Columbus Blue Jackets @ Colorado Avalanche: 2024-25 NHL Season Game 2

Tonight was a big night for the Blue Jackets. Not only would they go into the second game of their season looking for their first win, but two men would be celebrating birthdays tonight, too! Happy 20th birthday to number 19, Adam Fantilli, and happy 30th birthday to number 23, Sean Monahan! The visiting team would start the game off with a bang, scoring the first goal at 6:38! Defenseman Zach Werenski would have his second goal in as many games while Yegor Chinakov would have his second assist this season and Sean Monahan would start off his birthday game with his first assist as a Blue Jacket. Just over a minute later, Kent Johnson would score at 7:45. The loan assist on this goal would go to Jake Christiansen, his first assist of the young season. The 2-0 Blue Jackets lead would hold till the final seconds of the first period, but, alas, you wouldn't be wise to ever count the Avalanche out, especially N. MacKinnon. His goal would come at 19:52 and give the Avalanche their first two assists of the night, going to I, Ivan, and M. Rantanen. Even with this goal, the Blue Jackets would still have a one-goal lead after 20 minutes of play. 

It's also important to note that we lost a player in the early stages of this game, long before a goal was even scored. Zach Auston-Reese would take a shoulder to the face in just his second game as a Blue Jacket. He'd leave the ice and about halfway through the game we'd learn from the team he would not return due to an 'upper-body injury;' no surprise there. I wish him the best, especially because I wanted to see him play on Tuesday! Of course, penalties would result on both sides from this situation, but no goals would result. So, we move into the second 20-minute period with a 2-1 game. 

This period would have an exciting 4:33 second start. First, Adam Fantilli would expand the Blue Jackets' lead back to two goals at 1:56. Kevin Labanc would have his first assist as a Blue Jacket. The secondary assist would showcase a rare occurrence as goaltender Daniil Tarasov would add an assist to his stat sheet early into the season. It was at this moment the Avalanche would decide a change in net was needed. They would bring Alexander Georgiev to the bench after his 6 saves on 9 Blue Jackets start to the bench and send out backup goaltender Justus Annunen. The desired effect would happen twice with a goal at 2:11 from M. Wood with assists for P. Kelly and C. de Haan. Then, a second Avalanche goal from C. Mittelstadt at 3:42 would give the Avalanche their second powerplay goal this game. The Avalanche would be rolling after scoring back-to-back goals, tying the game at 3-3, but Kirill Marchenko would put that on ice with his first goal this season at 4:33, taking the Jackets lead back! The only assist on this goal would be the second this season for Damon Severson. A few minutes later, Yegor Chinakov would get in on the Jackets' scoring too with his own first goal of the season at 9:49. Sean Monahan would have his second assist on his birthday night while Kirill Marchenko would get his first assist this season. Fun fact, Kirill Marchenko would have both his first goal and first assist this season in less than just over five minutes. Even better, the Blue Jackets would close out this period without allowing the Avalanche to score again. This would give them a two-goal cushion when going into what would surely be a fierce final regulation period.      

After a quiet third period was nearly wrapped up in a nice Blue Jacket bow, a comment from period one would come back to haunt us, 'you wouldn't be wise to never ever count the Avalance out.' At 18:40 R. Colton would score his first goal of the season for the Avalanche and evaporate the Blue Jackets to a single goal again. The primary assist would be the first the third this season for N. MacKinnon and C. Makar would add his fourth assist this season with the secondary. In a show of absolute brotherhood, Kirill Marchenko would give up his empty-net goal, passing it to Sean Monahan on his 30th Birthday. This goal is his first this season and would ultimately give him a 1-2-3 night. What a birthday present. That primary assist would be the second for Kirill Marchenko this season while the secondary assist would go to Yegor Chinakov who's already up to three this season. So, with that goal wrapping up this game, it's a 6-4 Blue Jackets win!

Yegor Chinakov would be tonight's Second Star with a 1-2-3 night. 

Kirill Marchenko would be the First Start tonight with a 1-2-3 night.

Congratulation to Head Coach Dean Evanson on his first of what I hope to be many wins in Columbus!

The Blue Jackets are 1-1-0 this season as they board their first flight home this season. It's a good spot to be in as the team returns home for what will be the most emotional game in years. Tuesday night will be a home opener where the 5th Line will both welcome the team home for their first game of the 2024-25 NHL Season but also grieve as a community. The celebration of Johnny and Mathieu Gaudreau will take place and span the entire evening. I already had tickets because I couldn't believe our luck to be hosting former Blue Jackets' goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky, and the 2024 Stanley Cup Winning Florida Panthers on opening night. Now, even though that excitement has dulled, I'm grateful I'll be there on a night I couldn't imagine missing. I will post about opening night, but it may be a tribute post instead of a game recap. I hope you're all okay with that. If not, please let me know, and, work permitting, I'll do my best to make both happen. 

For tonight, though, let's celebrate this first win of the season. Let's celebrate Adam and Sean's birthdays. Let's celebrate the pride we have in our Jackets'. 

GO CBJ!