Oof.
The Anaheim Ducks scored five straight goals to complete the comeback win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-3, on Thursday at Nationwide Arena to break a five game losing streak.
Adam Henrique, Cam Fowler, and Trevor Zegras each had a goal and an assist. Zegras has points in four straight (three goals, three assists). Henrique extended a four-game point streak (four goals, two assists). Simon Benoit and Max Jones also scored.
Troy Terry and Isac Lundestrom had two assists. Max Comtois, Ryan Strome, and Jayson Megna had assists. Strome has assists in three straight games.
Mathieu Olivier, Jack Roslovic, and Nick Blankenburg scored for the Blue Jackets.
The goal extends Roslovic's point streak (one goal, four assists) to four games. Eric Robinson, Adam Boqvist, Patrik Laine, and Johnny Gaudreau all grabbed assists.
Anthony Stolarz started the game for the Ducks, stopping 12 of 15 first-period shots before giving way to John Gibson who came in for relief in the second period and stopped all 18 shots faced.
Elvis Merzlikins had 28 saves. The Blue Jackets have not beaten the Ducks at Nationwide Arena since 2017-18 (1-2-2). The Ducks lead the league with five multi-goal comeback wins.
Gordie Howe Hat Trick Watch
Olivier made it 1-0 on the first shot of the first period for Columbus at 2:17. The goal is his third of the year and was assisted by Robinson and Boqvist. It's Olivier's first goal since Nov. 23.
Olivier put the Jackets on the board first. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/WcobBQx6QA Olivier - Robinson - Boqvist.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 20, 2023
He also had something to say later when he dropped the gloves with Sam Carrick at 15:01.
Olivier put the Jackets on the board first. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/WcobBQx6QA Olivier - Robinson - Boqvist.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 20, 2023
It seemed like the Blue Jackets had the momentum, showing fight, and having the fight to capitalize on a big opening period. But that scrap must have lit up something in the Ducks as well.
Olivier's final line includes one goal, one fight, three shots, one blocked shot, and four hits, and he was +1 in 10:12. Olivier played the fewest 5v5 minutes (8:46).
California Dreamin'
Roslovic must like California. Or when the Blue Jackets entertain the California teams.
Roslovic broke a 17-game goalless drought with his first-period goal at 6:05 to extend the Blue Jackets' 2-0 lead. The goal came on the second shot of the game for Columbus.
Roslovic makes it 2-0. It's his first goal since his 2-goal game against the Kings on Dec. 11. The goal is unassisted. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/PBMLjnVBPN
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 20, 2023
Before Thursday, the last time Roslovic scored a goal was against the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 11 when he had a two-goal performance in the 6-4 win. His other goal came short-handed in the loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 22 when he also had an assist.
Despite only having four goals on the season, Roslovic is second on the team in points (25) and assists (21). Roslovic has points in five of the last six games (one goal, five assists).
Roslovic finished with one goal, a game-high six shots, and one blocked shot in 13:25. Roslovic played the second-fewest 5v5 minutes (8:52).
The Basement
Boone Jenner played his fourth straight game upon returning from the broken thumb and was back on the first line with Gaudreau and Laine. Jenner didn't start out on the top line on Tuesday in the loss to the Nashville Predators but that trio played 9:24 in the game, which was the most among the Jackets' lines at 5v5.
In Thursday's loss, Gaudreau and Laine picked up assists on Blankenburg's first-period goal, but Laine was swapped with Kirill Marchenko in the third period following the Ducks' fourth goal of the game. Laine had no shots on goal following a franchise-record-tying 10-shot performance on Tuesday against the Predators. Gaudreau had one shot and Jenner did not register a shot.
Entering Thursday's action, the Blue Jackets came in 32nd of 32 teams with 28 points, tied with the Chicago Blackhawks, whom the Jackets split the season series with. Next up at No. 30 were the Ducks with 29 points. The Blackhawks beat the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday to take sole possession of 31st leaving Columbus in the basement.
Against Anaheim, Columbus was the far superior team early, staked out to a 3-0 first-period lead but the Ducks changed goaltenders, going with the veteran Gibson, and the momentum turned after the first period.
Anaheim scored three second-period goals and added two more in the third period.
Shark Bait
The Blue Jackets take on the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, Jan. 21 at Nationwide Arena. Puck drop is 7:00 pm ET.
