Early fireworks punctuated with a cannon blast.
Kirill Marchenko scored 16 seconds into overtime to end the Columbus Blue Jackets' four-game losing streak and beat the Ottawa Senators, 4-3, on Sunday at Nationwide Arena.
Marchenko had an assist for the two-point game.
Kent Johnson, Eric Robinson, and Boone Jenner also scored for the Blue Jackets. Robinson set a new career-high with his 11th goal after scoring 10 last season. Jenner's tally tied the game at 14:11 of the third period, extending his team-leading 26th.
Gavin Bayreuther, Johnny Gaudreau, Emil Bemstrom, Justin Richards, and Billy Sweezey picked up assists.
Richards' assist is his second career point as he picked up his first career point (also an assist) in 2020-21 with the New York Rangers. The assist for Sweezey is his first career point.
Dylan Gambrell, Mark Kastelic, and Alex DeBrincat scored for the Senators. Erik Brannstrom, Tyler Kleven, and Ridly Greig picked up the assists.
Sunday's game marked Kleven's third career game and the assist is his second career point (both assists).
There were three goals in a span of 1:24 inside the first 4:05 of the game, and the Blue Jackets had two goals on their first two shots. Robinson's goal came five seconds after Gambrell to regain the 2-1 Columbus lead. The win is the 13th come-from-behind win for the Blue Jackets.
Jon Gillies made 23 saves to pick up his first win of the season in his first career game for the Blue Jackets.
Cam Talbot made 18 saves.
Bayreuther played a career-high 25:30 and he was +1 with one assist, two shots, two blocked shots, and one hit.
Same Lineup, What's The Encore?
Coming in, this matchup drew quite a lot of parallels to the game from one night ago.
Much like the Florida Panthers from yesterday, the Senators came into the day desperate for points, and six points behind the Panthers for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They entered Sunday trailing both the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins in the standings to even catch the Panthers.
But now it's a little tougher.
On Sunday, the Penguins beat the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-2, in Pittsburgh to overtake Florida for the second wild card spot and increase their ad advantage over Ottawa by six points.
Columbus iced the same lineup from Saturday minus the goaltender change. Both the Blue Jackets and Senators were shut out in their respective games as Columbus lost, 7-0, to the Panthers, and the Senators lost, 3-0, to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Blue Jackets came into the game 8-2-2 against the Senators since 2017-18 and finish the season series 1-2-0.
The Senators are 17-11-3 since Jan. 25 but have been dealing with injuries to key regulars lately like Derick Brassard, who is out for the season (broken fibula), Thomas Chabot for two weeks (upper body), and Jakob Chychrun (hamstring).
With the win, the Blue Jackets now have 56 points and are in 30th place, tied with the Anaheim Ducks, and are two points ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks for 32nd in the league.
No. 328
He's not new to the NHL but Gillies represented yet another new face to don the Blue Jackets sweater in his first career start on Sunday with the team.
He was acquired by the Blue Jackets in the trade that sent Jake Voracek to the Arizona Coyotes.
In his career, Gillies came in 7-15-3, 3.31 GAA, .893 SV% with the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, and New Jersey Devils.
When Jon Gillies plays tonight, #CBJ will tie a record with five goalies used in a season.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) April 2, 2023
Happened in 2008-09 (Mason, Leclaire, Norrena, LaCosta, Dubielewicz) and 2006-07 (Norrena, Leclaire, Conklin, Boucher, Popperle)
Gillies dressed as the 328th different player in Blue Jackets history.
Same lineup for #CBJ today vs. Ottawa at Nationwide but goalie Jon Gillies to make his debut in union blue.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) April 2, 2023
328th player in franchise history.
He played well considering it was his first NHL game this season and he was able to settle down after the opening 20 minutes. Gillies was a bit unlucky when he lost his skate blade in the crease in the first period and the Senators were able to score.
Sens tie it 2-2. Jon Gillies lost a skate blade and couldn't really get back into position. That's worst case scenario for a goalie. Yikes.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) April 2, 2023
Mark Kastelic at 9:26 makes it 2-2. #CBJ
Gillies picked up his first win since Feb. 10, 2022.
Gillies was teammates with Gaudreau and Sean Kuraly on the 2013 United States World Juniors team, winning the gold, 3-1, over Sweden.
More Milestones
With his first-period power-play goal at 2:41 to open the scoring, Johnson now has 16 goals on the season, good for fifth on the club, and five power-play goals (fourth).
Johnson opened the scoring at 2:41 on the power play, placing him fourth all time among #CBJ rookies for goals in a season (16). Assists to Gavin Bayreuther and Johnny Gaudreau. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/9p1RGWFGaU
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) April 2, 2023
The 16 goals elevate Johnson to fourth among Blue Jackets rookies in franchise history for goals in a season. He's fourth among all rookies in points (39), tied for fifth in goals (16) with Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks, and he's tied for seventh in assists (23) with Noah Cates of the Flyers.
With two assists, Gaudreau hit the 70-point plateau making him the sixth different Blue Jacket to do that in a single season.
Johnny Gaudreau has reached the 70-point plateau for the 5th time in his career and has become just the 6th different player to accomplish the feat in a single season in club history (19-51-70 in 74 GP). #CBJ https://t.co/7Di8nGaco9
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) April 2, 2023
#GoSensGo Kastelic goal pic.twitter.com/y4TCLzL2l7
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) April 2, 2023
Marchenko's 21st goal sets the new franchise mark for goals by a rookie in a season. He's also tied with Wyatt Johnston and Matty Beniers for the rookie goal lead.
With the goal, Marchenko is now the franchise leader for goals by a rookie in an individual season with 21. Assisted by Gaudreau. pic.twitter.com/vocfYnIpK1 #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) April 3, 2023
The overtime tally 16 seconds in ties Jake Voracek (Feb. 10, 2022) for the second-fastest overtime goal in Blue Jackets franchise history.
Sweep Away The Leaves
The Blue Jackets are back in action on Tuesday when they meet the Maple Leafs at 7:00 pm ET at Scotiabank Arena. The Blue Jackets are 1-1-0 against the Maple Leafs this season.
