Columbus Blue Jackets @ Carolina Hurricanes: Preseason 2022-23 Game 6

Alright, before we get into the game recap tonight, let me point out a fact.  This game against the Hurricanes was a challenge and then some for this Blue Jackets team we sent tonight.  Why?  We sent a young team with few veteran players, but even those returning players for us were on the young side. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, used this as a practice with just about the same lineup the CBJ will face next Wednesday, when the season truly opens with this exact matchup in this exact location!  With that being said, lets recap this game. 

Period 1 would open with promises for the Blue Jackets, Yegor Chinakhov would open the scoring with his 4th goal in just 3 games!  The goal would come at 5:54 and the primary and only assist on this goal would go to Justin Danforth, who was wearing an "A" tonight, by the way.  Now, after this, the 1-0 lead would be somewhat short-lived 5th Line. 7:15 J. Kothaniemi would settle the game at a 1-1 tie.  Then, S. Noesen would take it up to a 2-1 Hurricanes lead at 13:54.  One more goal in Period 1 and it would go to the Hurricanes as well, by way of D. Stepan at 19:55.  3-1 Hurricanes lead after just 20 minutes.  

The score would get worse for us, the Blue Jackets, in Period 2.  B. Burns would score at 6:40.  A 4-1 Hurricanes lead.  5-1 would come next for the Hurricanes, after a goal from M. Necas at 10:54.  6-1 after another Hurricanes goal at 11:51, from B. Skjei.  6-1 would be the score after Period 2, and 40 minutes of hockey.  It's worth mentioning that roughly half-way though this Period 2, the Blue Jackets did swap out Daniil Tarasov in net for Jet Greaves.  

In Period 3 the Hurricanes would tack on 2 more goals, another one from D. Stepan at 0:46 and another from M. Necas at 17:53.  8-1 would be the painful fine, as the Hurricanes would ice this game for themselves.  Again, as I said to open this blog post, these were two very different teams, so don't get discouraged.   Also, this is preseason!  A week from Wednesday we'll open the 2022-23 NHL Season against the Hurricanes, in North Carolina.  Am I worried after tonight?  Not at all.  Why?  This isn't our full team, not by a long shot!  Laine, Gaudreau, Werenski, Nyquist, Jenner, Merzlikins and so on weren't part of this matchup, men who will make a serious difference next Wednesday, no doubt.  

Tonight did have some good moments though.  Right out of the gate, we got to see brothers Cole and Owen Sillinger play together.  With Cole having just turned 19 and Owen being 24, this was something the brother had never done before in a competition game, so witnessing the first time is pretty cool.  Also, Yegor Chinakhov did keep his preseason scoring streak going, upping it to 3 games.  Also, with the score you likely wouldn't think this, but Tarasov and Greaves had some good saves too.  Does this cure the 8-1 loss?  Not really, but it could've been worse!  As I said, it's preseason and wasn't a shutout, so hay, that's something in my book. It's all part of the process to find the right men and placing them in the right spots, for both the Blue Jackets and Monsters, for optimum scoring and winning.  This will all come together for next Wednesday, it just will.  

If there are any updates, like today with the Gaudreau's announcing the birth of their daughter, roster cuts or injuries/illness, I'll post them to my Twitter and Facebook pages.  Our 7th preseason game is also the final one in Nationwide Arena!  The St. Louis Blues will travel to Columbus now and puck drop is set for Thursday, October 6th at 7:00 PM.  

Go CBJ!