Blue Jackets KO Oilers 4-2, Ride Three-Goal First Period To Win On Eve Of Trade Deadline

By Will Chase on March 7, 2024 at 6:43 pm
Columbus Blue Jackets' Mathieu Olivier and Edmonton Oilers' Sam Carrick fight during the first period at Nationwide Arena.
Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
9 Comments

'Twas was the last game before Friday's NHL trade deadline. And the goals came in bunches.

Mathieu Olivier, Alex Nylander, and Dmitri Voronkov scored as part of a three-goal first period to push the Columbus Blue Jackets over the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 on Thursday at Nationwide Arena. The loss snaps the Oilers' five-game winning streak.

Sean Kuraly, Justin Danforth, Cole Sillinger, Alexandre Texier, and Erik Gudbranson picked up the assists.

Daniil Tarasov made 29 saves.

Zach Hyman and Corey Perry scored for Edmonton.

Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evander Kane, and Darnell Nurse picked up the assists. McDavid is on a 13-game point streak (two goals, 27 assists) dating back to Feb. 13 and leads the league in points and assists in that span. He's the third player in NHL history to record at least seven 100-point seasons before the age of 28, joining Wayne Gretzky (10) and Mario Lemieux (eight). Draisaitl is on a four-game point streak (three goals, five assists).

Calvin Pickard stopped 30 shots.

The Oilers came into play with their best 42-game stretch in franchise history.

Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick each made their Oilers debut on Thursday. The pair were acquired from the Anaheim Ducks as part of a three-team trade, also featuring the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday.

1st Period

Edmonton came into this contest winners of five straight, their most recent victory of the overtime variety, 2-1, on Tuesday at the Boston Bruins. Columbus has played better of late, winning two of their last three games entering play.

  1 2 3 F
EDM OILERS 0 1 1 2
BLUE JACKETS 3 0 1 4

Everyone knows how fast the Oilers are. The Blue Jackets were going to have to match that pace and skill. With the way the first period played out, one might not be surprised until you realize which team was doing the scoring.

The Blue Jackets struck first thanks to Olivier's third goal of the season at 6:20. The assists went to Kuraly and Danforth.

At 14:54, Nylander kept up his hot start with Columbus with his fifth goal. Sillinger picked up the assist. He's the first Blue Jacket to score five goals in his first seven games.

Right off the ensuing center-ice face-off, Mathieu Olivier and Sam Carrick fought.

Looking to feed off an energy boost, Voronkov scored his 17th of the season unassisted at 15:21 to tie Connor Bedard and Marco Rossi for the most goals among rookies.

Edmonton was 0-for-1 on their lone power play and didn't record a shot with the man advantage. The Blue Jackets led 3-0 after one as Edmonton held an 11-10 shot advantage.

2nd Period

Down three, the Oilers decided the situation was dire enough to put their big three on a line together to begin the second.

Goals in bunches being the theme, it was Hyman's turn. He scored his 43rd of the year at 1:11. It was tic-tac-toe between him, McDavid, and Draisaitl.

That was all for the scoring through 40 minutes. The second period featured some snarl and something to keep an eye on between the two clubs.

Columbus led 3-1 after two and held the 23-21 shots advantage.

3rd Period

Perry scored his ninth on the power play in the third at 12:08 to get the game within one goal. Kane and Nurse had the assists.

Roslovic, a potential trade deadline target, scored the empty net goal at 19:40 for his sixth goal as the Blue Jackets took two points from the Oilers. Columbus was held scoreless on their only power play chance.

McDavid was limited to one assist on two shots in 24:18 to lead all forwards in ice time. Draisaitl had one shot and one assist in 20:38.

The two clubs split the season series 1-1. Columbus has won three of their last four games for the first time since November.

Stats

  • Shots on Goal: EDM 31-34 CBJ
  • Face-off %: EDM 54.7-45.3 CBJ
  • Power play: EDM 1/3-0/1 CBJ
  • Giveaways: EDM 4-1 CBJ
  • Takeaways: EDM 2-9 CBJ
  • Blocked shots: EDM 15-11 CBJ
  • Hits: EDM 13-16 CBJ
  • 5-on-5 stats (via naturalstattrick.com):
    • Expected Goals (xG): EDM 2.03-1.94 CBJ
    • Shot Attempts (CF): EDM 47-59 CBJ
    • Shots on Goal (SF): EDM 25-32 CBJ
    • Scoring Chances (SCF): EDM 18-20 CBJ
    • High-Danger Chances (HDCF): EDM 8-4 CBJ

Injury Update

Next Up

The Jackets take on the Nashville Predators on Saturday from Nationwide Arena at 12:30 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Ohio.

The club will hit the road to face the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Tuesday, Mar. 12, at 7:00 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Ohio.

9 Comments

Game Day #34: Elvis, Blue Jackets Look To Keep Momentum Into Philadelphia On Saturday Night

Game Day #34: After an incredible start in a Columbus Blue Jackets' victory Thursday, Elvis Merzlikins is back in net Saturday night when Columbus faces the Philadelphia Flyers.
View 9 Comments