A comeback effort falls short.
On Thursday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets finished their season series against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. The Islanders came in leading the series 2-1.
Sebastian Aho, Oliver Wahlstrom, Kyle Palmieri, Mathew Barzal, and Ryan Pulock all scored for the Islanders.
Emil Bemstrom and Sean Kuraly scored for the Blue Jackets.
Semyon Varlamov made his second straight start against the Blue Jackets in as many games, stopping 30 shots in the 5-2 win. Elvis Merzlikins started for the fourth straight game and made 35 saves.
The loss means the Islanders have tied the Blue Jackets with 69 points, and the Islanders leapfrog Columbus with fewer regulation losses and two games in hand.
Another Comeback
The Blue Jackets had two goals against, zero shots for, and it was the 8:50 mark of the first period.
New York's two goals came from Aho and Wahlstrom 11 seconds apart, the fastest goals by two Islanders this season. It was Aho's first of the season, assisted by Brock Nelson, and Wahlstrom's 13th assisted by Mathew Barzal and Zach Parise.
By allowing two first period goals, the Blue Jackets have allowed two goals 21 times in the first period this season, which is tied with the Montreal Canadiens and Arizona Coyotes, and one behind the Detroit Red Wings for among the most allowed this season.
The Jackets have trailed in 21 of their 32 wins this season which ties them for the third-most in the NHL this season, and that also ties a franchise record.
Looking to add to those numbers, the Blue Jackets pushed back in the second period.
Two goals 1:39 apart by Bemstrom Danforth did the damage. For Bemstrom it's his fourth of the season, assisted by Jake Bean and Eric Robinson, while Danforth is up to six goals this season, assisted by Yegor Chinakhov and Vladislav Gavrikov.
Emil Bemstrom now becomes the first #CBJ player to score a goal at UBS Arena.
— Mark Scheig (@markscheig) April 1, 2022
Goal No. 1 #CBJ pic.twitter.com/EMctJ9QRu2
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) April 1, 2022
Danforth's sixth! #CBJ pic.twitter.com/SSJrkYALS4
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) April 1, 2022
After that two-goal second period by the Jackets, Palmieri's 12th (Zdeno Chara, Josh Bailey) in the third period went down as the game-winner.
Super Laine
Though the Blue Jackets are out of the playoff picture—despite ESPN's insistence that the Jackets are in the hunt on their playoff graphic—one of the fun storylines to tune into on a nightly basis is Patrik Laine.
Patrik Laine is a scorer. Period. @BlueJacketsNHL pic.twitter.com/BxgiajVRlJ
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 30, 2022
This is Patrik Laine's 400th NHL game, for those counting. It's me. I am counting. #CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) March 31, 2022
Laine played his 400th career game Thursday night and he's leading the club in points with 51 and goals with 25.
It's quite the second half for Laine including 40 points (21 goals, 19 assists) in 38 games since Jan. 1.
Laine didn't crack the scoresheet on Thursday night as he had four shots in 20:51 and was -2.
He did have a fancy toe drag during the second period, which is something we've become accustomed to throughout this season, and on what feels like a game-by-game basis.
Brian Boucher was drawing slight comparisons for Laine with Mario Lemieux during the broadcast.
4th Line Grind
Pascal Vincent's fourth line helped do their part tonight.
Biggest observation from tonight so far. Best game from the fourth line I have seen in a long time.
— Mark Scheig (@markscheig) April 1, 2022
Robinson-Gaunce-Bemstrom have been outstanding. #CBJ
We know Bemstrom had the goal and he also had three shots on the night in 13:13. Brendan Gaunce had three shots in 11:38 while Robinson added the assist in 11:44.
Bear's Den
The Blue Jackets meet the Boston Bruins on Saturday at TD Garden at 7:00 pm ET. The Blue Jackets fell to the Bruins 5-4 in a shootout on Mar. 24. The Bruins defeated the New Jersey Devils 8-1 in Boston tonight.
