Montreal Canadians @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 2022-23 NHL Season Game 16 Recap

Tonight, would start off with the bang of the Nationwide Arena Cannon, and not just to kick off the game either 5th Line!  Goal 1 would belong to the home team, more specific to Cole Sillinger, at 7:28.  Erik Gudbranson would tack on an assist, his fourth as a Blue Jacket.  The second assist would go to Jake Christensen, his first since returning to cover for injured Blue Jacket starters.  1-0 Blue Jackets lead, and that wouldn't be our only goal of this period either.  At 16:19 Gus Nyquist would add his third goal on the season to his point sheet.  Assists on this goal would go to Gavin Bayreuther, his first of the season since being brought up to cover for injured Blue Jacket starters also.  The secondary assist would go to Yegor Chinakhov, his seventh of the season already.  After a dominant Period 1, the Blue Jackets would lead 2-0.

Period 2 would go the way of the visiting Canadians, however.  At 15:35 J. Harris would score, then former Blue Jacket J. Anderson (Josh) would score as well, his coming at 19:57.  This would take us to a tied game at 2-2, and also some fireworks between Mathieu Olivier and Canadians Arber Xhekaj.  The disagreement would result in some good swings, but nothing more...or would it?  Buckle up 5th Line, it's about to rain goals!

Captain Boone Jenner would make the cannon go boom, scoring his seventh goal this season at 6:36.  This came off a beautiful pass from Kent Johnson and Johnny Gaudreau.  This is Johnson's fifth assist this season and Gaudreau's eight.  The Blue Jackets would enjoy a short lead until 9:27, when Canadian's B. Gallagher would score, tying the game at 3-3.  10:09 would bring another Blue Jacket goal, this time from Sean Kuraly, marking his fourth on the season.  On assist on this goal and that was given to Eric Robinson, his fourth of this season.  11:09 we'd see Mathieu Olivier get his first goal as a Blue Jacket!  This would take the Blue Jackets to a 5-3 lead and give Sean Kuraly his third assist of this season.  However, the Canadians would score again just second later, at 11:17, thanks to N. Suzuki.  This takes us to a staggering 9 goal game, at this point, with a 5-4 Blue Jackets lead.  With one last goal, an empty netter, this 10 total goal contests would come to an exhilarating close.  That last goal would be Sean Kuraly's, his fifth on the season, coming at 17:47.  With the now 6-4 Blue Jackets lead holding to the bitter end, the Blue Jackets would pull out another huge win!  

The competition in this game was real.  Neither team gave the other an inch for the full sixty minutes tonight and the Blue Jackets hung in, never backed down, answering every goal the Canadian's managed, then poured on two extra for the WIN!  For how many injuries this team has, I think they've found their grove, if not just for the sake of winning for their fallen players.  If this is true, what a reason to fight for every point.  The team is now 6-9-1, a total which is now looking better.  

Star 1 tonight went to Sean Kuraly:  2-1-3

Star 2 tonight went to Mathieu Olivier: 1-0-0 and a fight.

Star 3 tonight went to Captain Boone Jenner:  1-0-0.  

Joonas Korpisalo held the net all game and finished with 38 total saves on a high shot night, 40 shot total tonight.  Several of those 38 were highlight real worthy for sure also.  He had a huge night, no doubt.  This win puts him 3-1-0.  Yes folks, he hasn't lost a game he started in since his first, which was a loss, in Finland.  How's that for a comeback?  

Again, as I said, what a huge night.  I think the most notable takeaway is how no one left injured!  That deserves a cheer of its own!  If anything comes up, because we all remember the Nick Blankenburg fractured ankle shocker last week, I'll pass it on to you once I hear.  Game 17 of this season will be on Saturday, as the 7-5-4 Detroit Red Wings come to Nationwide Arena.  Puck drop is set for the normal 7:00 PM.  

Until then,

GO CBJ!