The CBJ Writer

The Columbus Blue Jackets have been up and down across their first 4 games of the season, hence their 2-2-0 start. Tonight was a roller coaster in Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets didn't give the Florida Panthers an inch in the first period. In addition to keeping the visiting Panthers off the scoreboard, Kent Johnson scored an unassisted goal at 14:11, his third of the season, giving our home boys a 1-0 lead heading into period 2. However, for how good period 1 was for the Blue Jackets, the middle period would be the absolute opposite in many ways. The Panthers led in shots on goal, 10-8.   Florida Panthers' Brady Tkachuk would score at 2/l27, 6:00, and 10:30. Yes, in the first 10:30 of this period, Brady Tkachuk would put up 3 goals, a hat trick, giving his visiting Panthers a 3-1 lead. His first would be assisted by his brother, Matthew Tkachuk, giving him his third assist of the season. His second was assisted by his brother, Matthew Tkachuk, on the primary, giving him h...

 After an exhilarating second win of the season in overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins last night, 4-3, the Blue Jackets hit the road for the first time this season, going to St. Louis for a matchup with the Blues. The Blue Jackets would run the first period, scoring two goals. The first goal was scored at 16:10 by Valeri Nichushkin. This was his first goal of the season, and as a Blue Jacket! Sean Monahan and Erik Gudbranson would each pick up their first assists of the season on this goal. Not long after, at 19:48, Kent Johnson would add his first goal of the season to the scoresheet! Adam Fantilli would get his first assist of the season on the primary, while Zach Werenski would add his fourth assist of the season on the secondary. The final seconds would tick away, and the Blue Jackets would take a 2-0 lead into period 2. The Blue Jackets would also lead in shots on goal this period, 10-4.  Unfortunately, the lead was not to last. 00:25 into the period, Ross Johnston ...

Welcome back, Damon Severson! Our defenseman, who missed the last 11 games of the 2025-26 NHL Season, and the first 2 games this season following shoulder surgery in the offseason, came back strong tonight. He scored the only goal in period 1 at 10:52! Zach Werenski added his third assist this season on the primary, and Cole Siollinger added his first assist of the season on the secondary. The Blue Jackets carried that 1-0 lead into period 2, where they continued to dominate. The shots on goal this period were in favor of our Blue Jackets, 9-3!  Period 2 would have a second goal for our Blue Jackets, scored at 11:40 by Mathieu Olivier! This is his second goal of the season. Damon Severson would add his first assist of the season, and coupled with his first goal of the season in period 1, he now has a multi-point night! Cole Sillinger would add a second assist to his season and night, giving him two this season. So, our Blue Jackets would lead 2-0, but if there's one thing to know a...

After a thrilling 6-3 win against the Buffalo Sabers Thursday night to open the 2026-27 Columbus Blue Jackets' season, the team would look to their second game of the season, also at home, against the Utah Mammoth. The Mammoth won their home opener, too, the same night as our Columbus Blue Jackets, shutting out the Chicago Blackhawks, 6-0. Tonight was expected to be a good game, and it was.   The visiting Mammoth would go on the power play at 10:45 into period 1 after Dimitri Voronkov tripped Jack McBain. This power play would matter because it would be their second of the game already, but the first they'd capitalize on. Mikhail Sergachev. This goal would be his first of the season. Dylan Guenther added his first assist of the season on the primary, while Clayton Keller would add his third assist of the season on the secondary. Nick Schmaltz would double the Mammoth lead at 16:31 with his second goal of the season. Clayton Keller would add his second assist, fourth of the sea...

The second the puck dropped on the 26th season of Columbus Blue Jackets hockey, the action didn't stop! The Buffalo Sabers would get the first goal of the game, scored by Mattias Samuelsson at 7:21. Of course, this was his first goal of the season. Noah Ostlund and Owen Power would each add their first assists of the season on his goal. The Blue Jackets would answer at 12:51, as Cole Sillinger would score the first goal of the season for the home team! This was, of course, his first goal of the season. Charlie Coyle and Denton Mateychuk would add their first assists of the season on his goal. Mattias Samuelsson would go to the box for holding Danton Heimen at 17:03, and Matthew Knies would score his first power-play goal as a Blue Jacket, seconds later, at 17:58! Charlie Coyle would add his second assist of the night on the primary, while Zach Werenski would add his first assist of the season on the secondary. The score would be 2-1 for the Blue Jackets, but we're not done yet,...

I had a feeling about today, mainly because the trade deadline ahead of the 2026-27 NHL Season was at 5:00 p.m., but also because I worked today. Let me tell you, our Columbus Blue Jackets love to make moves when I'm not home, and boy, oh boy, was this a move! I wish Kirill Marchenko, Miles Wood, and Elvis Merzlikins the best of luck in Toronto as they join the Maple Leafs. I also welcome Matthew Knies, Steven Lorentz, and Emil Andrae to Columbus as they join our Blue Jackets! (It's also worth noting that, in this deal, we pay 18% of Elvis Merzlikins' remaining one-year contract.) We could also get the Maple Leafs' 2nd-round draft pick in 2027, but it's conditional.) That said, let's talk about our new Blue Jackets! Matthew Kies is a 23-year-old Left Wing. This will be his fifth season in the NHL. Last season, in 79 games, he had 23 goals and 43 assists for 66 points. The season prior, he appeared in 76 games and had 29 goals and 29 assists for 58 points. He...