The CBJ Writer

 Last night was a very big night in Columbus, Ohio. Personally, I went to watch the game with friends, and that's why I'm writing this post later than normal. I hope you understand, readers. I'm so happy I got to watch the game because we had Jeff Rimer's final broadcast as the Columbus Blue Jackets play-by-play announcer. That concept alone brought many tears to my eyes multiple times throughout the evening. Hearing the 5th Line chant 'Rimer' is something I'll never forget. This goes double for watching him announce the lineup in the locker room pregame, a classy move by Head Coach Pascal Vincent. I could go on and on, but we have a Blue Jackets WIN to recap, and I know Jeff would want me to move on from dating over him (even if it's easier said than done!) This night would start with some Michigan magic in the air as yet another player from the University joins the ranks. The accolades for Gavin Brindley are long, and I, for one, can't wait to watc

 It's farewell to the black asphalt for the Columbus Blue Jackets as they tackle their final 2023-24 NHL Season Roadgame tonight in Nashville. The Predators locked up their playoff advancement last week, but that doesn't mean they're done winning games, especially on the evening of their final one at home this regular season. That said, a Blue Jacket quickly made tonight memorable for himself as he scored his first NHL Goal at 2:02; this goal belonged to James Malatesta and was also the first goal of the game. On April 13th, Justin Danforth would score his thirteenth assist this season on this James Malatesta goal. Unfortunately, the Predators would 3X Malatesta's goal. Tommy Novak would score his seventeenth goal this season at 2:49 and his eighteenth goal this season at 13:25. Between those two goals, Roman Josi would also score for the home team at 4:19. Johnny Gaudreau would shoot a puck with less than a second left in the opening period, but it would slide along th

Facing a former goaltender is never easy, but when that former goaltender is arguably one of the best your city ever saw, and he has a former Standley Cup Final team before him, it's a tall order. Growing legend Mathew Tkachuk would kick off the goal-scoring in Florida tonight. It was initiation by fire for Jet Greaves, as his Twenty-sixth goal this season would come at 0:47. That said, the visiting team would keep Thachuk and his teammates from scoring for the rest of the period. Still, they wouldn't score themselves, a problem the Blue Jackets have faced many times this season.  Something had to give after 3/4th of the second period had passed with no goals, and the game would break in favor of the Panthers at 17:25. This would be goal number twelve this season for Evan Rodrigues and a wakeup call for the visiting Blue Jackets. A spark would ignite, and Alexander Texier would shoot a laser at Sergei Bobrovsky, but he was locked in and quickly stopped the scoring opportunity.

Tonight would start out rough for the visiting team. Alex Nylander wouldn't even make it to puck drop, leaving warm-up in Tampa Bay early and never seeing the ice again tonight. When it was announced he had a lower-body injury, the team would lose their second forward of the night, Carson Meyer, to an upper-body injury. Add in Brayden Point having the game-opening goal, taking his Lightning team up 1-0 at 16:31 with his forty-fourth goal this season, and the outlook on the night didn't look so bright, 5th Line. But then, have no fear; Kirill Marchenko is here! At 19:17, goal twenty-two this season would come for Kirill Marchenko, allowing him to pass his twenty-one goals in his rookie season last year! Last season, Cole Sillinger had eighteen assists, and on this Marcheko goal, he again has achieved eighteen assists. In addition, the secondary assist would go to Damon Severson, allowing him to also have at least eighteen assists this season.  At 7:13, Kirill Marchenko's sco

Only some have social media. I'm going to start this blog off by offering my condolences again to the Jenner family regarding the loss of their son, Dawson. I shared the Columbus Blue Jackets post yesterday on Facebook and X, but this is my universal platform, and I also wanted to say it here. Making a post didn't seem right, as I don't want to gain views from something so heartbreaking. I hope you all understand.  First, welcome back to Ken Hitchcock! The commemorative puck drop to kick off the game was so cool to watch, especially as someone who was very young when you were here as Head Coach!  Tonight's home game took place with few of the names we know and love like Boone Jenner, Johnny Gaudreau, Elvis Merzlikins...the list goes on. Johnny Gaudreau was announced out with less than an hour till the puck drop against the visiting New York Islanders. He is listed as 'ill,' I wish him a quick recovery, along with all our other players out of the lineup tonight.

It may be April Fools' Day, but it's no joke that the Blue Jackets want to follow up their shootout win over their NHL Rival Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday with another win tonight. That would be a massive challenge as the Colorado Avalanche are poised for a long run in the 2024 NHL Playoffs. Period one would end with the same 0-0 score as it began, but then, period two would produce some Blue Jackets goal magic, like we've dreamed of all season 5th Line.  The first goal of tonight's game in period two would make a second twenty-plus goal season for Kirill Marchanko. On his twentieth goal this season at 9:35, Erik Gudbranson continues to rack up assists with sixteen while Johnny Gaudreau remains dominant in this category with forty-five! This was just the beginning, as Alex Nylander would pop in his ninth goal since joining the Blue Jackets less than a month ago. Rookie Dmitri Voronkov adds his fifteenth assist this season on this Nylander goal, while Ivan Proverov add