Yegor Chinakhov scored his fifth goal of the season Sunday in Montreal.
The first-year Columbus Blue Jacket was one of four first period goal scorers in the Blue Jackets' 6-3 win over the Canadiens. Congrats to him as that fourth goal at 13:14 of the first is credited as his first career game-winning goal.
Chinakhov's 5th goal of the season. All four goals from the #CBJ in the first period have come from players who entered the game with six goals or less on the season. (Seven had seven or more.) https://t.co/xTbmEN4NVB
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 31, 2022
Cole Sillinger and Yegor Chinakhov scoring in the same game for the second time this month. Get used to it, #CBJ fans.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) January 31, 2022
As you can see in the video, Chinakhov pickpocketed a defender to gain possession of the puck and bury the shot past Cayden Primeau, already Montreal's second goaltender of the period.
It's been a tough season for the Canadiens, last season's Stanley Cup Final runner-up. They were blown out 7-2 by the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night, forcing the Habs to use both goalies in consecutive days.
#CBJ set a new franchise record tonight with the fastest to score 4 goals to open a game in club history. The Blue Jackets recorded 4 in the 1st 13:14 of the contest in Montreal, surpassing the previous record of 4 in the 1st 14:10 vs. Anaheim on Oct. 28, 2016.
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) January 31, 2022
With eight points on the season (three assists to go with his five goals), Chinakhov is getting a chance to settle into his first NHL season with an average ice time of 12:22.
Fun story: Before morning skate, Chinakhov and Gavrikov kept trying to shoot the puck through a photo hole. Gavrikov did it because of course he did. Chinny kept trying and couldn't quite get one. Could tell he was getting frustrated, but he scores tonight where it counts. #CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) January 31, 2022
In The Athletic, Aaron Portzline had this to say about Chinakhov in Blue Jackets’ second-quarter report card: Lower grades, and not a pretty picture for most players:
Yegor Chinakhov: C
For now, Chinakhov’s offensive contributions come in sporadic bursts every few games or so. The good news is that he’s not a liability in other aspects of the game, so Larsen wisely keeps wheeling him out there. Chinakhov is a shooter first, but he’ll slowly get more comfortable with the puck on his stick, not be in such a hurry to move it if a shot isn’t there. He had three goals (in 16 games) during the second quarter. Feels like there’s more to come in the second half.
Telling stat: Chinakhov had 54 shots on goal in 32 games or 1.7 per game. His shooting percentage (7.4 percent) is one of the lowest on the club. Watch those numbers soar in future seasons.
First-quarter grade: B-
To shoot more is a phrase that's been stressed by Brad Larsen this season. He mentioned it again following Sunday's game after a six-goal output — their fifth such game this season — with 36 shots on net, among their higher shot totals through 45 games.
As Portzline pointed out, and though Chinakhov only has five goals so far, he has displayed a shot that shows how dangerous he is now and very much poised to be in his NHL career. The minutes and shifts will increase as Chinakhov gets more comfortable and the shots, goals, and points should follow.
That's the goal and hope anyway. We've seen it in small doses and we're quite a bit past the days of those not knowing who he is.
The Columbus Blue Jackets destroyed the Carolina Hurricanes 6-0 yesterday. Yegor Chinakhov was one of the most impressive players of the game. He played only ~12 minutes but scored two goals and 87.3% share at xG was the highest value among all skaters. Brilliant performance! pic.twitter.com/0p8HCzI76A
— Andy & Rono (@HockeyStatsCZ) January 14, 2022
I do not know who Yegor Chinakhov is.
— Ryan Kennedy (@THNRyanKennedy) October 7, 2020
The 2021 KHL Rookie of the Year (10 goals, seven assists for Omsk Avangard) has dazzled with some pretty slick moves in the early going of his NHL career.
First career goal for Yegor Chinakhov... and WHAT A CELLY, TOO! pic.twitter.com/7xqombdW17
— NHL (@NHL) November 16, 2021
Fighting his way through traffic, and making it look effortless. That's the type of offensive playmaking you dream about, alongside the rest of the crop of young Blue Jackets as they mature and garner more ice-time and confidence.
"(Chinakahov) and I are only getting closer," Cole Sillinger said. "His English is getting a little better so it's easier to be a better friend to him. I like to see other young guys have success as well and for him to score tonight...I mean he's a breakaway specialist. He always likes the five-hole or he's a shot first guy on a breakaway and he should be, he's got a lethal shot so I like his odds on a breakaway."
The individual performances are exciting to see from the young players on this team and you can't wait until they're doing it on a consistent and nightly basis.
Though the overall stat line might not appear impressive yet for Chinakhov, the individual performances speak to the prowess of what's still to come in larger samples. For those who can wait, the future line combos can be a sight to behold (Blue Jackets Sunday Gathering: Projecting the 2024-25 Blue Jackets, weighing Jakob Chychrun interest).
Remember.
Teams like the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche, respectively, aren't all that far from their lean years. Now their young talent is carrying them like a force. Those are examples you hope the Blue Jackets can be like soon.
