On a Saturday matinee game at Nationwide Arena, the Columbus Blue Jackets had their 12-game point streak snapped by the San Jose Sharks by a score of 3-2.
The Blue Jackets have gone 8-4-0 in their last dozen dating back to Dec. 9, an incredibly impressive feat considering the mountainous injuries that have piled up with the club.
What felt like a lazy and uninspired Saturday for the Blue Jackets certainly started off that way, with the score being tied at zero at the end of the first frame. The Sharks were on the board briefly halfway through the first, but a successful challenge by the Blue Jackets proved the play to be offside.
The score remained iced until seven minutes into the second period when Barclay Goodrow scored his seventh of the season for San Jose, and this time it counted. The Blue Jackets had just completed a failed power play when Goodrow jumped out of the box for a mini breakaway score on Elvis Merzlikins.
1:45 later, Zach Werenski did his thing with a wicked backhander to knot the score at one. Werenski has 12 goals already on the campaign and is on pace for 23, which would obliterate the team record (also his record) of 16 in a single season.
Just a SAUCY backhand from Z.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/BFtGWpoNd8
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 4, 2020
The tied game last just about six minutes later, when a bad line change from Columbus led to a 3-on-2 odd-man-rush from the Sharks, giving Evander Kane plenty of time to pick his spot on Merzlikins.
The start of the third period until the last five minutes was all San Jose, who led 10-1 in shots for the first 15 minutes of the final frame. The dagger of the afternoon came with 3:00 remaining when Kevin Labanc took a gorgeous one-timer pass from Joe Thorton to push the lead to 3-1.
A sliver of hope arose when the Blue Jackets followed the Sharks' goal with a pulling of Merzlikins, leading to Werenski's second the night with just over two minutes remaining.
Zach is back!#CBJ pic.twitter.com/H5CuUKEG0M
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 4, 2020
Columbus pushed in the final minute but weren't able to convert, and ended the afternoon being defeated on the scoreboard 3-2, and in the shot category 28-23.
INJURY UPDATE
Emil Bemstrom has been activated off IR, and is likely to return to action soon for the Blue Jackets.
NEXT UP
The Columbus Blue Jackets start their Western Conference road trip with a battle against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night at 10:30 PM ET.
