Columbus Blue Jackets @ Boston Bruins: 2024-25 NHL Season Game 18

I love the heated desire to win against the Bruins, no matter where the game is played. That said, tonight the Boston Bruins did something very classy for tonight's game, and I can't recap this game until I mention it. Of course, the 5th Line knows that Johnny and Mathew Gaudreau went to Boston College and played college hockey there. As a tribute to the men, the Boston Bruins broke out the NHL-issued 13/21 helmet decals that were worn by all teams when the season started for our visit tonight. Well done, Boston, I didn't see that coming; thank you for honoring our guys tonight. 

The first period would be quite remarkable for the visiting Blue Jackets. Dimitri Voronkov would score his third goal since returning from injury just six games ago. The goal would be scored at 5:17 and give Sean Monahan his eighth assist this season and Donte Fabbro his second. Fun fact, Fabbro has had three points, 1-2-3 in his last two games and he's the newest Jacket to join the team. I wonder if the Predators are regretting that waiver decision? Oh, well, worked out for us and him, and that's all that matters! Mathieu Oliver would get into a fight with Jeffrey Viel and both players would be charged with five-minute majors for such, but no goals would come of the four-on-four. Shortly after this, though, Mathieu Oliver would ensure he'd set a new personal best in goals for himself this season, and he's only eighteen games in! His sixth goal of the season would be all his own at 10:39, and scored on a Bruins powerplay to boot! Yes, Oliver had a shorty on the road! James van Riemsdyk decided that the 2-0 Jackets lead wasn't enough against his former team, so he got in on the scoring at 19:28, scoring his goal this season! Zach Werenski would come away with his tenth assist this season, entering the double-digit assist club. Adam Fantilli would pick up the secondary, giving him six this season already. So, after just twenty minutes, the Jackets would have built a 3-0 lead in Boston. 

For how active the Jackets were in period one, period two would prove the opposite. They would score no goals and also allow the Bruins to capitalize on one of their trips to the box. C. Coyle would sneak around the back of Elvis Merzlikins' net, spoiling his chance of a shutout at 14:30 with his fourth goal this season. The assists would go to J. Brazeau, his fourth this season, and M. Lohrei, his sixth this season. So, it would be a two-goal, 3-1 Jackets lead heading into the final period of regulation. 

Lightning would strike twice tonight as the Jackets would find their game of period one again in period three. Justin Danforth decided that one shorthanded goal wasn't enough tonight and got one of his own at 7:19! Cole Sillinger would add his seventh assist this season on this goal and there would be no secondary assist. At 14:10, it was Yegor Chinakov's turn to get back on the goal sheet! He'd score his fifth goal this season, and Sean Monahan would have his second assist of the night and ninth this season. Damon Severson didn't have a point tonight but deserves props for helping Elvis Merzlikins keep this a 5-1 game late in the third period as his fast actions in the blue paint kept the Bruins from scoring. I love a game where we win and it's because the offense, defense, and goaltending did their job. Tonight's 5-1 win was a result of just that! It was a point-filled evening as ten players each had a point this evening. We also haven't won in Boston since February 2016, that's over eight years ago; time to celebrate 5th Line!

Elvis Merzlikins would come away with the First Star of the Game with his outstanding.966% Save Percentage. He achieved this by stopping 29 of the Boston Bruins' 30 shots on goal. 

Sean Monahan, with 0-2-2, was the Second Star of the Game. 

Zach Werenski, with 0-1-1, was the Third Star of the Game. 

Our next game will be Thursday at 7:00 p.m. when the Tampa Bay Lighting comes to town for Hockey Fight Cancer night. I will be in attendance, so there may not be a recap, but I will do my best since I don't work on Friday. That said, I wish everyone a fun game and a wonderful night to celebrate those who've fought cancer and won, are currently fighting cancer, and those we remember as having fought one of the hardest fights humanity has to offer. 

GO CBJ!







       

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