Blue Jackets Surrender Two Third Period Goals As Giroux And The Senators Win 3-2 In A Shootout

By Will Chase on March 14, 2024 at 7:06 pm
Ottawa Senators' Anton Forsberg makes a blocker save as Columbus Blue Jackets' Alexander Nylander looks for a rebound during the first period at Nationwide Arena.
Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
5 Comments

The slapshot heard 'round the world.

Claude Giroux broke a 13-game goalless drought. Then he won the game on a slapshot in the shootout to propel the Ottawa Senators 3-2 over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night at Nationwide Arena.

Tim Stutzle scored for Ottawa. Stutzle is on a four-game point streak (two goals, two assists).

Boris Katchouk and Mark Kastelic each had an assist.

Anton Forsberg made 35 saves.

Boone Jenner and Alex Nylander scored for Columbus.

Johnny Gaudreau had two assists. Adam Boqvist and Zach Werenski had the assists.

Elvis Merzlikins made 34 saves.

1st Period

Ottawa snapped a seven-game losing streak on Tuesday with their 2-1 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Blue Jackets dropped their contest to the Montreal Canadiens, 3-0, after setting a franchise-record 98 shot attempts and a season-high 41 shots on goal.

  1 2 3 OT SO F
OTT SENATORS 0 0 2 0 2-3 3
BLUE JACKETS 1 0 1 0 1-3 2

Trying to erase the start from two nights earlier, Jenner scored 15 seconds into the first period to give Columbus the 1-0 lead on his team-leading 20th tally. Assists went to Gaudreau and Boqvist.

It's the fifth-fastest goal in franchise history and the 190th goal of Jenner's career. Jenner is the fourth player in Blue Jackets history with 20 goals in four or more seasons, joining Rick Nash (eight), Cam Atkinson (six), and R.J. Umberger (four). 

After only two shifts, Boqvist went to the locker room after absorbing a hit and did not return.

The Senators had the 13-10 shots on goal edge through one period. Both teams were 0-for-1 on the power play.

2nd Period

There was no scoring in the second period, and each team went 0-for-1 on the power play.

With under three minutes left, the Senators nearly tied the game. Parker Kelly whiffed on an empty net following a save by Merzlikins and the resulting rebound.

Shots were 26-18 Senators through 40 minutes.

3rd Period

Looking to extend the lead, Columbus came out firing in the third period to the tune of a 15-0 shot advantage.

Nylander scored at 5:21 on the power play for his sixth goal as a Blue Jacket and of the season. Gaudreau had his second assist, and Werenski had an assist.

The Senators broke the shutout at 7:25 on Claude Giroux's 19th of the season. The goal came on Ottawa's first shot of the third period.

Tim Stutzle scored his 16th at 12:27 to tie the game at two apiece. Bernard-Docker and Brannstrom assisted in the play.

Despite Columbus outshooting 18-4, Ottawa had two goals on four third-period shots.

The Blue Jackets were 1-for-1 for the lone power play of the third period. They held an 18-6 shots advantage for the third and 36-32 for the game through three periods.

Overtime

Ottawa drew a power play at 3:00, and Merzlikins made a flurry of saves in the waning seconds of overtime. Ivan Provorov had a game-saving block in the crease as he helped defend an empty net.

Shootout

Giroux scored the shootout winner on a slapshot.

The Senators improved to 3-0 in the shootout, while Columbus fell to 2-2. The Senators take the season series 2-1-0.

Stats

  • Shots on Goal: OTT 37-37 CBJ
  • Face-off %: OTT 40.4-59.6 CBJ
  • Power play: OTT 0/3-1/3 CBJ
  • Giveaways: OTT 0-4 CBJ
  • Takeaways: OTT 4-7 CBJ
  • Blocked shots: OTT 22-23 CBJ
  • Hits: OTT 12-13 CBJ
  • 5-on-5 stats (via naturalstattrick.com):
    • Expected Goals (xG): OTT 2.52-2.19 CBJ
    • Shot Attempts (CF): OTT 65-66 CBJ
    • Shots on Goal (SF): OTT 30-28 CBJ
    • Scoring Chances (SCF): OTT 36-28 CBJ
    • High-Danger Chances (HDCF): OTT 11-9 CBJ

Injury Update

  • Sean Kuraly is week-to-week with a lower-body injury sustained on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens.
  • Yegor Chinakhov left Tuesday's game in the first period against the Canadiens with an upper-body injury and did not return. He's day-to-day.
  • Justin Danforth suffered a concussion on Mar. 7. There is no timetable for his return.
  • Kent Johnson has been placed on injured reserve with a torn labrum in his left shoulder that will sideline him for the remainder of the season. He underwent successful surgery on Thursday and is expected to make a full recovery in six months.
  • 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

On Saturday, Mar. 16, the Jackets battle the San Jose Sharks at Nationwide Arena at 7:00 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Ohio.

Columbus is back at it on Sunday, Mar. 17, when they face the Winnipeg Jets at Nationwide Arena at 6:00 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Ohio.

5 Comments

Werenski Caps Off Career Night With Overtime Winner As Blue Jackets Outlast Bolts 7-6

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) looks on against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period at Nationwide Arena.

Three Things From A 7-6 Blue Jackets Victory: Another Offensive Explosion, KJ's Back, "I Don't Think I've Seen One Like Him"

Thursday's night overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning had a little bit of everything — but mostly goals. Here are three things from the Columbus Blue Jackets' 7-6 win.
View 5 Comments