Colorado Avalanche @ Columbus Blue Jackets: Season 25 Game 4

Tonight started with the sunset of a historic career in Nationwide Arena. Cam Atkinson would skate one last time as part of his one-day contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets as part of his retirement from the league. Not only was Cam Atkinson a fan favorite of many, including myself, but he showed us all what a 6th Round Draft Pick could accomplish. He's one of just 3 players to achieve the 200-goal mark. He's the top of the mountain when it comes to hat-tricks with 6. His impact here was incredible, and to see him get to finish where it all started is heartwarming to say the least. He's made it clear he'd like to join the organization in his next chapter in life, and I look forward to writing that news update. Congratulations, Atkinson!

Entering the game tonight, the Colorado Avalanche had a 3-0-1 record while the Columbus Blue Jackets had a record of 1-2-0. The Avalanche is a playoff-level team; you can't convince me otherwise. That said, the Blue Jackets kept an incredible pace with them in period one, and both teams were constantly pushing to be the first goal-scorer of the evening. That said, the defense was on point on both ends of the ice, so this opening period would end as it started, 0-0. 

Period 2 would be the opposite of Period 1, as we'd see four total goals in these 20 minutes. The first goal would become the first this season for Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov. He'd pop it in the Avalanche visitor's net at 1:36, and it would give Kirill Marchenko and Sean Monahan their first assists of the season. At 10:34, the Avalanche would even the odds at 1-1 as Cole Maker would add his second goal of the season with a shot Elvis Merzlikins had no chance at seeing, let alone stopping. Brock Nelson would add his sixth assist on this goal with the primary, while Artturi Lehkonen would add his second on the secondary. The Avalanche would take advantage of the momentum shift, adding another goal at 11:46 as Brock Nelson would find the net for the first time this season. Brent Burns would add his third assist of the season with the primary, while Josh Manson would get his first of the season with the secondary. In the latter part of this middle period, it looked as if the Blue Jackets had tied the game at 2-2, but unfortunately, the refs would call a hand pass against Dimitri Voronkov. So, not only would the Blue Jackets miss out on that tying goal, but with seconds left at 19:56, the Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin would add a third goal to the evening for his team. This would become his first of the season. eammate Sam Malinski would pick up a second assist on the primary, while Victor Olofsson would add his third on the secondary. Thankfully, the period would end with the 3-1 Avalanche lead before they would add another goal. 

Losing a goal to a questionable hand-pass goal is already enough, but two? Yes, it would happen again towards the end of the final regulation period, but this time it would be ruled that Cole Sillinger was at fault. From my perspective as I listened to the game, both of these goals should've counted, but they didn't. The Avalanche would tack on one final goal at 18:06, bringing us to a 4-1 final. The goal would be the second of his season, and this game, scored by Valeri Nichushkin. Gabriel Landeskog would add his first assist this season to the score sheet with the primary, while the secondary would be the fifth this season for Cole Maker. 

I'm a firm believer in controlling your own destiny when on the ice, but sometimes, when questionable calls happen, it does shift the energy of the game. Calls have to be made fast, and the first-hand-pass goal was reviewed by the league, but I don't agree with the conclusion made. The second hand-pass was not reviewed at all. When you're playing a good, playoff-level team like the Colorado Avalanche, these things matter. The offense wasn't putting up the shot numbers they have in the last few games this season, only 23 total. So, other components played into this loss, but those two goals would have mattered had they stood as I believe they should have.  

Elvis Merzlikins had some crucial saves throughout the game. The proof of this was the fact that he came away with the Third Star of the Game. He had a .914 save percentage thanks to his stopping 34 of the 37 shots the Avalanche set his way. He was the only star of the night for the home team. 

The Second Star of the Game went to Brock Nelson. His goal tonight would become the game-winner. 

The First Star of the Game would go to the Avalanche Goaltender, Scott Wedgewood, who denied 22 of the 23 shots the Blue Jackets got to his visitor's net. This ultimately gave him a .957 save percentage. 

The Blue Jackets will have a day off tomorrow, while the Tampa Bay Lightning travel to Columbus for their game here Saturday night. The game will start at the classic 7:00 p.m. If you attend the game, make sure you immerse yourself in the first of several games to celebrate the Columbus Blue Jackets' 25th season.   

Go CBJ