Columbus Blue Jackets @ Buffalo Sabers: Game Recap 2/28/23

Let's recap! Tonight started with a firework trade; Gus Nyquist is now playing for the Minnesota Wild. However, the remaining team wouldn't let that phase them tonight as they prepared to face the Buffalo Sabers in Buffalo. For how good the Sabers are, currently 4th in their Atlantic Division and fighting for a playoff spot, this game tonight didn't go to their plan. The Blue Jackets are meeting the challenge to improve and leave their fans to hope for next season, a fact we saw play out well tonight.

Goal 1 would put the Blue Jackets up 1-0. The goal would come at 2:53 by Kent Johnson. He scored this first goal on a Blue Jackets Power Play, which marks his thirteenth goal this season. Assists on this goal would go to Nick Blankenburt, his sixth this season. The Sabers would bounce back quickly, gaining a goal at 3:11 from T. Thompson. The game would be even at 1-1 until Eric Robinson scored an unassisted goal at 13:41, giving him six now this season. This 2-1 Blue Jackets lead would then carry over into Period 2. 

We'd make it until 11:53 in that second period until we'd have another goal, correction, another Blue Jackets goal! Eric Robinson would score his second of the game and number seven this season! Sean Kuraly would pick up the primary assist, giving him seven total this season. The secondary assist would go to Patrik Laine, which marks his twenty-two season. Our 3-1 lead would then grow again to 4-1 at 19:42. Our Captain, Boone Jenner, would add his team-leading nineteenth goal this season! The primary assist would be Nick Blankenburg, giving him two this game and seven this season. The secondary assist would go to his fellow defenseman, Andrew Peeke, giving him five this season. The Blue Jackets would take a 4-1 lead into the third period, while the struggling Sabers would get booed off the ice by their home fans; I hate to hear that. 

Unfortunately, the Sabers would find a spark during this period. Elvis Merzlikins would keep several pucks out of his net with some fantastic saves, but a few would, alas, slip through. J. Quin would score for the Sabers at 5:02, and his teammate, J. Peterka, would score at 9:46. That spark would illuminate the Sabers arena, which would magically turn into a narrow 4-3 Blue Jackets lead. Even after a nail bitter Kuraly penalty gave the Sabers a Power Play, they wouldn't let them capitalize! One more goal tonight for the Blue Jackets would give Eric Robinson a HATTRICK! This would be his eighth goal of the season at 19:24! Boone Jenner would pick up his seventeenth assist on this goal, and the Blue Jackets would go on to WIN 5-3 on the road! 

In short:

Eric Robinson 3-0-3

Boone Jenner 1-1-2

Kent Johnson 1-0-1

Nick Blankenburg 0-2-2

Andrew Peeke 0-1-1

Sean Kuraly 0-1-1

Elvis Merzlikins made 39 Saves on the Sabers 42 attempts! 

Captain Boone Jenner would secure the Third Star of The Game, while Eric Robinson would earn Star One of the Game with his Hattrick! 

Our next game is Friday, and it will be a bittersweet one. The Seattle Kraken will come to Nationwide Arena and bring former Blue Jacket Oliver Bjorkstrand with them. The puck drop is set for 7:00 PM!

Go CBJ!   


 

 







    

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