| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
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2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
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CBJ GOALS: |
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Zach Werenski scored twice but it wasn't nearly enough for the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night, as they fall to the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 to kick off a four-game road trip.
The Lightning struck on their first two shots of the game, taking a 2-0 lead less than two minutes in. Columbus improved as the opening frame went on, with Werenski's first goal of the night coming late in the period to give the Blue Jackets a boost heading into the intermission.
Tampa Bay would take the boost back early in the second, when they made it 3-1 just 1:27 into the middle period and then 4-1 just five minutes after that.
"They get those two quick ones, it's tough to come back from that" said captain Boone Jenner. "Those two in the second hurt us even more."
Werenski would take some of that hurt away with a short-handed goal in the middle of the second period, cutting the Lightning lead to 4-2. It was his 20th goal of the season, tying a career high and also tying his club record for most goals in a season by a defenseman.
Tampa would regain their three-goal lead with a power play goal at the 9:44 mark of the third before an empty-netter in the final minutes put the finishing touches on the 6-2 final.
"We'll learn from it, we'll move forward," said Werenski. "We're in a spot right now where we can't dwell on things for too long."
Here's how the night went down in central Florida:
1st Period:
(0:30 — TB Goal): One shot, one goal. The Lightning pass it from point to point and Emil Lilleberg's shot from the left point is deflected by Mitchell Chaffee for his 12th goal of the season to make it 1-0 Tampa.
(1:37 — TB Goal): Two shots, two goals. Denton Mateychuk's hard shot on the Tampa net results in a breakaway for Nikita Kucherov. He beats Merzlikins to make it 2-0 Lightning less than two minutes in.
(17:20 — CBJ Goal): Werenski makes a fantastic individual effort to cut Tampa's lead to 2-1 with his 19th goal of the season. He forces a turnover and quickly moves up the ice, seeing that he's only got Brandon Hagel — a forward — to beat up the ice. Werenski then gets just enough separation from Hagel and beats Bolts goalie Jonas Johansson to cut the Tampa lead to 2-1.
Ready for the second period. After falling behind 2-0, #CBJ get on the board late with this great goal from Zach Werenski. His 19th of the season puts him just one behind his career high of 20, which is also the franchise record for goals by a defenseman.pic.twitter.com/cXb1Fn5JBM
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 5, 2025
2nd Period:
(1:27 — TB Goal): Another early-period goal, this one to help the Lightning regain their two-goal lead. It's Jake Guentzel, now with points against the Blue Jackets in 15 straight games. He gets behind Merzlikins and tips in a shot from Victor Hedman to make it 3-1 Bolts.
(6:36 — TB Goal): The Lightning extend their lead to 4-1. This time it's Hedman who gets the goal. Excellent puck movement from Tampa here to get Columbus out of sorts defensively, then Hedman slaps it home from just outside the left dot.
(10:49 — CBJ Goal): The Blue Jackets get their eighth short-handed goal of the season and Werenski gets the second shorty of his career to bring Columbus to within two, at 4-2. Kent Johnson gets the puck away from Tampa while they're in the Columbus zone and pushes the puck towards Fantilli, who skates into the Lightning zone and waits on Werenski to arrive into the low slot. Fantilli then makes a perfect pass and Werenski gets his 20th goal of the season.
Zach Werenski's 20th of the season ties a career high and matches his franchise record for goals by a defenseman in a season.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 5, 2025
It also brought the #CBJ to within two against the Bolts, 4-2. Still there, now with 5:08 left in the second.pic.twitter.com/Ykkori2SXe
3rd Period:
(9:44 — TB Goal): Hedman's second goal of the night comes via the power play and puts the Lightning in front 5-2. It's more good puck movement from Tampa, and Hedman fires from the slot to put the game out of reach.
(17:53 — TB Goal): Empty-netter makes it 6-2.
| CBJ | GAME STATS | TB |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | SHOTS | 40 |
| 47% | FACEOFFS | 53% |
| 0/2 | POWER PLAY | 1/3 |
| 2/3 | PENALTY KILL | 2/2 |
| 19 | HITS | 10 |
| 20 | GIVEAWAYS | 17 |
| 2 | TAKEAWAYS | 6 |
| 18 | BLOCKED SHOTS | 20 |
| ALL SITUATIONS ADVANCED STATS | ||
| 3.92 | EXPECTED GOALS | 3.26 |
| 67 | SHOT ATTEMPTS | 68 |
| 34 | SCORING CHANCES | 30 |
| 13 | HIGH-DANGER CHANCES | 11 |
| Data via NHL.com & NaturalStatTrick.com | ||
Stat Chat:
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The assists from Fantilli and Johnson on Werenski's second goal of the night extended both of their point streaks to six games. Jenner, who had assists in his first four games back, was held scoreless for the first time this season,
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Nearly half (16) of Columbus' 33 shots for the game came in the final period, including eight high-danger chances, as they tried to work their way back into the game after entering the final frame down 4-2. They couldn't get one past Johansson, though, who saved his best work for the final twenty minutes.
- Werenski's two-goal night gives him 66 points in 60 games, putting him on pace for 89. That would best Artemi Panarin's club record of 87.
Up Next:
The Sunshine State portion of the road trip concludes Thursday with a 7 p.m. puck-drop against the Florida Panthers.
