Columbus Blue Jackets @ Vancouver Canucks: 1/27/23 Game Recap

This Period 1 didn't lack the thrill of NHL play, that's for sure. The Blue Jackets would get a Powerplay opportunity just seconds into this period. However, the Canucks would go down the ice and score at 1:25 by way of E. Pettersson. This would give the Canucks a 1-0 lead, which wouldn't last even a minute. The Powerplay unit would tie this game early with Kirill Marchenko's twelfth goal of the season. Adam Boqvist would add his tenth assist of the season on his goal, while Patrik Laine would add his sixteenth. Fun fact, this now gives Laine a five-game point streak. Sadly, this tie wouldn't last. Q. Hughes would score at 13:21, this being a Powerplay goal for their team. Then, at 19:15, a ping-pong-like shot from I. Mikheyev would come off the boards just right, collide with goaltender Joonas Korpisalo's skate, and cross the line. This goofy goal, but a goal nonetheless, would give the Canucks a 3-1 lead over us going into Period 2.       

The early bit of this period 2 would consist of back-and-forth skating, good shots on goal but no scores.  A penalty on us would give the Canucks a 5-on-4 Powerplay for 2:00, but our guys would kill it will skill.  Considering where that Powerplay Kill was at the start of this season, it has dramatically improved.  Aside from the Powerplay Kills and a few great saves by both goaltenders, not much else would happen in this period.  The score would remain a 3-1 Canucks lead heading into Period 3.  

Alas, another odd, incomplete pass would result in goal 4 for the Canucks toward the middle of Period 3.  It would be scored by D. Joshua at 8:20.  A well-executed goal by E. Pettersson at 12:52 would add another to the Canucks growing lead, making it 5-1 in their favor.  Not long after, the Blue Jackets would get a Powerplay chance, Bob would remind us all of the "score twice, half price" Jets Pizza promotion, and I'd do the "YMCA" in my dad's recliner to stay awake.  (At this point, we're down 5-1, we could use a little comic relief, however, that all actually happened.)  Something else which would happen is Kirill Marchenko's thirteenth goal of the season!  Both goals in this game belong to him, also.  His second of the game would come at 15:52 and give Captain Boone Jenner his twelfth assist this season, while Johnny Gaudreau would add number thirty-five with the secondary.  So, at least the Powerplay and Powerplay Kill look better.  Case and point, this game would end on a Canucks Powerplay, which our guys would kill off again.  This would cement the final as a 5-2 Canucks win.  (At least you can get your half-price pizza for tomorrow's game, right?)   

These three games in Canada prove a few things.  First, this team has the potential to win and the desire to do so.  The Overtime loss to Calgary, on the night of Johnny Gaudreau's return, was an impressive game that gave us a point.  The game against the Oilers and Conner McDavid, where we won in Overtime and took both points was incredible.  Tonight, the team didn't give in to the Canucks spark, they continued to push. Tonight did show how debilitating losing players can be, however.  We had no Gus Nyquist and no Nick Blankenburg, which made tonight a mountain to climb.  It changes both lines in less than forty-eight hours, a rough break. This team will regroup and push on, but the injuries this season have been devastating.      

Our next chance to watch the Columbus Blue Jackets play and, with any luck, bounce back will be in less than twenty-four hours.  The Blue Jackets will leave Canada and fly to Seattle, where they'll meet up with former Blue Jacket Oliver Bjorkstrand and his Seattle Kraken.  This game, again, has a late 10:00 PM puck drop our time.  So, if you can't make it that late, I'll have a recap for you here, 5th Line! 

Go CBJ!