by The Columbus Blue Jackets hit the road this past weekend, taking on the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, January 30, and the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, January 31. Columbus managed to extend their run to five in a row, which has moved them up to the third spot in the Wild Card and fourth in the Metropolitan Division. Columbus has gone 8-1-0 under Bowness, who has proved he can turn the team around. If the Jackets can maintain this momentum under their new leadership, they’ll give themselves a legitimate shot at the playoffs.
Friday, January 30
After a slow start to the first period, Charlie Coyle was able to put the Jackets on the board with a wrist shot at 19:13 with an assist from Zach Werenski and Kiril Marchenko. Chicago was quick to tie the game at the last moment of the first period, scoring their goal at 19:57.
Charlie Coyle wasted no time when Columbus returned to the ice for the second period, scoring an unassisted wrist shot at 1:23. Only minutes later, Mathieu Olivier followed up with a snapshot at 6:47 with help from Charlie Coyle and Zach Werenski to put the Jackets up by two. The Blackhawks secured their final goal of the evening at 10:49 to send Columbus into the third period up 3-2.
The final frame went without a point until Charlie Coyle scored at 18:57, assisted by Cole Sillinger and Mathieu Olivier. The final goal marked Coyle’s second NHL hat trick and helped Columbus claim a 4-2 victory. Elvis Merzlikins was in the net for Columbus on Friday night and stopped 22 of the total 24 shots on goal.
Saturday, January 31
The St. Louis Blues kicked off the evening by scoring the first goal of the game at 7:11 in the first period, but Columbus was quick to counter with their own goal by Isac Lundestrom at 7:48, assisted by Boone Jenner and Miles Wood. Denton Matechuk was able to put the Jackets ahead with a wrist shot at 12:54 with help from Kent Johnson and Sean Monahan to send Columbus into the second frame up 2-1.
The second period was a consistent back-and-forth battle between the Jackets and the Blues. St. Louis tied the game with a power play goal at 3:15 into the second frame, but Kent Johnson followed up soon after with a tip-in shot at 8:30, with an assist from Ivan Provorov and Dmitri Voronkov on their own power play. The Blues tied the game once again at 13:35, but Columbus was quick to take back their lead when Damon Severson scored a slap shot at 16:01 with help from Zach Werenski.
After a tight start to the third period, the Blue Jackets were able to secure the win when Mason Marchment scored an empty-net wrist shot at 19:30, assisted by Kiril Marchenko and Adam Fantilli, ending the game 5-3. Jet Greaves was in the net for the Jackets on Saturday and saved 28 of the total 31 shots on goal.
What’s Next
The Columbus Blue Jackets will stay on the road for the game on Tuesday, February 3, when they will take on the New Jersey Devils at 7 p.m. ET. The game can be viewed live on FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, ESPN+, and NHL Center Ice.
Image sourced via Google Images.
