It’s officially a streak.
Dmitri Voronkov had a three-point night with two goals and an assist and Sean Monahan scored twice in his 800th career game as the Columbus Blue Jackets pummeled the Boston Bruins 6-2 on Friday night at Nationwide Arena.
The Columbus victory marks consecutive wins for the first time since Nov. 29-Dec. 1. They're 7-1-3 in the last 11 home games.
Zach Werenski had four assists. Elvis Merzlikins made 24 saves and Joonas Korpisalo made 27 stops.
Boston is 11-5-1 since Joe Sacco took over. Andrew Peeke returned to Columbus for the first time since last season's trade.
Welcome back to one of the all-time good guys, Andrew Peeke! #CBJ pic.twitter.com/UxaRcPS3zg
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 28, 2024
This will be Joonas Korpisalo's second appearance vs. the Blue Jackets, and second vs. his former goalie partner Elvis Merzlikins.#CBJ and Merzlikins won a 4-2 game last year vs. Korpisalo and the Senators here at Nationwide Arena.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 27, 2024
Another Goal Explosion
For the eighth time this season, the Blue Jackets scored at least six goals in a game.
This is the eighth game of the season with six-plus goals for the Blue Jackets, six of them at home. Looked it up earlier this season and I believe the record is 11 back in 2018-19. #CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 28, 2024
Columbus scored four goals in the second period on Friday night, something they've done twice this season. They also had a four-goal second period on Nov. 21 in the 7-6 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Monahan got Columbus on the board with his 12th of the season, a first-period power-play goal at 11:29. Werenski had the first of his four assists and leads team with 28. He’s on a 12-game home point streak. Marchenko notched the first of two on the night to extend his seven-game point streak (four goals, nine assists).
Sean Monahan strikes on the power play for his 12th goal of the season, putting him just one behind Marchenko for the team lead. Boston has since tied the game; we're now 1-1 late in the opening frame. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/WEfRtr0rto
1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 28, 2024
Adam Fantilli's seventh made it 2-1 Columbus at 7:00 of the second period. Voronkov's assist was his 10th and Ivan Provorov picked up his 11th. Voronkov is on a six-game point streak (five goals, five assists).
Dmitri Voronkov with a sweet find of Adam Fantilli to put the #CBJ back in front, 2-1.
1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 28, 2024
That wasn't that long ago, but the Blue Jacket shave added two more since then to go up 4-1 with 9:44 left in the second. pic.twitter.com/rw6Y7cFyAS
Monahan (13) scored his second goal at 8:13 of the second period to make it 3-1 Jackets, giving him five points (two goals, three assists) over the last two games. Werenski added his second assist and Dante Fabbro (5) picked up a helper.
Sean Monahan's second goal of the night (and 13th of the season) to extend the Blue Jackets lead to 3-1.
1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 28, 2024
Columbus has since added to that score and it's now 4-1. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/4MCKQpgdTA
Voronkov's 11th made it 4-1 on the Jackets' second power-play goal. Kent Johnson (11) stretched his points streak (one goal, two assists) to three games and Werenski assisted on the goal.
...and the third of three goals in a span of 2:47 for the #CBJ, this time Voronkov joining the party with his 11th of the season and the second power play goal of the night for the Blue Jackets to make it 4-1 Columbus. pic.twitter.com/oXkbUguN9o
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 28, 2024
Voronkov's (12) second power-play goal made it 5-1. Marchenko (26) and Werenski (28) assisted.
5-1 #CBJ as period three starts. Here's goal #5 of the night from Columbus, coming in the final minute of the second. It was Voronkov's second of the night and the Jackets third power play goal of the night. pic.twitter.com/MDue6VTSWK
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 28, 2024
Zach Werenski with 4 assists through 2 periods tonight, tying his single-game career high set Nov. 22, 2023 vs. CHI.
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) December 28, 2024
With 0-7-7 vs. MTL/BOS, he's the 2nd Blue Jacket (Seth Jones; 1-6-7 from Mar. 31-Apr. 3, 2018) to record 3+ assists in back-to-back games.#CBJ #NHLStats
Marchenko's team-leading 14th goal capped off a three-point night to make it 6-1 at 3:04 of the third period. Mikael Pyyhtia (2) and Jack Johnson (2) picked up the assists.
