A Hot Jack Roslovic and the Debut of Two Rookies Gave Blue Jackets Fans Something to Celebrate

By Derek Harper on April 15, 2022 at 10:25 am
Jack Roslovic
Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
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A party broke out in Nationwide Arena Wednesday night.

The Columbus Blue Jackets did not look like a team that had lost eight of their previous 10 games.

Two more Jack Roslovic goals and rookie debuts of Kent Johnson – the team's first draft pick in 2021 – and defenseman Nick Blankenburg fueled a party on the ice that led to a 5-1 drubbing of the Montreal Canadiens.

Fans had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the two rookies from the University of Michigan, and they played well in front of their college head coach and teammates along with family and friends there to witness their debuts. It was clear even from warmups that the fans were ready to see the club's two newest additions.

Johnson was the eagerly-awaited fifth overall pick by Columbus in the 2021 NHL Draft while Blankenburg, Michigan's captain this past season, signed as a free agent.

But it was Blankenburg, the undersized defenseman, who stole the show Wednesday night. Blankenburg picked up his first NHL point and laid his body out with a big hit in the first period on Montreal forward Jake Evans.

Then on a third period goal by Cole Sillinger, Blankenburg picked up the secondary assist. 

When Blankenburg picked up the assist, he was all smiles, despite saying postgame he tried to play it cool when he realized he nabbed his first NHL point.

It was a different feel for Blankenburg than his days at the University of Michigan. He noticed the speed he had to skate with once he was through the neutral zone. But what many people picked up on was his five blocked shots, which he emphasized postgame being a big part of how he plays.

Blankenburg was awarded the third star of the game and the kepi in his NHL debut for his hard work out on the ice against Montreal.

Blankenburg wasn't the only one making moves out there as forward Roslovic continued his recent tear putting home a goal in each of the first and second periods. His two goals were his fifth and sixth points in the last two goals after picking up a hat trick and assist Saturday night in Detroit.

Patrik Laine found his spot in the highlight reel as well Wednesday night, breaking his 11-game scoring drought.

With Laine's night on Wednesday, he put himself above a point per game.

Then postgame, it was all the feels as Johnson and Blankenburg's coach and teammates from Michigan mobbed the two players after their NHL debut.

Blankenburg had a smile-worthy night picking up his first NHL point and was beaming postgame holding the puck from that assist.

"It's a big moment for those two, I know they had friends and family here, those are a game and a day you'll never forget," Larsen said. "I thought they (Johnson and Blankenburg) did just fine, for your first NHL game, a lot is going on in your head."

With the product fans have seen this season, last night included, the enthusiasm is through the roof.

As the Blue Jackets play out a season that will likely see the club miss the playoffs, they put on a show for one night at least.

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