Utah Hockey Club @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 2024-25 NHL Season Game 55

Lace up those skates, 5th Line, because the first hosting of the Utah Hockey Club was full of action! 

Justin Danforth would add his fourth goal this season just 5:51 into period one. The only assist on this goal would go to belong to the young defenseman, Jordan Harris, and it would become his third this season. I'm so happy for both guys as their goal would add to their numbers but also be the only goal of the first period. So, the Jackets would bring a 1-0 lead into period two. Little did I know how firey that second period would be!

First, with goal eight of his season at 2:06, Utah's L. Crouse would tie this game at 1-1. A primary assist would become number four this season for J. Doan while a secondary assist would become number fifteen this season for M. Kesselring. Then, Utah would take the lead at 2-1 at 12:33, thanks to goal number two this season for O, Maatta. This goal would only have one assist and it would become number ten for N. Bjugstad. This game would take a serious, arena-rockin' turn at 17:26. Utah's M. Kesselring would dish out a heavy blow to Jackets' Mikael Pyythia. His stick had been outstretched, hoping to obtain control of the puck, but hadn't when the hit made contact. Damon Severson saw this hit on the young forward, and he made it known that he didn't like it by engaging in a fight with M. Kesselring. When the dust settled, Damon Severson would end up with a two-minute penalty for roughing and a five-minute for fighting while M. Kesselring, who started this, would just get five minutes for fighting. I normally just report, but this was absurd. That said, it all ended okay as Ivan Provorov and Zach Werenski would team up for Ivan Provorov's sixth goal this season and Zach Werenski's forty-first assist this season! This marks game 20 for Zach Werenski's point streak as he takes the fifth spot among NHL defensemen of all time! Also, yes, it's a shortie response from Provy, and I thought Nationwide Arena was loud after the fight, ha, nope! Y'll were loud, 5th Line, and I loved it while watching on TV at home! This goal would come at 19:21 and this game would go into period three tied 2-2!   

Period three would be hotly contested, neither team would give an inch. Zach Werenski would be called for a trip but the Jackets would manage to make it though the last 1:22 without him. Merzlikins would have a huge few stops in this time too. So, trhyly, getting a point and making it to overtime was a genuine group effort. I don't have to tell you this, but I will anyway: This team is something special. Expect I won't shut up about that till this season ends, and even still after. To overtime, we go!

It's important to note that for the first 00:38, Zach Werenski would remain in the box, but the Jackets made quick work and before no time he was free! You could cut the tension in NWA with a spoon. The shots were as impressive as goaltender saves and defensive actions by both teams. We were 00:33 away from a shootout when a blocked shot by Kuraly would get turned around by Utah's goalie, C. Ingram, and turn into D. Guenther's nineteenth goal this season. C. Ingram would get his first assist this season, a rare goaltender assist, on the game-winning goal for Utah. The Jackets get a point, but dang, this hurts! 

A nice note at the conclusion of this game is that in the 2023-24 NHL Season, Zach Werenski would end the season 11-46-57 after 70 games. This season, after only 54 games, Werenski has had a 17-41-58, beating his own record he made last year for Porints for a Defenseman in the history of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and he still has an estimated 27 games to play. You know, as if all his other records and accolades this season weren't enough!

With a 1-0-1 night, Ivan Provorov would gain the Second Star of the Game tonight. A huge congratulations to him on the recognition he earned with his first NHL Shorthanded goal ever!

Believe it or not, Saturday is the last game for the Jackets as we've already come upon the 2025 NHL Four Nations Tournament. It feels like yesterday I watched Zach Werenski named to the team on TNT Network and now it's here! This last game is sure to be an exciting one as the Rangers will travel here from New York, and both team has plenty to fight for when that puck drops at 7:00 p.m. 

Go CBJ!       

 





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