Entering the Traverse City prospect tournament, the Columbus Blue Jackets group was top heavy with big time scorers. In their first game of the tournament, those players showed their worth against the Dallas Stars prospects.
First Period
It didn't take long for the Blue Jackets' prospects to get on the board as Paul Bittner slammed one home with a helper from Columbus native Kole Sherwood.
It took a few whacks to go in but the mustache man, Paul Bittner finally slams it home.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) September 8, 2017
1-0 Jackets.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/owd2MUe8q0
Later in the period, a puck off the glass allows newly signed forward Bobby MacIntyre to bat the puck out of mid-air for a nifty goal.
Bobby MacIntyre, an AHL signing, scores to make it a 2-0 game. Knocks it out of mid-air and into the goal.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/Ssnphm5DCi
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) September 8, 2017
The Blue Jackets would then take back-to-back penalties giving the Stars a 5-on-3. The Stars would take advantage as Niklas Hansson, a 3rd round pick in 2013 with a bar down shot.
Not long after, Calvin Thurkauf would take a shot on the Dallas netminder and Vitaly Abramov was able to pick up the pieces to make it a 3-1 game.
Vitaly Abramov scores on the play but Thurkauf and Dubois do some dirty work to make the play happen.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) September 8, 2017
3-1 Jackets.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/YAnlNUja1C
The Blue Jackets took advantage offensively but had a penchant for taking penalties in the first period.
Second Period
Once again, early in the period, the Blue Jackets strike while on a 4-on-3 power play. Abramov takes the puck and passes it between his legs where he finds Dubois all alone in front.
Take a look at that nifty feed from Vitaly Abramov as he passes it between his legs and gives Dubois an easy tap in.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/NQHeiaH4n9
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) September 8, 2017
Blue Jackets netminder Matiss Kivlenieks, the 2016-17 USHL Player of the Year later in the second period misplayed the puck and gave the Stars an easy goal. Stars' Nick Caamano, a former teammate of Blue Jacket forward Kole Sherwood, was credited with the goal.
Abramov made more magic in the second period as he took a rebound off of a Thurkauf shot and turned it into a 5-2 game with less than a minute remaining in the period.
Thurkauf is going to get another helper here. Abramov sure has a nose for the net. Two goals after two periods of play.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/uFxwzmmUxB
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) September 8, 2017
Third Period
The Blue Jackets were quiet for most of the period as it was a back and forth affair. With six minutes left in the third period, Paul Bittner took a pass and shot on the Stars' empty net to make it a 6-2 game.
Empty-net goal for Bittner as he now has two goals on the evening.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) September 8, 2017
6-2 Jackets but not for long...#CBJ pic.twitter.com/vh15ZKFPOR
Not even a minute afterward, Thurkauf found Dubois on the royal road and put the Blue Jackets up 7-2.
Blue Jackets win 7-2 as the last goal of the game comes courtesy of Dubois.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/aBDznOTjb6
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) September 8, 2017
Dubois, Bittner and Abramov all finished the game with two goals a piece.
The Blue Jackets play next on Saturday, September 9 at 7:30 PM on Fox Sports Go, BlueJackets.com and on NHL.com
