The CBJ Writer

Aside from a fight involving Blue Jackets' Mathieu Olivier and Blues' Tyler Tucker and a goal scored by Boone Jenner in period two that was quickly reversed, this game had little action for the first forty minutes. But then, at 4:11, number 10 would score number twelve of his season; for those unsure of numbers, that would be Dmitri Voronkov! With a pass that could've fooled most NHL Goalies, Zach Werenski does more than just gain his twenty-seventh assist this season; he scores number 193 as a Blue Jacket. This number allows him to take the rank of third overall most in the franchise, topping former Jacket and Captain Nick Foligno. In addition, with the secondary assist, Johnny Gaudreau hits a cool twenty-five. And then there were 15:49 left until the Blue Jackets completed their FIRST shutout this season! A well-earned and long-time coming perfect game for Elvis Merzlikins and the Blue Jackets! Oh, let's go into the All-Star break on that note, folks! So, a road shuto...

 Playing back-to-back games is difficult, especially when on the road and traveling between two countries. With a goal from Jordan Eberle at 12:40, one from Jared McCann at 16:04, and finally another goal at 17:59 from Jordan Eberle, a once 0-0 game would turn 3-0 in favor of the Kraken in less than twenty minutes. The penalties would pick up with haunting the Blue Jackets as both of Jordan Eberle's goals were on a powerplay advantage. To make matters worse, no goals would be scored in period two, and the visiting team would also lose a vital player, Adam Fantilli. When against the boards, a sharp skate sliced into the back of his leg, and this would take him out of the rest of the game. I wish a quick recovery for him, but if there cut is deep enough I wouldn't be surprised to see him sit out the St. Louis Blues game on Wednesday so he can have from now until February 10th (the first game post NHL All-Star break) to recover.  A small spark would prevent the Kraken shutout at ...

The first period of this late game tonight was a fast frenzy. So fast, everyone forgot to score! Seriously though, with eleven shots from the Canucks and four from our hometown Blue Jackets, neither made it past a goalie.  Period two, however, would tell a brand new tale for the visiting team. The first goal tonight would be number eight this season for Alexander Texier. He makes history with his second short-hand goal in as many games, something that's only happened for the team four times prior! This goal would kickstart a patriotic scoring wave at 4:30. At 6:14, a zinger from Sean Kurly would mark his fourth goal this season. Alexander Texier would give himself a 1-1-2 night in minutes with the primary assist, while the secondary would send Justin Danforth into double digits at ten. Brock Boeser would slice the Blue Jackets' lead in half at 15:20, but that would only last about two minutes. Next up to score would be Jake Bean, who banked in goal four of his season at 17:27. ...

The ice is cold, and the Calgary Flames still love booing Johnny Gaudreau, so nothing's changed! Another familiar tone would be Yegor Chinakov quickly getting the visiting Blue Jackets on the board just 2:50 into this game! Zach Werenski, who just returned from injury today, would already have his first assist back on this Chinakov goal, giving him twenty-five. Also, Cole Sillinger, who's been red hot recently, would gain his eleventh assist. MacKenzie Weegar would quickly even the score at 7:29, but this first period would be a constant back and forth as the Blue Jackets would score again at 11:48. This goal would be number siv for Damon Severson. But, again, the lead was not to last as Conner Zary would finish the first period scoring at 14:42. After four goals, it's a brand new game with a 2-2 tie after twenty minutes! This second period of twenty minutes would see a first for the Blue Jackets this season. With the Blue Jackets on the penalty kill, Alexander Texier would...

Tonight's stop in Edmonton, Canada, is the first on the Columbus Blue Jackets five-game road trip. They'll have two more games in Canada before stopping in Seattle and St. Louis. Tonight, I predicted the Oilers edging out the Blue Jackets narrowly, 5-4, on X. Why? The Edmonton Oilers are on a hot streak with wins in their last thirteen games. That kind of streek, exceeding twelve games, has yet to happen for an NHL Canadian team since the 1960s. So you can understand my realistic prediction of the score. Now, with all of that said, let's recap a hockey game.  As I expected, the Oilers would jump to an early 1-0 lead with goal ten from Warren Foegele at 7:30. This would also be the first powerplay of the evening. At 15:25, though, Dmitri Voronkov would put his visiting Blue Jackets on the board. Welcome to the double-digit goals for yet another rookie Blue Jacket, which marks Voronkov's tenth this season! The only assist would belong to Kent Johnson, who now has nine thi...

Cole Sillinger would come through with goal one of this game early into period one; it would be his eighth this year, punched into the net at 4:21. Yegor Chinakov continues to rack up the points since rejoining the Blue Jackets, claiming his eighth assist on Cole Sillinger's goal. In addition, the secondary assist marks number twenty-two for Johnny Gaudreau. The Blue Jackets would go on to prevent any score from the Devils in this period, too. That said, period two was the Devil's Revenge. With a goal from John Mrino at 0:28, a goal from Alexander Holtz at 8:40, a goal from Nico Hischier at 13:31, and a final goal from Nathan Bastian at 14:43, the Blue Jackets would see their one-goal lead fall into a three-goal pit. That said, there would still be a full twenty minutes to play. Towards the end of the final regulation period, a combination of Johnny Gaudreau and Cole Sillinger's connection led to a goal. Unfortunately, the goal would be challenged, and the Devils would prev...

