A good night was had by the 5th Line at Nationwide Arena.
Alex Nylander scored his first career hat trick, Daniil Tarasov looked up for the challenge yet again, and the Columbus Blue Jackets bested the reigning Stanley Cup Champions by a 6-3 score Monday night.
Here are three things from the Blue Jackets doubling up of Vegas:
Alex Nylander: An Uncut Gem?
A hat trick Monday. The fewest games played in franchise history for said hat trick. Four goals and two assists in his first five games as a Blue Jacket. Everything has been coming up Nylander since his trade to the Blue Jackets on February 22nd in exchange for Emil Bemstrom.
In just his fifth game with the @BlueJacketsNHL, Alex Nylander collects the first hat trick of his career!
— NHL (@NHL) March 5, 2024
Hat Trick Challenge Presented by @AstraZenecaUS pic.twitter.com/LHaFbHYUge
Sometimes a change of scenery is all a guy needs. Nylander was the 8th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, sandwiched between Clayton Keller of the Arizona Coyotes and Mikhail Sergachev of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He had 14 goals in the first 98 games of his career prior to the trade to Columbus. His hot start as a Blue Jacket will be impossible to sustain, but at just 26 years old, there's still plenty of time for him to become a mainstay on an NHL roster.
Is Daniil Tarasov Ready For More Starts?
He didn't look out of this world, but Tarasov made big saves at the times they were needed in Columbus' victory. His 37-save performance earned him the second star of the night. Included in the 37 saves were 13 in the second period, most of which was played with the teams knotted at 2-2. Tarasov was quick to credit the energy in the building:
Daniil Tarasov credits the 5th Line for their energy and support tonight, and says it gave them a boost to take down the reigning Stanley Cup champs. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/VO9POBJkAX
— Bally Sports Columbus (@BallySportsCBUS) March 5, 2024
Whether it's at the trade deadline or this summer, the writing is on the wall for the end of Elvis Merzlikins' tenure with the Blue Jackets and the 24-year-old Tarasov will almost definitely be first in line to be the next number one netminder in Columbus.
Are The Blue Jackets Turning The Corner?
Consecutive wins shouldn't be anything to write home around, but the Blue Jackets went 14 weeks in the middle of the season without back-to-back victories and snapping that streak has to feel good. Beating a strong Vegas team only adds to it, and combined with the 4-2 victory last week over the New York Rangers, the argument could be made that the two best Blue Jacket victories have come in the last ten days. Vegas was coming off a five-goal loss in Buffalo and in a heated, three-team race for second in the Pacific Division, hockey games in March against losing teams are must-wins for teams like the Knights. Credit the Blue Jackets for their execution.
UP NEXT: No Rest For The Wicked
The Blue Jackets head to Pittsburgh for a Tuesday night meeting with the Penguins. It will be Columbus' first game of the season in Pittsburgh. Puck drops is 7:00 p.m.
