniping home Domi's patient find! Tie game!#CBJ pic.twitter.com/MqqJl3JCxA
— Hockey Daily 365 (@HockeyDaily365) February 9, 2022
The goal occurred right after a power play ended, so while it doesn't count for a third power play goal (2-of-3 on the night), the result is great all the same.
Boone Jenner's tie-breaking and team-leading 19th goal at 19:15 of the third period was enough to propel the Blue Jackets to a wild 5-4 victory over the Capitals.
Boqvist (13:40, +1 with one shot) and Jenner (22:38, -1, four shots) each added one assist on the night.
The Capitals got to avoid overtime against the league's best in extra time (Blue Jackets are 7-1). Washington falls to 14-5-1 when leading after the first period, and 15-3-3 when leading after two periods. The loss for the Capitals means they haven't won a home game in regulation at Capital One Arena in 2022, and have lost four straight at home.
Gustav Nyquist Boone Jenner
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 9, 2022
Ending the Capspic.twitter.com/kwwTJmGoBH
Back to NY
The Blue Jackets head back to Buffalo to face the Sabres on Thursday at 7:00 pm ET at KeyBank Center. The Blue Jackets defeated the Sabres 7-4 in Buffalo on Nov. 22, while their December meeting was postponed for COVID protocols. Thursday's game will be Buffalo's first since the All-Star Break.