Happy Hockey Is For Everyone 2024! As a woman and someone with a disability, this day is so special to me. It's a great day to highlight that anyone can play this game, and I am truly grateful this day still exists. Now, let's recap a hockey game! J.T. Miller would make a puck play leap-frog over Elvis Merzlikins' glove attempt to stop the score at 5:28. The Canucks would lead 1-0, but only for a few seconds as Yegor Chinakov's eleventh goal this season would bring the game to a 1-1 tie just twenty-seven seconds later! This goal would also give Johnny Gaudreau his twentieth assist this season! Unfortunately, Coner Garland would rain on the Blue Jacket's parade as he'd send the Canucks' second goal of the day past Merzlikins at 14:54. That said, for how many shots he faced on net and how long he's been kept from the game for whatever reason, he had a great first period along with the Blue Jackets.  The second twenty minutes of play would see the visiting ...

For a blogger who was prepared for the worst but hoping for the best tonight, I was thoroughly impressed by how our Blue Jackets played. The first goal would belong to a Blue Jacket, Ivan Provorov, at 1:41 into the game. It marks his third this season and his first on his twenty-seventh birthday. This goal would have one assist from Adam Fantilli, giving him fourteen. Jordan Eberle would get the Kraken's first goal past Daniil Tarasov at 11:37. Butt, have no fear, Ivan Proverov is here with his second goal tonight and his fifth this season at 12:10! Kirill Marchenko would jump into double-digit assists with his tenth on this goal, while Andrew Peek finds his fifth this season with the secondary. Of course, the hot Seattle Kraken couldn't let us lead 2-1 after twenty minutes of play; they'd have to score again and did at 15:31, thanks to Jared McCann. After a rich first period, it would be a brand new game going into period two.  Period two would see the Blue Jackets take th...

I'll spare you the optimism because tonight's game was hard to listen to. I like a good, uplifting post but won't lie to my readers. Period one would be decent, but it would still end with the Jets leading 1-0 after Brenden Dillon scored at 3:12. Period two would see the Jets lead grow by two more goals. The first would be scored at 10:50 by Cole Perfetti, while the second would come from Josh Morrissey at 14:03. The Blue Jackets glimmer of hope at the end of this period, down 3-0, would be a remaining powerplay. That would quickly be overshadowed as the Jets would get a penalty in their favor, and the bad would turn to worse as Cole Perfetti would score his second goal of the evening at 3:34. Beyond worse, the goal wouldn't even come on the powerplay but at even play! So, the Jets would have and maintain their 4-0 lead until a penalty would come on Emil Bemstrom for a high stick. It would then take no time for the Jets to jump to a 5-0 lead, thanks to a goal from Gabri...

Tonight was totally throwback night in Nationwide Arena. Now, I was born in 1994, so some of you remember the 90s better than I do, I'm sure. That said, the spirit of the night was neon electric, which translated to the ice. The goal-scoring would start at 8:09 into the first period with Cole Sillinger's fifth goal of the season. Jake Bean and Adam Boqvist, who just returned from injury, would both have their fourth assists on this goal. Before this period could end, though, the Wild would even the score at 1-1 with a goal at 14:48 from Matt Boldy.  Funny enough, on throwback night, you'd get a throwback of period one in period two! Cole Sillinger would score at 0:17, giving him six goals this season. With one assist on this second Sillinger goal, Kirill Marchenko would add his ninth assist this season. Then, at 10:15, guess who scored? If you answered Matt Boldy, congratulations, you're correct! So, with the same scoring sequence of Sillinger-Boldy, we'd end period...

Let's start with the anticipation of who the Columbus Blue Jackets player selected to the Toronto 2024 NHL All-Star Game would be. It's amazing to type that it will be Boone Jenner, our Captain, playing in that game. After all he's done for the game and the mark he's put on this franchise, I'm so happy to see him finally get his All-Star bid. Many fans are concerned that Jenner won't be back in time to play in the All-Star Game. That said, it seems his recovery from a fractured jaw is going well, and everything suggests he's on track to be back in time to participate. So, double good news to kick us off tonight. Before that injury, Jenner had thirteen goals, five assists, and a total of eighteen points. I'm sure that now, more than ever, he looks forward to adding to those numbers soon.  Now, on to the game recap! This was a quiet game for the first forty minutes. The only goal was in period one, scored at 17:13. Funny enough, Travis Konecny scored that ...

 Welcome to a new year of CBJ Writer's blogs about the Columbus Blue Jackets! Happy New Year, all; I hope you all had a fun weekend. Tonight's game would be a deep dive as the Boston Bruins won the Presidents Trophy last year and currently hold the first spot in their division. So, the fact period one ended with a 0-0 tie is impressive to even your optimistic blogger.  Period two, we'd see three goals. First, the Bruins would break the ice with a goal at 2:12 from Kevin Shattenkirk. This would be quickly followed by a sixth goal this season from Kent Johnson at 4:06! Ivan Provorov keeps banging out assists, adding his nineteenth on this Johnson goal. At the same time, Dmitri Voronkov is hot on his heels with his thirteenth after taking the secondary assist on Johnson's goal. Sadly, James van Riemsdyk would score at 13:07 before the period could end. This would put the Blue Jackets behind a goal with one regulation period remaining.  Unfortunately, even with a few good s...