For about 12 minutes, it appeared as though the Edmonton Oilers, a team mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, were going to chase the Columbus Blue Jackets out of Rogers Place.
All it took was a lucky bounce off Oilers defenseman for the Blue Jackets to get their mojo back, and it was all Columbus from there.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| OILERS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
A quick flurry of goals from the Edmonton Oilers put them on top of Columbus 3-0, but that lead disappeared quickly. The comeback started with Thomas Vanek, who fired a shot off Oilers goalie Cam Talbot, who saw it ricochet off defenseman Kris Russell and into the back of the net to place the Blue Jackets on the scoreboard.
A bit of luck but Vanek will take it either way.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/QSCE0q63Zd
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 28, 2018
Fourteen minutes and seventeen seconds of game time later, boos were raining down from an Edmonton crowd that was at one time pouring out excitement for the possibility of a rare win.
A chorus of 'Boone' raining down in Edmonton probably.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/XNk6eMeNxp
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 28, 2018
Thomas Vanek made it a 5-3 game shortly thereafter. Oh, and he capped off a hat trick in less than two periods. Talbot was pulled following the goal.
Thomas the Point Engine gives the Blue Jackets a three-goal lead.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/FGWNMsPn5g
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 28, 2018
The Blue Jackets came roaring back into this one after a frustrating start. Special teams issues resulted in a pair of Oilers goals early; one shorthanded and one on the power play. Sergei Bobrovsky didn't help matters when he misplayed a puck behind the net.
Of course, all-world forward Connor McDavid had a hand in all three Edmonton goals – bumping his league-leading point total up to 102 – but the Oilers would have had no chance without him.
Jackets defenseman Markus Nutivaara fired the seventh unanswered goal into an open net off a dime from Artemi Panarin, who had one hell of a shift to get there.
The Finnish Fortress gives the Blue Jackets a four-goal lead.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/jkuVjXRGrJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 28, 2018
Bobrovsky made up for his early blunders too, saving the final 20 shots he faced including a beauty against McDavid on the breakaway.
Injury Update
Captain Nick Foligno is likely to miss two-to-four more weeks with a lower-body injury. Josh Anderson continues to be out with a knee injury suffered on February 27th. Jack Johnson sat out this contest and his status moving forward is unknown. Dean Kukan missed with an upper-body injury and his status also remains unclear. Lukas Sedlak sat out with concussion-like symptoms.
Next Up
The Blue Jackets continue their trip, facing off with Calgary at 9:00 p.m. on Thursday.
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