Columbus Blue Jackets @ L.A. Kings: Season 25 12/22/25

We'll start this post with the elephant in the arena. It's no secret that this 25th Season of the Columbus Blue Jackets has been full of highs and lows. Injuries are always an enemy to any sports team, and they bit us again on Saturday as Zach Werenski took a stinger to his ankle. To our relief, the team reported today that Zach Werenski will rest tonight, but didn't break anything in that nasty puck-to-ankle collision. Whew. The Blue Jackets also lost that game, 4-3 in regulation, to the Anaheim Ducks. But, there was a light in this game named Mason Marchment, who had his first goal as a Blue Jacket early in Period 2. The former Seattle Kraken, who joined our franchise late Friday, would turn that light into a full-on spark in Period 1 in tonight's game. 

At 4:07, Mason Marchment would put the visiting Blue Jackets on the scoreboard first in L.A.! This gives him six goals this season, two with his current team. In addition, with the Kings' Kevin Fiala in the box for hooking Ivan Provorov, this also marks Mason Marchment's first Blue Jackets power-play goal. Damon Severson gets to add his ninth assist on the primary, while Dimitri Voronkov bumps his assist total to eleven with the secondary. The Blue Jackets would kill two Kings' power play opportunities in this period, and then, with Andrei Kuzmetko in the box after high-sticking Blue Jackets Captain Boone Jenner, Mason Marchment would double up power play style at 19:36! It's his seventh goal this season, third since becoming a Blue Jacket, and in just roughly 80 minutes played! In Don Waddell we trust. Damon Severson also doubles up, getting his second assist tonight on the primary, and entering double digits with his tenth this season. In addition, Captain Boone Jenner also enters double-digit assists with his tenth this season on the secondary. And that 2-0 Blue Jackets lead is how the opening period ends! The Kings won the shots on goal battle 11-10, but the Blue Jackets lead where it counts most, the scoreboard. 

The Blue Jackets would nearly escape the second period with their 2-0 lead, but A Kuzmenko would spoil the Blue Jackets' chance at a shutout with his sixth goal of the season at 18:41. M Anderson adds assist number eight to his season with the primary, while the secondary becomes assist number nine this season for D Doughty. The good news is that this would be the only goal of the period for the Kings, allowing the Blue Jackets to maintain their lead, albeit by just a single goal with a period to play. The Blue Jackets would command the shots on goal this period, 11-6. 

Period 3 would be fast and furious, with the Blue Jackets looking to extend their lead, and the Kings looking to play the Grinch and tie or exceed the Blue Jackets' two goals in the game. At 13:55, Miles Wood of the Blue Jackets would be hooked by Kevin Fiala of the Kings, giving the Blue Jackets yet another power play. It's a rarity both this season and in the past for the Blue Jackets to have three power-play goals in a single game, but tonight, this team was feeling it. I'm unsure if it was the thrill of the holidays ahead or playing lights out for Zach Werenski, but this team had one of their best games this season tonight. That third power play goal for the Blue Jackets would end Kirill Marchenko's seven-game drought, giving him his eleventh goal this season at 14:16! Denton Mateychuk will add his eighth assist on the primary, while Adam Fantillil gets his eleventh assist on the secondary! The final tonight, 3-1 Blue Jackets WIN! Thank you, Blue Jackets. 2 points were definitely on the 5th Line's Christmas List, right below Zach Werenski being okay. WOO-HOO! The Blue Jackets would also win the shots on goal battle in the final period, 9-7.

Kirill Marchenko adds the Third Star of the Game to his 1-0-1 night. 

Damon Severson adds the Second Star of the Game after his two primary assists on the first two goals, 0-2-2. 

And, in just his second game as a Blue Jacket, Mason Marchment gets the First Star of the Game after having two of the three Blue Jackets goals tonight, finishing with a 2-0-2 night! 

Bonus Star: Jet Greaves. He'd finish his night with an outstanding .958 save percentage after stopping 23/24 Kings' shots on his visitors' net!  

This is the last game until after the Christmas Holiday. We will play our next game at home in Nationwide Arena on December 28th. The Blue Jackets will host the New York Islanders, and if you're going to this game or wish to watch, keep in mind it will be a 5:00 p.m. puck drop! 

I wish you all a happy and safe Christmas and holiday break, 5th Line!

GO CBJ!   

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