There it is.
After a tough loss in Minnesota on Thursday's season opener, the Columbus Blue Jackets again played well enough to win Saturday night against the Colorado Avalanche.
This time, the result went Columbus' way.
Six different Blue Jackets scored, including birthday boys Adam Fantilli and Sean Monahan, as they defeated Colorado 6-4 to give head coach Dean Evason his first win as the Columbus bench boss.
Here's how it all went down:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
 |
1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
|
GOALS: Werenski, Johnson, Fantilli, Marchenko, Chinakhov, Monahan ASSISTS: Chinakhov (2), Marchenko (2), Monahan (2), Christiansen, Labanc, Severson, Tarasov |
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1st Period
(6:38 — 1-0 CBJ): Another night, another Zach Werenski goal. The defenseman got the scoring started early, capitalizing on a great look from Yegor Chinakhov on a rush to make it 1-0 Blue Jackets. This was another example of Evason allowing his defenseman to jump up into the play in this new, aggressive Columbus style.
Makin' it look E-Z! @FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/0NMsENGv01
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 13, 2024
(7:45 — 2-0 CBJ): Another night, another Kent Johnson goal too. Beautiful work here as he goes from behind his own blue line to near Colorado goalie Alexandar Georgiev and beats the Avalanche netminder glove side to make it 2-0 Columbus. Johnson was on the ice for 21:30 in the win — the most of any Blue Jackets forward.
CAN'T STOP KJ @FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/fzUIFEuWAa
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 13, 2024
| COLUMBUS | GAME STATS | COLORADO |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | SHOTS | 30 |
| 43.8% | FACEOFF % | 56.3% |
| 1 / 3 | POWER PLAY | 2 / 4 |
| 2 / 4 | PENALTY KILL | 2 / 3 |
| 7 | HITS | 26 |
| 13 | GIVEAWAYS | 11 |
| 8 | TAKEAWAYS | 10 |
| 19 | BLOCKED SHOTS | 13 |
| DATA VIA ESPN | ||
(19:52 — 2-1 CBJ): Colorado cuts the lead to 2-1 in the final seconds of the opening frame while on a power play after a Cole Sillinger tripping penalty. Nathan MacKinnon gets the goal for the Avs.
2nd Period
(1:56 — 3-1 CBJ): Columbus very briefly restores their two-goal lead with the birthday boy picking up his first one of the season. Adam Fantilli (who turned all of 20 years old Saturday) gets the goal with a couple of unique assists: Kevin Labanc with the primary, his first point as a Blue Jacket, and Daniil Tarasov, who got his second career assist with the secondary apple.
Blowing past defenders > blowing out candles! @FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/QJP6wmTkJl
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 13, 2024
(2:11 — 3-2 CBJ): That two-goal lead was brief — very brief. Tarasov has some trouble locating the puck after a wrap-around attempt by Colorado's Calvin de Haan and Miles Wood capitalizes to make it a 3-2 lead just 15 seconds after the Blue Jackets tally.
(3:42 — Tied 3-3): Another power-play goal for the Avalanche, this time with Damon Severson in the box for a slash. Casey Mittelstadt cleans up on a redirect to tie it at 3-3.
(4:33 — 4-3 CBJ): The fourth goal in less than three minutes would restore the Columbus lead, with Kirill Marchenko sweeping a shot that would trickle past Georgiev to make it 4-3 Blue Jackets; a lead the Blue Jackets would not give up. This was the first of three points on the night for Marchenko.
MARCHY IS BACK BABY
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 13, 2024
His first goal of the season!@FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/KMh0SLZHbw
(9:49 — 5-3 CBJ): Marchenko's second point of the night is an assist on a Yegor Chinakhov goal. Both Chinakhov and Monahan had good looks, but it was the 23-year-old who got the goal to allow Columbus to regain a two-goal lead.
HIGH FIVE! @FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/BRb5Sb8rAs
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 13, 2024
3rd Period
(18:40 — 5-4 CBJ): After a relatively calm third period, a moment of trepidation as the Avalanche cut it to one with the goalie pulled. Ross Colton had the goal. This would be as close as Colorado would get on the scoreboard — but Colton would hit a goalpost in his next shift that was an inch away from tying the game.
(19:48 — 6-4 CBJ): Marchenko's third point of the night is also the third point of the night for Chinakhov and Monahan — this time a selfless play from Marchenko, getting the puck to Monahan to put the game away and give Monahan his first goal as a Blue Jacket on his birthday.
Empty net goal for Columbus!
— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) October 13, 2024
Scored by Sean Monahan with 00:12 remaining in the 3rd period.
Assisted by Kirill Marchenko and Yegor Chinakhov.
Colorado: 4
Columbus: 6#CBJvsCOL #GoAvsGo #CBJ pic.twitter.com/xPmFmboqxG
Next Up
Unquestionably, the most emotional home opener in franchise history. The Blue Jackets battle the Florida Panthers with a start that's scheduled for just after 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Before the game, the team will honor the lives of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
