If the last few days is any indication of the Columbus Blue Jackets future, the 5th Line is going to need prescription-level sunglasses.
The future is that bright.
Yegor Chinakhov scored three times, Cole Sillinger added a highlight-reel goal, and the Blue Jackets defeated the Detroit Red Wings 7-3 in Traverse City, Michigan to move to 3-0 in the NHL Prospects Tournament.
Chinakhov's hat trick gives him six goals through three games. He got it started with a power play rocket just three seconds into a Blue Jackets man-advantage.
Yegor Chinakhov absolutely rockets one seconds into the powerplay for his 4th goal of the tournament #CBJ pic.twitter.com/DQJnatdvIb
— SpecmenceCBJ (@SpecmenceCBJ) September 19, 2021
Chinakhov's, who has been most productive from the right dot, switched it up a little for the second of his three goals. Sillinger won the faceoff, the puck got to defenseman Gerard Keene, and he got it to Chinakhov, who ripped a laser from the high slot to make it 5-2 Columbus.
Yegor Chinakhov again! What a snipe. His 2nd of the game and 5th of the tournament. This kid is something special #CBJ pic.twitter.com/S0YZpzov9n
— SpecmenceCBJ (@SpecmenceCBJ) September 20, 2021
And the coup de grâce:
YEGOR CHINAKHOV. HAT TRICK. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/MBKZ2GwCFC
— SpecmenceCBJ (@SpecmenceCBJ) September 20, 2021
While Chinakhov has certainly stolen the show so far in the tournament, he has not been the only Blue Jacket to turn heads. Sillinger, drafted 12th overall in July, scored his second goal of the series with an impressive short-handed goal.
Cole Sillinger makes a great move on a shorthanded rush to make it 2-0 Blue Jackets. That's Sillinger's 2nd goal of the tournament. Great set-up by Tyler Angle #CBJ pic.twitter.com/WzrqKZMiZb
— SpecmenceCBJ (@SpecmenceCBJ) September 19, 2021
Sillinger, like Chinakhov, went into training camp with an outside chance to make the Blue Jackets opening night roster. Both players have made the most of their opportunities thus far, meaning that Columbus could have their hand forced into giving roster spots to the 20-year-old Chinakhov and 18-year-old Sillinger.
Josh Dunne, Peter Reynolds,and Ben Boyd also scored for the Blue Jackets in the victory. Columbus has now scored 16 goals through the first three games.
The Blue Jackets wrap up their time in Traverse City with a second game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. That game is slated for 1:00p.m. Monday.
