New York Islanders @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 4/4/24 Game Recap

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. The goal-scoring ice would break at 7:53 and go the way of the Islanders' Pierre Engvall. It's his ninth goal this season and a powerplay one, as we lost Justin Danforth early on a hooking all. The Blue Jackets wouldn't be down long, though, as Kirill Marchenko (assist number eighteen) and Alexander Texier (assist number seventeen) connected with Dmitri Voronkov for his eighteenth goal this season! To make this goal even better, it was on the powerplay, too! Of course, the Islanders are hungry to return to a wildcard spot, and Bo Horvat is an excellent player. For those reasons, it should be no surprise that he scored his thirty-second goal at 13:48, giving his team the lead again. The Blue Jackets would refuse to back down after winning their last two games and score again! This time, Cole Sillinger (assist number seventeen) connected with Zach Werenski (forty-second assist) for Karill Marchenko's twenty-first goal this season at 17:22! The Blue Jackets would fight the Islanders to keep a 2-2 tie, and a significant injury would happen in that Malay. David Jiriek would be skating up the ice toward the Blue Jackets' goal, and goaltender Daniil Tarasov would be in the wrong place at the wrong time. David Jiricek's upper leg would clip Tarasov's head, and the young man would leave the ice undeniably dazed. He was quickly ruled out for the rest of the night after Jet Greaves and the Blue Jackets would wrap up period one with the Islanders. As I write this, I send best wishes to Tarasov and hope the injury isn't as bad as it appeared. 

Jet Greaves shined in the net during period two, saving every shot sent his way. Sadly, the Blue Jackets didn't drive up the score either, and this game continued as a 2-2 tie going into the final regulation period. Noah Dobson would break the tie at 3:21, giving his team their third lead tonight with his ninth goal this season. Jet Greaves would leave the net hoping an extra Blue Jacket player on the ice could tie this game again, but instead, Kyle Palmieri would score at 19:22. With his twenty-fifth goal on the season, his Islanders would win tonight 4-2.  

If you need a bright light in this loss: Jet Greaves. 

Along with Daniil Tarasov's condition, we also have to watch Jake Bean. He was absent from the rest of the third period due to blocking an Islanders shot. Yep, it just keeps going. If I've learned anything it's to never ask, 'how can it get any worse?' I swear, it's a jinx! 

The next Columbus Blue Jackets game will be Saturday and a celebration for the fans; it's 5th Line Night! The Philidelphia Flyers will be in town with former Blue Jackets Head Coach John Tortorella. The game will start at 7:00 p.m. I do have plans to go celebrate, so I will not be doing a game recap. Have fun 5th Line, and party responsibly! 

Go CBJ!