L. A. Kings @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 2024-25 NHL Season Game 50

 Can anyone else believe we've reached Game 50 of the season already? It helps that we're in the playoff race in January, but it still feels like this season is flying by. Tonight did start with the Blue Jackets looking for a win after their 7-4 hard-fought loss on the road in North Carolina Thursday night. A bit of rough news would also come shortly after the game started; Sean Monahan will be out longer than expected, 6-8 more weeks to be exact. It's a bummer as I was really looking forward to him returning for the 2025 Stadium Series in the Shue. That said, a bit of good news came earlier in the day as we saw our Captain, Boone Jenner, on the ice! This is big news as he slowly moves toward a return post shoulder surgery earlier in the season. So, today's been a mix of good and bad news, but let's recap a game with some monumental high notes, 5th Line! 

The soprano note of highs tonight would come in period one, at 9:54, as Zach Werenski bumps himself into a 19 19-game point home streak with his sixteenth goal this season! Luca Del Bel Belluz makes it three games in a row with a point thanks to his fifth assist this season on the primary while Kent Johnson makes it four games in a row with at least a point with his seventeenth assist this season on the secondary. The Kings' P. Danault would answer the Jacket's first goal at 12:55 with his fourth goal this season and teammate K. Fiala would pick up his twelfth assist this season on the primary. There would be no secondary assist on the Kings' first goal of the game. These two goals would be the only ones in the opening period, leaving us knotted at 1-1 after a period. 

Try as each team might, no puck would pass past Elvis Merzlikins or D. Kemper in the second period. I have nothing to add to this paragraph other than if you wanted to watch some amazing defense and goaltending the hockey gods game you this period. 

The force to break this tie would be strong for the Blue Jackets who were celebrating Star Wars Night at Nationwide Arena, and Donte Fabro the force would be strong with, yes. (I made it to period three without any puns, that's the best I can give you, 5th Line, because I like Star Wars and was there last year!) This would be the fourth goal this season for Dante Fabro at 2:51 and Damon Severson, who recently missed games due to illness, would have the only assist on this goal, giving him fourteen this season! At 6:06 it would appear as if the empire had struck back, and King's A. Laferriere had tied this game, but the Jackets would challenge and good would win as the goal would be ruled offsides! So, the Jackets would keep their 2-1 lead. Damon Severson would get the first Jackets penalty with 8:00 to go in the third, but the Jackets would kill it off with ease. With less than 4:00 to go, D. Kemper would leave the Kings' net empty for the six-on-five advantage...and it would pay off at 18:55. Q. Byfield would add his tenth goal of the season, tying it at 2-2. A. Laferriere would add his fourteenth assist with the primary while P. Damault would add his twentieth on the secondary. And, just like Star Wars, this game would add bonus content. To overtime we go!

Now, here's something you don't see every overtime. A Zach Werenski breakaway would result in a penalty shot for him after T. Moore of the Kings slashed him. Unfortunately, even with a trick shot, Zach Werenski couldn't get the puck past D. Kempter one-on-one and overtime would go on. After a few more great saves by Elvis Merzlikins and another game-saving block by Justin Danforth, Kirill Marchenko's twentieth goal this season puts this game to be for the Jedi! Ivan Provorov would score his eighteenth assist on this goal with the primary, and it's a 3-2 2-point night for the Jackets!

Dantte Fabro with a 1-0-1 night picks up the Third Star of the Game.

Kirill Marchenko with a 1-0-1 overtime winning goal gets the First Star of the Game. 

Elvis Merzlikins with a .939 save percentage thanks to his 31 outstanding saves on the Kings' 33 shots on his home net gets the First Star of the Game! He said he was having a 'fantastic time' in his postgame interview, and I think he can speak for all of us, eh, 5th Line? 

The Jackets get a few days off before they board the Millennium Falcon for another road trip that sees them playing some big opponents, starting with the Vegas Golden Knights in Vegas on Thursday. The game has a puck drop at 10:00 p.m. and it's gonna be fun, 5th Line. Enjoy the win! 

GO CBJ!