Two out of a possible six points on the homestand.
Jackson LaCombe scored the game-tying goal late in the third period and Alex Killorn scored twice including the overtime game-winner to help the Anaheim Ducks beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 on Saturday night at Nationwide Arena.
The win snaps Anaheim's five-game losing streak as they finish a 1-3-0 road trip. Columbus has dropped six of their last seven games after a 0-1-2 homestand.
Jet's Encore
Jet Greaves played so well in Thursday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals that head coach Dean Evason went right back to him.
Once again, Greaves played well enough to give his team a chance to win. Our Ed Francis asked Evason in the postgame what he liked from his young goaltender on Saturday night.
"His battle," Evason said. "Just competed. Battled. The last goal was a breakaway and two shin pads on the other one.
"He did what we've asked him to do and that's give his team a chance to get the two points and he did that both nights."
Mason McTavish (3) scored to give Anaheim the 1-0 lead at 16:33 of the first period and was subsequently off to the penalty box for goaltender interference even though Provorov pushed him into the net. McTavish picked up his 100th career point on the goal.
Robby Fabbri (1) and LaCombe (4) assisted on the goal.
Marchenko Breaks Drought
Speaking of the McTavish penalty . . .
Kirill Marchenko scored on the power play at 17:09 of the first period for his 11th goal of the season to break a six-game goalless drought.
Kirill Marchenko with the power play goal!#CBJ | Watch on FanDuel Sports Network pic.twitter.com/j26MxDNT2u
— FanDuel Sports Network Columbus (@FanDuelSN_CBUS) December 15, 2024
Marchenko played alongside Adam Fantilli and Dmitri Voronkov.
"We liked that line tonight," Evason said. "They generated a lot. They got in the zone a lot. (Marchenko) is shooting the puck more which he has to do. He's got a great shot. Great release."
Kent Johnson (9) and Zach Werenski (21) connected on the goal for the assists on the goal as they each continued four-game point streaks. Johnson has three goals and three assists over that span while Werenski has two goals and two assists.
Cole Sillinger (5) scored 34 seconds later to give Columbus its first lead to make it 2-1. Zach Aston-Reese (6) and Mathieu Olivier (4) assisted.
Cole Sillinger and thats 2 goals in 34 seconds for Columbus!pic.twitter.com/soZlnSUuTp
— SleeperNHL (@SleeperNHL) December 15, 2024
With Marchenko's goal, the Blue Jackets have struck on the power play in four straight games going 4-for-11 in that span.
Overall, the power play is 20th (19.2%) in the league. They're 15th (21.1%) for December and 16th (20.4%) since Nov. 1, when Voronkov made his season debut.
3rd Period Domination Falls Short
The Blue Jackets outshot the Ducks 17-5 in the third period. James van Riemsdyk (4) scored at 11:25 to give Columbus the 4-3 lead. Damon Severson (11) and Kevin Labanc (10) picked up the helpers.
Anaheim pulled their goalie and scored the equalizer on LaCombe's (6) tally at 17:14, completing a two-point night for him. Troy Terry (16) and Alex Killorn (8) had the points on the play.
Killorn then wrapped up a three-point night with his overtime winner. Fabbri picked up his second assist of the game and the season.
#CBJ did enough to win tonight but also enough to lose.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 15, 2024
Head coach Dean Evason talked about the inconsistencies postgame. Jackets did more positive than negative things, he said, but their game isnt where it has been for much of the year.
The Jackets outshot Anaheim 42-27. John Gibson made 39 saves. This game felt similar to the first game these teams played on Nov. 10 in Anaheim when Gibson made 38 saves in his season debut.
Columbus had the advantage in shot attempts (68-55) and expected goals (3.39-2.34) at 5v5 play.
Storm Surge
Columbus hits the road to battle the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 5 p.m. ET from Lenovo Center in Raleigh.
