The first line is cooking for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Through four games this season, the trio of Yegor Chinakhov - Sean Monahan - Kirill Marchenko has combined for five goals and one against.
Monahan, closing in on 300 career assists, has four points this season (two goals, two assists). Chinakhov has six points (two goals, four assists) and Marchenko has six points (two goals, four assists).
As a trio, the numbers below bear out their success as a line and the damage they've been providing for the Blue Jackets.
| Corsi For/Against | Shots For/Against | Scoring Chances For/Against | High Danger Chances For/Against | Goals For/Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70/26 | 40/11 | 31/10 | 16/3 | 5-1 |
Monahan has done his part to replace the void left by Boone Jenner's absence in the face-off circle, leading the team with 54 wins in the dot (57.4%).
Deleted an earlier post because I misread the results of the stats search ... but I still contend that #CBJ Sean Monahan was dialed in on Tuesday vs. #TimeToHunt.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) October 16, 2024
Monahan went 20 of 26 in face-offs, tied for 4th-highest win pct (76.7%) by a #CBJ player taking 25 or more draws.
The Columbus top line shined once again on Thursday night.
#CBJ top line responsible for another three Jackets goals tonight.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) October 18, 2024
In the Blue Jackets' 6-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres, Chinakhov started the scoring at 5:12 of the first period.
A rocket from 59. #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) October 17, 2024
pic.twitter.com/PCtipjAaBM
Marchenko scored the second goal, unassisted, at 19:28 to extend the 2-0 lead for Columbus.
Marchenkos goal to double the #CBJ lead in the final seconds of the opening period.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) October 18, 2024
The first unassisted goal of the season for the Blue Jackets.
pic.twitter.com/veLpcikYoF
Damon Severson's goal at 8:10 of the third period extended the Blue Jackets' lead to 6-3 and Marchenko grabbed his second point of the evening with the assist.
Columbus goal!
— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) October 18, 2024
Scored by Damon Severson with 11:50 remaining in the 3rd period.
Assisted by Kirill Marchenko.
Columbus: 6
Buffalo: 3#BUFvsCBJ #CBJ #SabreHood pic.twitter.com/M2vyR4nV00
Even though Monahan didn't factor in as one of the six goal scorers on the night or among the 11 players to record a point, his presence is not lost on his first-line mates.
Kirill Marchenko jokes he and Yegor Chinakhov have started calling their new center Sean Monahanov. Hes certainly got good chemistry with his Russian wings. #CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) October 18, 2024
What does Evason like about the Chinakhov - Monahan - Marchenko line?
"Everything because they're not only creating offensively, like tonight we played them against (Tage) Thompson's line for the most part, which is a tough challenge," Evason said after Thursday's win. "And they're doing the right things defensively as well.
"(Monahan) is such a well-rounded hockey player. I think we could stick anybody with him and they'd be fine but (Chinakahov) and (Marchenko) are playing properly and they're getting rewarded for it."
The Blue Jackets look to keep the offense and the high-flying first line going in Saturday's rematch against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night as the Blue Jackets continue their four-game homestand.
