CBJ 5, OTT 2: Five Different Jackets Score As Columbus Stays Alive In Playoff Race

	1	2	3	F
	0	1	1	2
	2	1	2	5
CBJ GOALS:  Voronkov (P1, 7:00) Danforth (P1, 16:38) Olivier (P2, 19:38) Monahan (PP) (P3, 2:37) Fantilli (P3, 11:42)

Dmitri Voronkov and Justin Danforth scored first-period goals and Elvis Merzlikins played his best game in weeks as the Columbus Blue Jackets kept themselves in the postseason race with a 5-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.

Voronkov's goal ended a 16-game drought from the big forward, who hadn't scored since the Stadium Series on March 1. It gave the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead for just the second time in their last 14 games.

"Lately it's been a little harder coming by some goals, especially the first one of the game," said Mathieu Olivier, who assisted on the goal and later found the back of the net himself. "It's good to start off the right way."

After Danforth sent the Blue Jackets into the first intermission with a 2-0 lead, the Senators cut the lead to one with a power-play goal from Fabian Zetterlund late in the second period.

That's when Olivier answered with just 22 seconds left in the middle frame on a redirect to make it a 3-1 game. It was his 18th goal of the season.

RELATED Three Things: Avoiding Dubious Mark, All Or Nothing, Fantilli First To 25

Sean Monahan picked up his 18th of the season less than three minutes into the third period, connecting on a power-play goal that put the Blue Jackets up 4-1. 

Adam Fantilli added a third-period insurance goal to reach 25 goals on the season. 

Ottawa's Thomas Chabot scored in the closing minutes to bring the final to 5-2.

Merzlikins finished with 33 saves on 35 shots and was named the Second Star of the game.

Columbus' victory kept them alive in the playoff race for at least one more game, though the Montreal Canadiens were also victors Tuesday and remained eight points ahead of the Blue Jackets for the final spot in the playoffs.

Despite a game in hand, it's clear that winning out — and Montreal struggling in their final four games — is the only path for what is a highly unlikely chance at a playoff berth for Columbus.

"We can't lose," said Olivier. "Until there's an 'e' or an 'x' next to our name, I've said before, until it's decided, we have to play like we have a chance."

"Tonight was a good first step."

Here's how the Blue Jackets kept themselves in the playoff race:

1st Period:

(7:00 — CBJ Goal): Voronkov's 21st goal of the season gives the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead and ends a streak of 14 straight goals scored by the opposition going back to last Thursday. Mathieu Olivier shows excellent patience here as he handles the puck behind the net before a slick spin pass over to Voronkov, who is waiting to bury it in the slot and does just that.

#CBJ take a 1-0 lead on Voronkov's goal at 7:00 of the first. It ends a shutout streak of 159:04, a run of 14 consecutive opposition goals, and is the first goal from the Big Boss since the Stadium Series:pic.twitter.com/Z4XSSjmzJq

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) April 8, 2025

(16:38 — CBJ Goal): Danforth shows off a toe drag for his 9th goal of the season to give the Blue Jackets a 2-0. Denton Mateychuk makes an excellent clear from the Blue Jackets' zone, and Danforth picks the assist up near mid-ice. The toe drag fools Ottawa defenseman Nikolas Matinpalo, and the shot fools goalie Anton Forsberg to double the Columbus lead.

#CBJ take a 2-0 lead with 3:22 left in the 1st. A slick goal by Danforth on a slick pass from Mateychuk.

Mateychuk continues to show that he's going to be a staple for a long, long time on this blueline.pic.twitter.com/WomtbYOVI7

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) April 8, 2025

2nd Period:

(16:18 — OTT Goal): The Senators get on the board to cut the Columbus lead to 2-1. Zetterlund gets a power-play goal after Claude Giroux's shot from the point generates just enough of a rebound. Zetterlund is outside the crease waiting on it and tucks it away to make it a one-goal game.

(19:38 — CBJ Goal): Olivier is, as broadcaster Steve Mears says, in the right place at the right time. Erik Gudbranson shoots it from the point, and it grazes off Danforth, redirecting it right to the skate of Olivier. He has no clue where it is, and because there's no distinct kicking motion, it's a good goal to make it a 3-1 game in the closing seconds of the second.

Ready for the third period with the #CBJ up 3-1 on the Ottawa Senators.
Olivier's 18th of the season came in the closing seconds of the second to restore Columbus' two-goal lead: pic.twitter.com/utEvhjos3K

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) April 9, 2025

3rd Period:

(2:37 — CBJ Goal): Monahan's power-play goal makes it 4-1 in favor of the Blue Jackets. Kent Johnson has the puck near the boards and finds Monahan entering the circle without a lot of attention on him. He takes the pass and then takes his time, waiting a moment before getting off the perfect shot for the goal.

#CBJ extend their lead to 4-1 with this Monahan power play goal at the 2:37 mark of the third. It's his 50th point of the season. pic.twitter.com/vRDan2vHnE

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) April 9, 2025

(11:42 — CBJ Goal): Fantilli makes it a 5-1 game as he simply outskates the Senators. He grabs the puck after Johnson throws it to center ice from near the Ottawa bench, and it's off to the races, with Mo beating three Sens to get off a clean look past Forsberg.

Fantilli uses his brilliant speed to pick up his 25th goal of the season, putting the #CBJ up 5-1.

Now a 5-2 Columbus lead with 3:53 left.pic.twitter.com/oU2mIXVIi6

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) April 9, 2025

(15:10 — OTT Goal): Chabot gives the Senators a late goal. The defenseman gets his 7th of the season on a rebound to trim Columbus' lead to 5-2.

Stat Chat:

• In his 800th career NHL game, Erik Gudbranson picked up his 101st career assist on Olivier's goal in the second period.
   
• The trio of James van Riemsdyk, Fantilli, and Johnson had a 20-7 edge in shot attempts in their 7:49 together on the ice. 
   
• Both Ivan Provorov and Mateychuk finished with an assist and a +3 plus/minus rating on the night, as they continue to gel well together.

Up Next:

The second game of a three-game homestand for the Blue Jackets is Thursday night when the Buffalo Sabres come to town. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.