Columbus Blue Jackets @ Anaheim Ducks: 3/17/23 Game Recap

Unlike last night's one-sided game, tonight we saw the fire from the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks from when the puck dropped. The Ducks would score the first goal of the evening at 3:19 by T. Zegras. The Blue Jackets would get on the board at 10:57, as Nick Blankenburs's fourth goal this season would tie the game at 1-1. Liam Foudy would add his fifth assist this season on Blankburg's goal. At 14:37, S. Harrington would put his Ducks up 2-1, but this lead wouldn't carry over to Period 2. Our Captain, Boone Jenner, would add to his leading goal total for the Blue Jackets and tie this game again at 19:29. This is his twenty-third goal this season. Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine would also also also also add to their assist totals on this Jenner goal. Gaudreau is now up to forty-six, while Laine is up to twenty-two. It's important to note that we had two chances on the Power Play this period, but both goals would not be on either. So, since no one scored in the last 0:31 of this period, we would go into Period 2 with a 2-2 knotted hockey game!

The Ducks would bring the remainder of a Power Play from Period 1 to start this Period 2 of hockey. However, even with some incredible shots on Michael Hutchinson in the Blue Jackets net, the Ducks would come up empty on this attempt. Unfortunately, not long after, the Ducks would score at 3:44, thanks to M. Comtois. The game would stay a 3-2 Ducks lead until 16:35 when Cole Sillinger, yes, Cole Sillinger, would get a long-awaited goal. He's waited months for this to happen, marking his third this season. Thanks to this Silinger goal, Kent Johnson has even twenty assists, while Emil Bemstrom now has twelve. This 3-3 score would hold through the final minutes, giving us a 3-3 tied game going into Period 3. 

The back-and-forth, tug-of-war would continue into Period 3. First, T. Terry would score for the Ducks at 2:25, putting his team up 4-3. It would be short-lived, though, as Patrik Laine would score for the Blue Jackets at 6:43. This marks his twenty-second goal of the season, putting him just one behind his Captain, Boone Jenner. Adam Boqvis would have the primary assist, giving him sixteen assists this season. As a fun twist, both goalies on this road trip now have an assist! Michael Hutchinson would gain the secondary assist on this Laine goal, giving him 1 since he joined this team. For only goaltending in his fifth game here so far, that's fantastic! So, the fun times roll as we're now tied at 4-4. The game would go until 17:23 without another goal, and then a weird pass would give the Ducks a chance, and M. Jones would capitalize on it with a goal for his team. This 5-4 lead would quickly become a 6-4 game when S. Harington, the former Blue Jacket, scored his second one tonight. Then, putting salt into the wound, R. Stone would score a second empty net goal at 19:26. In a matter of minutes, that 4-4 tie would turn into a 7-4 Blue Jackets loss. Ouch. 

The saves in the net by Hutchinson were great, and the scoring attempts were right on, but the Ducks just kept us in check all night. They led us, and we always followed them. The road trip continues with a late afternoon game in Viva Las Vegas, against the Golden Knights, at 4:00 PM EST on Sunday. This is another game that the Golden Knights will be desperate to win as they try to keep their postseason hopes alive, meaning we need to bring our best and leave this game in Anaheim, where it belongs. 

Go CBJ!