Ottawa Senators @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 3/14/24 Game Recap

I'm back, 5th Line! Thank you to those who wished me well as I battled the flu. I planned to write on Tuesday, but beyond Tarasov's good performance in net after relieving Merzlikins, there was little worth recapping in that game. We watched Merzlikins retake the net tonight and look like himself! Best of all, only one goal would come through the first two periods of play, and that goal would belong to the Blue Jackets' Captain, Boone Jenner! The goal at 0:15 makes him the first in the franchise to cross the twenty-goal threshold in the 2023-24 NHL Season! Johnny Gaudreau reaches thirty-six assists with this goal, and Adam Boquist hits nine. Sadly, the injury bug would continue to plague the Jackets as they'd lose the man with the secondary assist on the night's only goal. The hit would come to Adam Boqvist in period one, and before period two even started, it'd be announced that he'd miss the rest of the game. The home team would remain strong in period two, and no goals would be scored, taking us into the final regulation period with a 1-0 Jackets lead! 

At 5:20 in period three, the Blue Jackets' powerplay would find its way to a goal, the second tonight for the Blue Jackets. This marks Alex Nylander's sixth goal in his tenth game with the Blue Jackets; he's fitting into Columbus just fine, 5th Line! We already know Johnny Gaudreau fits in, adding his second assist tonight and thirty-seventh this season. Zach Werenski adds his thirty-fifth on this goal with the secondary assist, nipping at Johnny 'Hockey's' skates! Just over two minutes later, though, the Senators would take a goal back from the Blue Jackets thanks to a goal at 7:25 by Claude Giroux. Tim Stutzla would complete the comeback for his Senators precisely five minutes later at 12:25, bringing us to a 2-2 game. The tie would finish the third period, taking us to bonus hockey. 

About halfway through the five-minute overtime, Alexander Texier was charged with a trip, and the Blue Jackets had to kill a Senators' powerplay. Elvis Merzlikins would shine in net like he hasn't in a long time, denying the Senators for the rest of the overtime period. Go-Go Gadget Shootout! 

Tim Stutzla would pop one up and past Merzlikins in Round 1 of the Shootout, but in Round 2, Alexander Texier would score, and even the shutout would be at 1-1. In Round 3, Marchenko would be stopped, and Claude Giroux would fake a shot and trik Merzlikins. So, after a great game, the Blue Jackets will settle for a point as the Senators win 3-2 in a shutout. This was an incredible showing for the Blue Jackets, given how many men we have out of the lineup and the number of Monsters who've slotted in. 

Saturday night will feature a home game against the Sharks from San Jose at 7:00 p.m. 

Go CBJ! 

 






 

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