For the third time in three games, the Columbus Blue Jackets went into the third period of a game tied at 1-1.
For the first time in those three games, they saved their best hockey for the final frame.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| RED WINGS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Oliver Bjorkstrand scored his first goal of the season, Alexandre Texier and Pierre-Luc Dubois followed suit in the third period, and the Blue Jackets held on to get their first win of the year, a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
Joonas Korpisalo was able to stave off a hot start by the Red Wings, stopping 12 of Detroit's 13 first period shots on goal.
With the Red Wings up 1-0 late in the 2nd, Bjorkstrand was able to beat Thomas Greiss on a loose puck to tie the game at 1-1. Booner Jenner and Michael Del Zotto picked up the assists on the goal, and for Del Zotto, it was his third assist on the young season.
Another look at Bjorkstrands score #CBJ pic.twitter.com/4Hso2qdOUD
— Alison (@AlisonL) January 18, 2021
The third period, which had haunted the Blue Jackets in the first two games of the season, saw Columbus score a pair of goals in a span of just 76 seconds. Texier gave the Blue Jackets a 2-1 lead at the 5:10 mark of the third, on a beautiful wrap-around. Moments later, Pierre-Luc Dubois got loose and beat Greiss to make it 3-1.
#TexiYAY! #CBJ take the 2-1 lead over #LGRW pic.twitter.com/MoryM5hBcG
— Alison (@AlisonL) January 18, 2021
3-1 #CBJ
— Alison (@AlisonL) January 18, 2021
Grigorenko with a beautifully banked puck launches Dubois for the score. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/yH10rA3oer
The Red Wings made it close with a goal in the final minute. Bobby Ryan scored on a goal that was initially ruled no goal due to the Red Wings interference with Korpisalo, but was credited after replay determined that the Blue Jackets created the interference. It was Ryan's second goal of the night.
Injury Update
Mikko Koivu continues to be unavailable due to the NHL's COVID-19 protocols.
Next Up
Columbus will stay in Detroit for another battle with the Red Wings. The rematch is Tuesday, with a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.
