Columbus Blue Jackets @ Calgary Flames: 1/25/24 Game Recap

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 shoot once, miss, shoot twice, and score at 6:33! Yes, with over half the season gone, this is the first time a shot-hand goal has happened for our team. Texier scored it after being away with his family and playing overseas last season; it feels right. This short-handed goal wasn't all Texier; Sean Kuraly added his sixth assist this season, while Erik Gudbranson added number eleven. So, with a narrow 3-2 lead, the Blue Jackets would head into period three. 

Unfortunately, bad luck never lags behind the Blue Jackets. Halfway through the third period, Adam Boqvist was hit in the face with a puck...on the bench. Without delay, Boqvist would go with the Blue Jackets' staff into the locker room. Sadly, Boqvist wouldn't be in there alone for long as Flames' Jonathan Huberdeau would smash Jack Roslovic into the boards. Roslovic's head would get cut up well with no lack of blood, and the Blue Jackets would get a five-minute powerplay from this incident.

Further, again with zero delay, Roslovic would head to the back. On this powerplay, the Blue Jackets would get the two-goal lead they'd been searching for, whether the situation is good or not. 13:43 for this fourth goal tonight; it would come from Dmitri Voronkov, giving him eleven this season. In addition, it's assist fifteen for Adam Fantilli and assist number eight for Damon Severson. Adam Fantilli would lock down the 5-2 road victory for the Blue Jackets with a shot into the goalie-free net at 18:18. This is his twelfth goal this season. 

So, a 1-1-0 record with three games to go before heading home. I'll take it! Game three on this five-game excursion will be in Vancouver, where one of the best NHL Teams will await us. I hope they're ready because the Blue Jackets will not give them an easy win as they ride this one tonight! That game will be a late one at 10:00 p.m. If you can't make it that late, I'll have a recap waiting for you!

GO CBJ!