The Blue Jackets hit 6+ goals for the 8th time this season on Kirill Marchenko's 14th of the season. He puts the rebound of a Mikael Pyyhtia shot past Korpisalo to make it 6-1 #CBJ.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 28, 2024
It's now 6-2 with 10:47 left. pic.twitter.com/yppKDPHt8J
The Blue Jackets are seventh in the NHL in goals for per game (3.39) and lead the league at home in that category (4.06).
Did you know?
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) December 28, 2024
The Blue Jackets lead the NHL with 4.06 goals per game at home this season
Columbus is on a four-game point streak (3-0-1) and has won three straight at home to extend a five-game home point streak (3-0-2).
After tonight, most points through 36 team games in #CBJ history
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 28, 2024
1. Artemi Panarin, 41 (2018-19)
2. Kirill Marchenko, 40 (2024-25)
3. Zach Werenski, 39 (2024-25)
3. Cam Atkinson, 39 (2018-19) https://t.co/LclvyEgXYH
Columbus has surrendered the most second-period goals (51) but is up to 10th in the league with 39 goals.
Jordan Harris and Kevin Labanc were healthy scratches as the Blue Jackets dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen.
Norris Conversation
Werenski recorded his second career four-assist game on Friday and has seven assists over his previous two games as he makes his case for Norris consideration for the league's top defenseman.
He had three assists on Monday in the 5-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Werenski had his first career four-assist game on Nov. 22, 2023, a 7-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Trailing Marchenko by one, Werenski is second on the Blue Jackets with 39 points. He's third among all defensemen in points, registering 1.08 points per game, and is 33rd among all players in points per game, tied with Sidney Crosby.
| Goals | Assists | Points | Points Per Game | |
| Quinn Hughes | 8 | 34 | 42 | 1.24 |
| Cale Makar | 11 | 34 | 45 | 1.22 |
| Zach Werenski | 11 | 28 | 39 | 1.08 |
Werenski’s fifth career four-point game is tied with Artemi Panarin for the most in franchise history.
Zach Werenski (0-44) became the second player in @BlueJacketsNHL history with multiple four-assist outings, joining Artemi Panarin (3x).#NHLStats: https://t.co/5tcFfES66l pic.twitter.com/TqUZiyKI0g
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 28, 2024
Zach Werenski has spent most of this game matched up vs. the Bruins top two lines and top D pair, has four assists, and absolutely dominant possession numbers tonight. Monster game form him. #CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 28, 2024
Z with a 7.46 game score, third highest of any NHL player in a single game this season. #CBJ https://t.co/CU0KQcyGeh
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 28, 2024
A Humming Power Play
The power play is consistently good right now.
Seriously.
In December, the power play is humming at 26.3% (10-for-38, 9th) after three more tallies and going three-for-three on Friday.
For the first time since 2021, Columbus has had three power-play goals in a game. They have power-play tallies in eight of the last ten games. They're 15th overall in the league (21.7%).
Before tonight, #CBJ hadn't scored more than one power-play goal in a game. They have three already tonight.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) December 28, 2024
Per @hockey_ref, the Jackets last had three power-play goals in a game on Feb. 23, 2021 vs. Chicago.
1,403 days between games with 3 power play goals. #CBJ https://t.co/mBTKuA8dxg
— CBJ Stats (@BlueJacketStats) December 28, 2024
#CBJ finished 3-for-3 on the power play tonight.
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) December 28, 2024
It's the 40th time the club has had 3 or more PPG in a game in club history but the 1st to finish a perfect 100.0 pct. on the man advantage with 3 or more attempts.
Chance To Sweep
The Blue Jackets lead the season series 2-0-0 versus Boston. They can sweep the series tomorrow night when the teams conclude the season set in the second of a home-and-home at TD Garden on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. ET. Columbus, 0-5-0 in the second of back-to-backs this season, is 11-4-3 at home but 4-11-3 on the road.
