Nashville Predators Vs. Columbus Blue Jackets: 2022-23 Game 5 Recap

This game would put you in mind of Tuesday's when the Vancouver Canucks came to Nationwide Arena.  How so?  Period 1 would belong to our opponent, the Nashville predators.  At 3:16 T. Jeannot would score, then at 10:45, former Blue Jacket R. Johansen would score also.  This would give them a 2-0 lead after Period 1, just like the Canucks had Tuesday.  

Period 2 would differ a little bit.  Jake Bean would score one for the hometown team at 16:09, his first goal of the 2022-23 NHL Season.  Assists on his goal would go to Kent Johnson, his second of the season and Yegor Chinakhov, his third.  Unlike Tuesday night however, the Blue Jackets would not tie the game, but instead Y. Trenin would score a late goal at 17:38.  This would give the Predators a 3-1 lead after Period 2 and put the Blue Jackets into a 2-goal hole.  Challenge extended, but would it be met?

YES.  One goal or another, Johnny Gaudreau and that cannon are going to be friends.  (Cheesey play on words, but I like it.)  This goal for Gaudreau would come at just 0:38 into Period 3, off a Nick Blankenburg shot!  This is his first assist of the 2022-23 NHL Season.  The score would be 3-2 Predators, until a goal at 12:07 from Justin Danforth would tie the game!  A 3-3 tie (as I said, many correlations between tonight and Tuesday.)  This is Danforth's second goal of the season.  Yegor Chinakhov would gain a fourth assist on this goal, while Andrew Peeke would gain his first of the 2022-23 NHL Season.  Then, the night would get even better for Nick Blankenburg.  In his second game of the season, he would add the game-winning goal, and his first goal of the 2022-23 NHL Season, at 18:37.  Jakub Voracek would gain his third assist on the season, while Jack Roslovic would get his first assist of the 2022-23 NHL Season.  The Cherry on top, Johnny Gaudreau nets his second goal of the game, an empty net at 19:14!  He now has four goals this season in 5 games folks! Gus Nyquist would now have his first assist on this goal of his 2022-23 NHL Season.  The final would be a huge, comeback win for the Blue Jackets; 5-3 over the Predators!  Shoot that cannon baby!  First regulation win is now!

It was a rough start to the season.  Patrik Laine was injured in Period 2 of Game 1 and that derailed this team I think, but I think it's safe to say that is in the past.  Look at tonight, first regulation win over a team in the playoffs last season.  5-3 in regulation is huge for this team.  Nyquist, Roslovic, Blankenburg and Peeke would all get their first assist.  Blankenburg and Bean would both have their first goals of the season, Blankenburg with the huge game-winner.  (I don't ever want to hear he's "too short" again.)  Two goals for "Johnny Jacket" and two assist for Yegor Chinakhov.  Blankenburg had his first assist and goal in the same game.  Then you can't forget the man in net all game, Elvis Merzlikins.  He had some saves that truly made this win possible.  He stopped 23 of 26 shots on his net tonight.  Further, the Blue Jackets had 42 shots on net compared to the Predators 26.  Not bad for being down 2 goals multiple times this game, huh?  This was just an incredible, textbook comeback win tonight.  Best of all it's great momentum to carry forward when the rival Pittsburgh Penguins come to town Saturday at 7:00 PM.  All updates I'll post to my social media pages or in a blog if needed.  

Final game notes.  

Star 1 and very deserved:  Nick Blankenburg.  

Star 2 no doubt:  Johnny Gaudreau.

Star 3 with that sweet tying goal:  Justin Danforth.

All honesty though, this team had so many great options tonight and that's an amazing fact to end this portion of the game recap on.   

Until then this is a sweet win to saver 5th Line!  2-3-0 on the season and the future looks bright, they'd found a way as I knew they would.  As I've said, stick with your team and they'll stick with you, through the good and the bad, we are the Columbus Blue Jackets and tthis is our home.  Let's defend it again Saturday folks, shall we? 

GO CBJ!    

  



     

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