Three Things: Road Streak Snapped, Olivier’s Big Night, Elvis Thrives

By Will Chase on November 19, 2024 at 8:15 am
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) celebrates with defenseman David Jiricek (55) after defeating the Boston Bruins at TD Garden.
© Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
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Finally. A win on the road.

A three-goal first period fueled by Mathieu Olivier’s fight and short-handed goal helped the Columbus Blue Jackets over the Boston Bruins 5-1 on Monday night at TD Garden.

Dmitri Voronkov, James van Riemsdyk, Justin Danforth, and Yegor Chinakhov scored.


Road Streak Snapped

Columbus came into Monday’s matchup with seven consecutive road losses. Their first and only win away from Nationwide Arena in Denver was a 6-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Oct. 12. 

Monday’s victory also snapped a streak of six straight road games of two or fewer goals thanks to tallies by Voronkov (3) at 5:17, Olivier (6) at 10:39, van Riemsdyk (3) at 19:28, Danforth's (3) short-handed goal at 7:19 of the third period, and Chinakhov (5) at 14:10.

Sean Monahan had two assists (9). Dante Fabbro (2), Zach Werenski (10), Adam Fantilli (6), and Cole Sillinger (7) also had assists.

It's the Jackets' first regulation win in Boston since a 6-4 win on Feb. 22, 2016. Columbus made lineup changes heading into this one and the results paid off.


Olivier’s Big Night

Olivier is a fun player to watch. You know he'll do a little bit of anything when a spark is needed.

And against the Bruins, he was two-thirds of the way to the Gordie Howe hat trick with a fight at 2:12 of the first period and his career-best sixth goal at 10:39 to give Columbus a 2-0 lead. 

The tally was unassisted. With the goal, Olivier moves into a tie for the team lead with Monahan and Kirill Marchenko.

David Jiricek played for the first time since Nov. 9 in Los Angeles, playing 8:14.


Elvis Thrives

Columbus committed six penalties which will be a point of emphasis by head coach Dean Evason. The Jackets were in the box four times on Saturday against the Montreal Canadians.

However, the Blue Jackets were plus-two on the scoreboard in the goal-scoring department.

We alluded to Olivier’s first-period short-handed goal. Then Danforth got in on the act with his goal in the third period at 7:19 to give Columbus the 4-1 lead.


Bolts

Columbus returns home to play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, Nov. 20 from Nationwide Arena at 7:00 p.m. ET.

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