Columbus Blue Jackets @ Utah Hockey Club: 2024-25 NHL Season Game 52

It's the Blue Jackets' first time in Utah as a team and after a huge 2-1 overtime win last night against the Vegas Golden Knights the Jackets were on the hunt for more goals and points. We all know how challenging back-to-back games can be for even the most experienced and developed NHL Teams. Tonight, the Jackets would do a nice job keeping the Utah Hockey Club out of their net in period one, but unfortunately, the Jackets couldn't take advantage of their own chances to score. Period one would conclude with a 0-0 tie, but with Utah Hockey Club on the hut for the first goal of the game and with less than a minute in a Kent Johnson penalty for tripping at the tail end of period one, they would find a way past a solid Daniil Tarasov for the powerplay goal at 00:41. This goal would be credited as N. Schmaltz eleventh goal of the season while the primary assist would be number fifteen this season for B. Nayton and the secondary assist would become number thirty-seven for C. Keller.  Despite a lot of effort, the Jackets couldn't find the back of the Utah Hockey Club's net this period either, and the Utah Hockey Club would take a 1-0 lead into the final regulation period at home.  

Utah Hockey Club would continue their push and score their second goal of the evening just 00:29 into the third period. N. Kerfoot would add his seventh goal of the season with this score while teammate J. Marino would collect his fifth assist this season with the primary and C. Keeller would collect his thirty-eighth this season on the secondary. If you know this Jackets team you know to never count them out when down, and Kirill Marchenko gave you a reason why if you're skeptical at 6:25! His Twenty-first goal this season would prevent the shutout while Adam Fantilli would add his fifteenth assist this season with the primary while Zach Werenski continues his top-tier domination amongst the NHL Defenseman this season with his fortieth assist on the secondary. The late-night excitement would continue for this team as Kent Johnson's fifteenth goal this season at 11:25 would TIE this game at 2-2! In exchange for this epic comeback in the third period, the Jackets would be awarded a point and a chance to play for another as we go to overtime for a second. 

It wouldn't take long for the Jackets to capture their second straight overtime point in as many days as Zach Werenski would capitalize on a breakaway, scoring his seventeenth goal this season and ensuring a come-from-behind Jackets 3-2 win at 1:01! The only assist on this goal would go to Cole Sillinger, and funny enough, it would be his seventeenth assist this season on Zach Werenski's seventeenth goal! 

The Second Star of the Game was Kirill Marchenko who had a 1-0-1 night and got the Jackets their first goal of the night!

The First Star of the Game tonight would go to the Game-Winning-Goal-Scorer Zach Werenski who finished with a 1-1-2 night! 

Also, an honorable mention to Daniil Tarasov who's efforts in net allowed this team to have a chance to come back, tie the game and ultimately win in overtime. He finished the night with a .941 save percentage and accomplished this after he made 32 saves on the Utah Hockey Clubs' 34 shots on his visitor net. Well done, sir.  

The Jackets will have a rest day as they travel to Dallas for the third game on this four-game road trip. That game will start at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday night. I'll have a recap for you then. 

Note: After taking a high stick in period one, James van Riemsdyk did finish the game but also had a decent cut on his face, shielded by a full mask. This will be something to watch, but the fact he finished the game gives me hope we'll see him in Dallas on Sunday.  

We remain in the 1st Wild Card spot and now have 59 points this season!

GO CBJ!






 


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