Columbus Blue Jackets @ Chicago Blackhawks: 3/2/24 Game Recap

Tonight would be a road game, but you wouldn't know it with how the Blue Jackets showed up to play. It would take only 0:33 for the visitors to put the first goal on the board! This goal would belong to Alexander Texier alone and be his ninth this season. At 14:05, captain Boone Jenner would double the Blue Jackets lead with goal number nineteen this season. In addition, Zach Werenski would add his thirty-first assist, and Jack Roslovic would add his fifteenth assist this season. Philipp Kurashev would find a way to get a puck past Elvis Merzlikins at 17:32, but the Blue Jackets would maintain a one-goal lead after the first period. 

The second period would see the Blue Jackets double their goals of the first while keeping the Blackhawks at bay. With his second goal this season at 3:09, it was a happy moment for Mathieu Oliver as he'd helped the Blue Jackets advance to a 3-1 lead. Zach Werenski would also pick up a second assist tonight, his thirty-second this season, giving him another multipoint night. It would be full-steam ahead for Cole Sillinger, who adds to his game goal streak with a goal in this period at 11:31. This secures Cole Sillinger's third game in a row with a goal, and also marks his eleventh goal this season. In addition, Alex Nylander picks up his second assist and third point in just two games and four total since joining the Blue Jackets. The secondary assist is number eight this season for Adam Boqvist. It's an amazing three-goal lead for the visiting team and another deep breath to hold for the 5th Line as the Blue Jackets try to maintain or add to it in the third period.  

The Blue Jackets would allow one more Blackhawks goal at 6:18 thanks to a trick shot by Ryan Donato, but beyond this, Elvis Merzlikins would be a brick wall against Conner Bedard and his fellow Blackhawk teammates and our defense would hold strong. A ninth goal at 17:33 would build the Blue Jackets a four-goal lead, thanks to Johnny Gaudreau. Jack Roslovic would also have a multipoint night, picking up his sixteenth assist on the Gaudreau empty net goal. This would be the final goal of the game, allowing the Blue Jackets to pick up two points on a 5-2 quick road trip to Chicago! 

Also, a huge congratulations to Elvis Merzlikins, who ended the night with a .962% in net! 

Our next game is Monday at home as the Golend Knights of Vegas and the 2023 Sgtanley Cup winners travel to Columbus. This is another matchup that never disappoint and puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. 

GO CBJ! 




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