Blue Jackets Top Jets 4-3 in Final Game Before All-Star Break

They are scalding hot - and they most certainly deserved some rest. In the past 22 games, the Blue Jackets have lost two (TWO!) games in regulation. They are 16-2-4 in that span, which is easily a league-best.

They got to that point entering All-Star weekend with a 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night, placing them even closer to gaining hold of the third spot in the Metropolitan Division. 

Currently, they sit in sole possession of the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference - an immaculate accomplishment considering they were third-to-last in the NHL on Dec. 7.

It was a back-and-forth affair tonight as the Blue Jackets sought their sixth in a row - with both teams scoring opposite of one another until Columbus finally broke the pattern and scored two-in-a-row to give them the lead for good.

Seth Jones responded to Winnipeg opening the scoring with his fifth of the season in the first period. When this guy takes the puck to the net, he's hard to stop. 

Seth Jones making it look easy. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/kYizAdr9q2

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 23, 2020

The Jets responded before the frame ended, but a bit of a give-and-go between Pierre-Luc Dubois and Oliver Bjorkstrand knotted the score at two.

The Blue Jackets are running give-and-goes. This is not a drill. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/r2T7tiI33J

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 23, 2020

Winnipeg jumped out front again soon after, but naturally, the Blue Jackets responded swiftly to tie the game again with a Gustav Nyquist diving effort.

Next goal wins, perhaps?

For his fourth goal in two games and back-to-back game-winner, Bjorkstrand pulled off one of the nicest tallies of his career - fighting off a check and wiring it in the cop right corner.

OLIVER BJORKSTRAND IS A MAN AMONG BOYS.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/RvmcXPwaN3

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 23, 2020

Right back in the playoff hunt with the season more than halfway over? This team now gets a well-earned rest.

INJURY UPDATE

Josh Anderson has been skating and could be the next player to return from injury after the All-Star Break.

NEXT UP

The Columbus Blue Jackets are off for the next week due to the All-Star weekend coming up, and return to action for a matinee on the road against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, Feb. 1.

GAME NOTES

• The Blue Jackets grounded the Jets, 4-3, to win their sixth-straight game.  The club’s six consecutive victories are now a season-high and the most since its 10-game win streak from Mar. 4-22, 2018.  It’s tied with Florida for the longest-active win streak in the NHL.
• Columbus improved to 8-1-1 in its last 10 games played at Nationwide Arena, outscoring opponents 34-to-14 since Dec. 16.
• With the win, the Blue Jackets split the season series with Winnipeg as both clubs earned 4-3 home victories.
• The Blue Jackets boosted their record to 5-2-1 in the last eight contests vs. Western Conference opponents.
• Columbus finished the month of January with a 9-2-0 record (18 pts.). The Jackets .900 points percentage is the highest all-time for the month in franchise history, while the nine victories and 18 points are the second-most.  The Jackets had a franchise-best 10 wins and 20 points in January of 2014 (10-4-0).
• Columbus corralled its 10th win of the season when heading into the third period tied (10-1-4). The 10 wins are tied with Minnesota for the most in the NHL.
• The Blue Jackets scored the lone goal of the third period and have outscored opponents 28-to-10 in third periods over their past 21 contests.  The Jackets plus-18 differential in the final frame since Dec. 9 is the best in the NHL.
• The Blue Jackets went 1-for-1 on the power play in the game and have scored a goal on the man-advantage in three of their last six games (3-for-10, 30 pct.).
• C Pierre-Luc Dubois notched his third career three assist outing and second of the season (Jan. 7 at Anaheim).  He’s up to 23 assists in 2019-20, which is tied for the team lead (Jones).  He has 1-9-10 in his past nine contests.  He had 1-3-4 in two games vs. Winnipeg this season. Dubois finished plus-3 in the contest and won 12-of-21 faceoffs (57 pct.).
• RW Oliver Bjorkstrand produced his second-straight multi-goal game since returning from injury (4-0-4).  He took over the club lead in goals (16) and game-winning goals (five) on the campaign.  He has points in six-straight games played (9-2-11), with four multi-goal efforts over that span.  He finished with 2-2-4 in two games vs. Winnipeg this season.
• D Seth Jones notched his fourth multi-point effort of the campaign with a goal and an assist. He has 1-3-4 in his past five contests.  The Blue Jackets’ All-Star defenseman has a six-game point streak vs. Winnipeg (3-5-8), including a goal in each meeting with the Jets this season.
• G Elvis Merzlikins made 27 saves for his fifth-straight win and has a 1.00 GAA and a .970 SV% over his win streak.
• LW Gustav Nyquist, who scored a power play goal late in the second period, scored a power play goal in both meetings against the Jets this season and has a three-game goal streak vs. the club overall (4-0-4).
• D Zach Werenski picked up an assist on Nyquist’s goal for his 15th helper of the season.  He has two assists in his past three contests and a three-game assist streak vs. the Jets (0-3-3).  He led all CBJ skaters with 25:25 TOI in the game.
• C Riley Nash had two hits in the game and won 7-of-8 faceoffs (88 pct.)
• D David Savard had a team-high four blocked shots in the game.  He’s up to 111 blocked shots on the season, tied for fifth in the NHL with Jones.
• Tonight’s attendance was a sellout crowd of 18,425.  It’s the fourth sellout in the last six contests at Nationwide Arena.