'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.
#LetsGoOilers are 33-8-1 in their last 42 games. That is their most wins in a 42-game span in a single season in franchise history.
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) March 7, 2024
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.
Here's a look at Olivier's third of the year, assists to Kuraly and Danforth. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/crWvWjO1Ov
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 8, 2024
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.
Nylander from Sillinger pic.twitter.com/ug3qrJlVJe #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 8, 2024
Right off the ensuing center-ice face-off, Mathieu Olivier and Sam Carrick fought.
It's Carrick's first game as an Oiler and Olivier is just giving him a friendly greeting. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/XAXaQFXo5N
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 8, 2024
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.
Voronkov is co-leading the rookie goal-scoring race with his 17th. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/aOBbXEN8l5
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 8, 2024
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.
Mathieu Olivier is two-thirds of the way to a Gordie Howe hat trick through one period. Always cracks me up that the last was Oliver Bjorkstrand (!) of all people, back in 2021 at Detroit. Are we due? #CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) March 8, 2024
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.
Edmonton has come out in the second with all three of its biggest guns on the same line -- Draisaitl, McDavid and Hyman
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) March 8, 2024
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.
Zach Hyman can't stop scoring goals pic.twitter.com/rpnepoMNF5
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 8, 2024
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.
corey perry makes it a one goal game. pic.twitter.com/ik2hVkZeMY
— zach (@zjlaing) March 8, 2024
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.
Roslovic's ENG. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/xvNxMqBg2U
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 8, 2024
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
- Kent Johnson suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder and will miss the rest of the season. He was placed on IR and is expected to have surgery later this week.
- Patrik Laine entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on Jan. 28 and will be away from the team indefinitely.
- Adam Fantilli suffered a calf laceration on Jan. 28 and is expected to miss eight weeks.
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.
