The CBJ Writer

After last night's 2025 Kids Takeover Game at Nationwide Arena, which ended with a 7-6 victory in a shootout against the Vancouver Canucks, the Blue Jackets would look to snatch more points tonight. This game at the Ottawa Senators has two important components: Win points for ourselves and keep points from the Senators who hold the 1st Wild Card spot in the Eastern Division. A Senators' charge on net at 7:24 would give the home team an early 1-0 lead, thanks to R, Greig's twelfth goal this season. T, Chabot would add his twenty-ninth assist this season on the primary, while S, Pinto would add his thirteenth on the secondary. Seconds later, Blue Jackets' Captain, Boone Jenter, would add his fifth goal this season at 7:55. Zach Werenski would continue his team lead in assists, adding his fifty-first on this goal primary assist. The secondary would go to Denton Mateychuk, his sixth in a season that has seen him improve leaps and bounds. Sadly, the Senators would break the ...

This was a wild game. Period one would see three goals, none of which would belong to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Vancouver Canucks would score two powerplay goals and one at even strength. The first would come at 8:51 and belong to L. Karlsson, making his second goal of the season. The primary assist on this goal would be number sixteen this season for K. Sherwood, and the secondary assist would be number twenty-six this season for C. Garland. Less than two minutes later, at 10:35, B. Boesser would pop one past Elvis Merzlikins to gain goal twenty-four of his season. Q. Hghes would add his fifty-third assist this season on the primary while P. Sutter would add his eighteenth assist this season on the secondary. This second goal was the only Canucks goal this period not on the powerplay advantage. The third goal of this period would be the final for this twenty-minute block. It would belong to J. Debrusk and would become goal twenty-four of his season. B. Boeser would add assist num...

It's been a rough few games for the Columbus Blue Jackets, but, this morning, the team got some great news. Forward Sean Monahan and defenseman Erik Gudbrandson would rejoin the team tonight in New York at the Islanders. Sean Monahan has been absent since the start of the year after having surgery to repair a wrist injury while Erik Gudbranson barely played at all this season, going out just a few games in and requiring shoulder surgery and a lengthy recovery period. It's so good to hear their names announced during play, and having them back tonight, I think, added a jolt to this talented but struggling team. Let's recap some hockey, 5th Line! Period one wouldn't go the Blue Jackets way, but, before you lose faith, be a life-long fan and stick around and don't get discouraged. That said, we have to get through this period to get to the good stuff, okay? The Islanders would get on the board first with a goal at 13:16 from P. Engvall, and this would become goal six o...

The last time the Blue Jackets went to Pittsburgh they came home with their first road win there in 15 games, spanning years. Tonight, they'd be in search of any points they could add to their 71 this season as many teams remain in the hunt for those two coveted Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference. Tonight would be a back-to-back after they lost in overtime last night, but gained a point, against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers. The final score was 1-0. Tonight would also show Elvis Merzzlikins starting in his first back-to-back games situation since 2020. With a lot on the line, let's recap a high-scoring game.  The Penguins would prove early on that they had no problems invading Elvis Merzlikins' space. Even with his acrobatic saves early into this game, the Penguins would still score twice. The first goal would come from E. Malkin as he'd scored his fourteenth goal this season at the 5:28 mark. The primary assist would become number eleven t...

First and foremost, congratulations to Elvis Merzlikins, his wife Aleksandra, and their oldest son, Knox, on the newest member of their family, Jaxon, who arrived on March 16th! Also, congratulations to Scott Foard, a member of our coaching staff who also welcomed a baby this past Tuesday, March 18th! So much joy this week, and the only thing to make it better? Points tonight, because the Blue Jackets desperately need them to stay in the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff conversation.    Let's be honest, the last few games haven't been the best for the Columbus Blue Jackets. But after a narrow 2-1 loss against the New Jersey Devils earlier this week, Head Coach Dean Evanson made it known he thought that game was a 'turning point' after back-to-back shutouts and three consecutive losses. I believed the same. Tonight proved Dean Evanson right. If you wanted to watch two incredible goaltenders in their prime, this was the game for you because Panthers goaltender (and former Blu...

The Columbus Blue Jackets would be looking for their first goal in three games and first win in four tonight in Nationwide Arena. With Elvis Merzlikins out of the game to be with his family as they expect baby number two any day, Jet Greaves would take his turn in the Blue Jackets' home net. The first period would end 0-0 after some great play, but the ice would turn in period two, and not in the Blue Jackets' favor.  T. Meler would open the scoring, putting the Red Wings up 1-0 at 13:35 with goal twenty of his season. This goal would result from the Blue Jackets not being in the right places at the right time. The primary assist would become number sixteen this season for S. Noesen and the secondary would become number twenty-five this season for N. Hischier. J. Bratt would add his twentieth after a bad bounce from Jet Greaves, who was trying to recover the puck from behind the net at 14:14. B, Dumoulin would add his sixteenth assist this season on the primary while C, Glass w...