New York Islanders @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 3/24/23 Game Recap

It's always fun when a game starts with a Rookie NHL Player's First Game Skate, which happened again tonight before the pregame warmup. We welcomed Hunter McKown to the Columbus Blue Jackets, a brand-new Center from Colorado College. It's no surprise we signed him when he had 21 goals and 7 assists over just 38 college games. So, a huge welcome to him; now, let's recap his first NHL Game!

Period 1 would only have a single goal. It would come from Islanders Z. Parise at 13:37 and put the visitors on the board. So, 1-0 Islanders lead after the opening period, but I'm happy to say that didn't last long!

Early into Period 2, it looked as if Kirill Marchenko had his nineteenth goal this season. However, the Islanders would take a chance with a challenge, and it would, unfortunately, be reversed. However, a penalty would also be addressed after this challenge, and the Blue Jackets would have a Power Play. Period 1, they had one but didn't score. This Power Play would end with a goal for the home boys, though! At 4:58, Johnny Gaudreau would add the eighteenth goal of his season. Jack Roslovic has an astonishing thirty assists after this goal, picking up the primary assist on this Gaudreau goal. Captain Boone Jenner would add the secondary assist to his numbers this season and now has eighteen. Seconds after the tying goal, the Islanders would score again and go up 2-1, thanks to a goal by B. Nelson. Recently, the Blue Jackets have done a fantastic job persisting when down, which would continue. Liam Foudy would put up his sixth goal of the season, giving us a 2-2 game, at 8:59. A little later, the Blue Jackets would take their first lead of the evening! Kent Johnson would pop "The Michigan" (look it up if you don't know this shot on goal; it's a sick way to shoot the puck!) His goal, making the game 3-2 Blue Jackets, would come at 17:06. Seconds Later, Eric Robinson would add frosting to this Period, putting the Blue Jackets up 4-2 against the Islanders. The time of his goal was 17:46. Emil Bemstorm would toss in his fourteenth assist this season, adding the primary on Robinson's goal to his numbers. In addition, our brand new Rookie Center, Hunter McKown, would take the secondary assist for himself. So, first NHL Game and NHL Point in one night; how exciting for him! The 4-2 lead would hold for the remainder of this period, carrying us into Period 3. 

Unfortunately, a lead is never safe when playing a team fighting for their postseason dreams. At 3:34, K. Palmieri would score, and then his teammate B. Nelson would add another goal at 8:00, effectively tying this game again. A 4-4 game at this point, and the battle would rage on both ends of the ice to break it, making for some entertaining hockey. At the end of Period 3, the Blue Jackets would be given a Power Play, which would continue in Overtime!   

The Overtime would end at 0:40 with a Blue Jackets WIN! Captain Boone Jenner sends it home, now has twenty-five goals this season and continues leading his team's individual goal total! Adam Boqvist would have the primary assist on his Captain's goal, and for having injuries this season, seeing him now with seventeen assists is an incredible sight! The secondary assist would go to Johnny Gaudreau, and with this assist tonight; he now has forty-nine. The watch for his 50th is on 5th Line! Your final in Nationwide Arena tonight is 5-4; a Blue Jackets win! 

First Star of the Game: Captain Boone Jenner (1-1-2) Game-Winning Goal.

Second Star of the Game: Kent Johnson (1-0-1)  

Michael Hutchinson held his own in net too, getting his first win! He stopped 34 shots out of the Islanders 38. 

Our next Blue Jackets game is already on the horizon, too. The Blue Jackets will board a plane and jet off to face the Canadians in Montreal tomorrow night. The puck drop is set for 7:00 PM. We'll see if we can keep the magic going 5th Line!

GO CBJ!