Blue Jackets Beat Blues 5-4, Hold On To Win After Elvis Leaves In Pain During 3rd Period- 3/19/22

Again, tonight's game would start off with a cannon bang!  A goal from Bemstrom would come just 3:22 into the game, at home, against the Blues.  Only 1 Assist on this goal and that would go to Robinson.   Perron would tie the game, for the Blues, at 12:36.  However, before the period would close, we would see another Blue Jackets goal.  This one would come from Nyquist at 15:14.  Assists would go to Laine and Bjorkstrand.  After 1 period the Blue Jackets would lead 2-1.  

Period 2 would be a goal swap.  At 3:52 Laine would find the Blues net.  Assists would go to Nyquist and Roslovic.  While at 13:43, Toropchenko would score for the Blues.  Score after Period 2 would be a Blue Jackets lead still, by a goal, 3-2.  

After another Blue Jackets goal, this one from Kuraly at 6:49, Elvis would come out of goal, after an injury I didn't see, and would be replaced by Korpisalo.  Korpisalo needs to show his abilities to rebound from tough games, however this isn't the way anyone wanted to see him redeem himself.  Never the less, he does.  His last two games included a Shutout, 6-0, at the Islanders.  Then in his most recent game, against the Capitals, he was pulled after a 3 goal start for them.  The Kuraly goal would have assists from Robinson and Bemstrom, by the way.  After the Blue Jackets 4th goal and goaltender switch out, Perron would score again for the Blues, at 8:03.  4-3 lead for Blue Jackets.  At 12:24 Voracek would score.  Assists to Bean and Bjorkstrand.  5-3 Blue Jackets.  Now, Perron would score again, completing himself a hattrick at 18:40. The Blue Jackets would survive with a 5-4 win and 2 desperately needed points.  1st star would go to Laine, 2nd star to Perron and 3rd star to Nyquist.   

The Blues are a great team, so this is some nice redemption for not just Korpisalo, but for the full Blue Jackets team. Elvis was amazing and the Offense and Defense jived tonight, very well.  I was able to see the reason Merzlikins was pulled, just now in the postgame show.  If his has a sprained left knee, and I'm only saying this from the twist and reaction I saw, that could be a short or long recovery.  I actually have sprained my knee before, it was oddly my left, and it took a few weeks to get back to normal.  Merzlikins and I are the same age.  Again, I have no way of knowing this is what happened, it's just an educated guess from my own personal history.  Of course I hope I'm wrong!  I can't stress that enough.  This could complicate the situation with Korpisalo however.  If the team was planning to trade him tomorrow, that could all be scrapped now.  Why?  Tarasov is out after hip surgery until next season, for sure.  At this point you could pull up Berube or Graves, from the Monsters, but those are really your only option.  Berube is good, however I'd give Korpisalo a chance and bring up a man as backup.  I don't just say that for trade options, I also say that because you can see he wants to play and he'll do everything he can to win.  How this plays out is anyone's guess, we'll see what happens.  However, he has done a lot for this team, let's not loose sight of that 5th Line.  

The Blue Jackets do go to play the Penguins on Tuesday, puck drop is at 7:00 PM EST.  Tomorrow is the Trade Deadline, so in my mind Tuesday feels like another year almost.  It will be a busy day and I'll keep you updated with every updat4e and trade I see, regarding Blue Jackets and even former players, should any former CBJ veterans move, too.  Also, I'll watch for Merzlikins updates.  Again, hopefully it's just an odd tweak and nothing more.  

Also, GOOD LUCK LADY BUCKS!  They play for the NCAA Woman's Hockey National title at 4PM tomorrow afternoon against Minnesota!  You got this Ladies.  Also, the Men's Basketball team continues their NCAA March Madness game play too.  They take on Villanova at 2:40 PM.  Go OH-IO!  

Go CBJ!