When the lights are the brightest, the true stars shine.
That was the case on Thursday in Toronto, the Mecca of hockey, as Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson scored the overtime winner to cap off his first three-point game as an NHLer.
#CBJ Johnson (3) goal pic.twitter.com/jTu2QKQojQ
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) December 15, 2023
Johnson helped open the scoring with a no-look backhand assist from behind the goal line, then doubled the lead with a ridiculous deflection from the right circle. That was just in the first period.
#CBJ Laine (6) goal pic.twitter.com/oS7C9gALza
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) December 15, 2023
#CBJ Johnson (2) goal pic.twitter.com/PZS66W4cik
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) December 15, 2023
"I've been here since Kent made it to the NHL," Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent said after the game. "I would have to go back in my memory bank, but I would be pretty convinced that it was his best game."
Johnson posted a season-high and game-high 4.02 game score, per hockeystatcards.com, and as the table below displays, his on-ice stats at five-on-five were tremendous as well.
| Stat | Goals For/ Against | xGoals For/Against | Shot Attempts For/Against | Shots on Goal For/Against | Scoring Chances For/Against | High-Danger Chances For/Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | 2/0 | 0.73/0.42 | 13/13 | 7/2 | 8/4 | 3/2 |
"He was very good with the puck," Vincent said. "That goal he set up for Patty (Laine) was a real good read, good instinct. That's the thing people will see. What we see [are his] routes without the puck, his positioning, how reliable he was. And I had no issue to put him [on the ice] in overtime because I know he's got skills but he's also responsible. Kent was really good tonight."
After the game, Johnson said it felt really good to finish that game off with the goal.
"It's obviously been not the most ideal start for me," Johnson said. "And tonight felt awesome."
He added that heading into overtime, his mind was solely focused on the extra frame.
"For me, I was just excited," Johnson said. "Like, it was overtime. You reset, you don't really care about the third period at that point. It's just overtime. So, just trying to have fun playing in it and get the job done."
Johnson is a special player that rises to the occasion in big moments. He's a massive part of the Blue Jackets' future, and it's promising to see how well he's played since returning from the AHL.
