Pittsburgh Penguins @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 4/13/23 Game Recap

This was a close game tonight in Nationwide Arena. Last night, the Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated from the 2023 NHL playoffs. That said, you'd not have known it tonight with how they played. The same can be said for the Blue Jackets, who were out of the playoffs arguably months ago but played like they still had a postseason chance as well. In addition, our home Blue Jackets would welcome four new players to the NHL. These players were Mikael Pyyhtia (Number 82), Samuel Knazko (Number 62), Stanislav Svozil (Number 81), and Tyler Angle (Number 39.) A huge Columbus welcome to all four first-time NHL Players! 

Period 1, we'd see just one goal, which would come from the Penguins K. Legang at 4:28. The score would be a low 1-0 Penguins lead after the opening 20 minutes of play. 

At 2:12, Period 2, Andrew Peeke would put the Blue Jackets on the board with the team's first goal this evening. This marks the defenseman's sixth goal of the season. The only assist on this goal would come from newcomer Hunter McKown. With both teams not giving their opponent an inch, this period would end with just a single scored goal, giving us a 1-1 tie and exciting Period 3 to come.   

Period 3 would see the Penguins break the tie early on at 3:53, thanks to a goal from J. Guentzel. The 2-1 lead would hold for them even with many penalties and power plays for both teams, in addition to several great shots and saves. We'd go to overtime, and it would be a quick one, too!

A line change would allow Johnny Gaudreau to make the Penguins pay! You all wanted Johnny; well, here's Johnny! At 1:00 into the 5-minute overtime, Gaudreau would add his twentieth goal of his first Blue Jackets NHL Season. Adam Boqvist skates away with his fifteenth assist this season, while Sean Kuraly adds his ninth. So, that's it. The Penguins do not sweep this series as it ends 3-1. The Blue Jackets win 3-2 in overtime, and I couldn't be more proud. 

Star Three: Emil Bemstrom.

Star Two: Johnny Gaudreau.

Star One: Michael Hutchinson. 

Our last game of the season...I know, sad, is tomorrow evening. This game is a makeup from earlier in the season when the Buffalo Sabers couldn't get to Columbus due to just over 50 inches of snow! The puck drop is set for 7:30 PM. 

Go CBJ! 






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What the Ranger's Elimination From the 2024 NHL Playoffs Means for the Columbus Blue Jackets Acquired 2026 Draft Pick

It's been an interesting 2024 NHL Playoffs already. This was captivating by watching the divide among the 5th Line fans who chose to watch the playoffs and cheer on former Blue Jackets. As the Eastern Conference Final was set, we saw Sergei Bobrovsky on one end of the ice as a Florida Panther. On the other end of the ice, representing the New York Rangers, stood three former Jackets, Artemi Panarin, Alexander Wennberg, and Jack Roslovic. Due to the final player I listed with the New York Rangers end of the ice, this playoff series had implications for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Trade the organization did, sending Jack Roslovic to the New York Rangers, was for a conditional Fourth Round Draft Pick in the future 2026 NHL Draft. The condition to this pick was that if the Rangers advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup Final 2024, the Draft pick would increase to the third round. With the Florida Panthers eliminating the New York Rangers tonight in Game 6 (the final was 2-1), The B
Read more

Brenden Gaunce, Nick Blankenburg, and Jake Bean Sign NHL Deals Away From Columbus Blue Jackets

The 2024 Trade Deadline gives and takes away every season. Today, the Columbus Blue Jackets signed Sean Monahan to a deal that will last five years and give him a 5.5 Million AAV. This was the brighter side of the day as several Columbus Blue Jackets and Cleveland Monsters players signed elsewhere, including a favorite of mine.  The 30-year-old Center, Brenden Gaunce, left us to join the Minnesota Wild. He agreed to a deal that will go through the 2025-26 NHL Season. He was in Columbus last season for 24 games and had 4 points with an even 2 goals and 2 assists. I have yet to see what his contract is valued at, but nevertheless, I wish him good luck with the Wild.  Jake Bean had the 5th Line divided. Some saw value in him staying, while others wanted him traded months ago. He wasn't traded today but signed to become a Calgary Flame. This contract will take him through the 2025-26 NHL Season like Brenden Gaunce. It'll pay him roughly 1.75 million each season. Appearing in 72 gam
Read more

Rest in Peace, Johnny and Mathew Gaudreau- Part One

I've learned something over the roughly two and a half weeks since we lost Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Mathew; I will never be ready to write this blog. I've been avoiding this because my words seem hollow and empty to me; like anything I could say would be redundant and not enough. August 29th, 2024 will forever be burned into my brain alongside July 4th, 2021, the date we lost goaltender, Matiss Kivlenieks, in a firework accident when he used himself to shield others. To say this franchise and its fans have suffered too many tragedies since I started covering the team in May 2020 is an understatement. When we lost 'Kivi' I never imagined doing this again, but I am, and I won't lie to you because I never have; I hate that I have to do this again. My heart is shattered, especially for the Gaudreau family, and I don't think I'll ever find all the pieces. The hockey community will forever be changed by this tragedy. None of us want to accept that this nig
Read more