Buffalo Sabres @ Columbus Blue Jackets NHL Preseason 2022--23 Game 3 Recap!

It's a big night for one Columbus Blue Jacket in particular.  Daniil Tarasov would be injured in December 2021 and require hip surgery; tonight, would be his first preseason game back.in net and as starter.  The team before him would have some great scoring chances, but none would connect.  The bright spot early on in tonight's game, other than Daniil Tarasov's return, would be how long it took him to see a puck.  With the offensive line working to score and the defensive line working well also, Tarasov wouldn't make a save until 8:20 into Period 1.  How's that for an accomplishment?  Especially when you consider their opponents, the Buffalo Sabres, had a Powerplay during this time as well.  The Blue Jackets would kick the scoring off just a few seconds later, with Emil Bemstrom scoring at 8:47.  Stanislav Svozil would gain the primary assist, while the secondary assist would go to newly re-signed defenseman Andrew Peeke.  Wait a few more minutes, until 13:29, and Kirill Marchenko would tack on another goal for the Blue Jackets, giving them a 2-0 lead and the first Powerplay go of the evening.  There would only be a primary assist on the Marchenko goal, it would go to Mikael Pyyhtia.  The Blue Jackets would take another penalty, giving the Sabres another Powerplay opportunity, but the Blue Jackets would kill this one off as well.  They would lead after Period 1, 2-0, and look solid doing so too.  

Period 2 would see the first goal for the Sabres, scored by C. Priskie, at 3:49.  The primary assist would go to J. Ouinn, while the secondary assist would go to K. Clague.  The Blue Jackets would maintain their lead however, but it would be just by a goal, 2-1.  After a bit more time elapsed, at the games half-way point, Daniil Tarasov would come out of the net and Jet Greaves would take over.  The rest of this period would be summed up by good goaltending and defense, from both teams.  No other goals would be scored and heading into Period 3 we'd still have that 2-1 Blue Jackets lead.  

Period 3 started out hard and heavy. Incredible shots and more incredible saves would be traded by both team's offenses, in conjunction with their defense and goaltenders.  The speed would be ceased with a goal finally though, on by the Columbus Blue Jackets own Jakub Voracek at 7:58!  Trey Fix-Wolansky would get the primary assist on this goal, much deserved because he'd been working hard tonight to make an impression this preseason.  The secondary assist would go to another well-known Blue Jacket, that of Jack Roslovic, his second assist of the night.  3-1 Blue Jackets to this point.  Toward the end of the night, one of our hometown players would finally get the goal he'd been fighting for all night!  Carson Meyer would score his goal at 16:36. Justin Richards would take the primary assist, while the secondary assist would go to Vladislav Gavrikhov.  This would take the Columbus Blue Jackets to night just a 4-1 lead, but a 4-1 victory just a few minutes later!  

A great night all around, only 1 goal all night against the team.  Daniil Tarasov is back and looks good.  Jet Graves had no score on his net at all in just over 30 minutes in regulation play.  It was a diverse night of scoring too, spreading the wealth around.  Did anyone surprise me you may wonder?  Honest, with this team being made up of mostly new players or returning Cleveland Monsters, I was surprised how well everyone meshed together so quickly.  Yes, these men have been at practice, but that just started roughly 6 days ago, then deduct Sunday because the team had a split squad start to the preseason, and this makes tonight all the more impressive. I really see a bright future for not just the players selected to stay here in Columbus but go to Cleveland as well.  I can't wait to see both teams and all their players take advantage of such. 

Tomorrow night we'll be back at it again!  The team will travel this time as the St. Louis Blue host the Columbus Blue Jackets.  I'll bee watching with you 5th Line, as puck drop is set for 8:00 PM.  Any other updates between now and then I'll bring you on my blog, or if working, my social media pages on both Twitter and Facebook!

Go CBJ!