San Jose Sharks @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 1/21/23 Game Recap

The Blue Jackets would hold the San Jose Sharks to just 1 goal in Period 1, which is impressive when you consider they had 14 shots on our net while we had just 2 on theirs. That loan goal would come from T. Meier at 10:49 into the period. With 20 minutes in the books, the Sharks would take a 1-0 lead into Period 2.  

The Sharks ran Period 1, but in Period 2, the Blue Jackets would look to fight back. With a goal from N. Bonino at 5:39, I, along with likely most of the 5th Line, settled in for another heartbreaking game. The Blue Jackets on the ice wouldn't accept that option, however. At 11:19, Johnny Gaudreau would match his number to his goal total this season, sitting pretty at thirteen after this score. Patrik Laine would pick up the primary assist and number twelve this season for himself, while the secondary assist would go to Nick Blankenburg, taking him to three and back-to-back games with points. 2-1 Blue Jackets lead, and then at 12:31, Captain Boone Jenner would even the score with his twelfth goal this season. Kent Johnson would add number twelve to his assist total, having the only one on this Jenner goal. After this second period, the Blue Jackets would go from being down 1-0 to tying with the Sharks at 2-2.   Now, there was a fight between Mathieu Olivier and Sharks Jonah Gadjovich. Still, I think this comeback was due to the team refocusing in intermission one, along with Head Coach Larson shifting Centers (Boone Jenner and Jack Roslovic).

Period 3 would start with a Sharks goal that made its way in early. The goal would go to N. Sturn at just 1:53 into the period. This would be a good goal and give the Sharks back their lead, but only for a short time! Patrik Laine would score at 3:04, marking his thirteenth goal of the season. (This also ties Laine and Johnny for the most goals this season.)  Jack Roslovic would add number twenty-two to his assist count, while Johnny Gaudreau would extend his lead in this category, picking up the secondary and number thirty-one on his season. 3-3 would be the score, tied again until Mr. Gus Nyquist scored at 12:38.  Thanks to his tenth goal this season, the Blue Jackets would now lead 4-3.  Kent Johnson would also add his second assist of the night and thirteenth to his current season's total.  The cherry on top of this Period 3 and game would be an empty net goal for Sean Kuraly at 18:56, number nine of the season.  Nick Blankenburg would add his second assist to his total tonight and forth to his season, while Andrew Peeke would add his third to his season with the secondary. The Blue Jackets go from down two goals to winning the night with a 5-3 final.  Well done!  

The NHL still has to do three stars for the evening, but there were so many scores and assists tonight for the Blue Jackets, how do you factor it down to just three top players? Tonight was truly a team effort, having gone from a 14-2 shot-on-goal total, where you're the 2 after Period 1, to end 25-29, where you win the shots-on-goal battle. Honestly, what a team effort.  Now, those three starts of the night:

Star One- Gus Nyquist (Who gave the team their first lead and the edge to win the night.)

Star Two- Patrik Laine (1-1-2)

Star Three- Johnny Gaudreau (1-1-2)

Bonus Stars (Kent Johnson 0-2-2, Nick Blankenburg 0-2-2, Captain Boone Jenner 1-0-1, and Sean Kuraly 1-0-1).  

Alright, all, it's that lovely time of year for some travel to Canada and the coast, which means we have some late-night hockey coming in hot!  Our next game will be Monday evening as Johnny goes to Calgary for the first time since his ice-shattering singing here.  That game will start late, at 9:30 puck drop.  So, if you have to work, have no fear, you can read my recap here the following morning.  Until then, enjoy the win 5th Line!  

Go CBJ!