Columbus Blue Jackets @ Utah Mammoth: Season 25 1/11/26

This road trip has been anything but fun for the team and the 5th Line. Last night, I promised to do a shortened game recap from what I heard after work to the game's conclusion. That said, given we were shutout 4-0, there wasn't much for me to say other than I expected this due to the Colorado Avalanche being the best team in the league. Of course, when I promised a recap, I was hopeful that our boys would play spoiler, like they did against the Buffalo Sabers a few games back, but that didn't happen. It is what it is, and, bonus honesty, if the Avalanche aren't playing for the cup, I'll be shocked! They've just got it this year, and the fact they haven't slowed down post-Christmas break makes me believe they'll go deep this playoff season.  

All of that said, it's in the past; time to rebound against the Utah Mammoth. Our boys would come out swinging, getting the first goal of the game just 2:47 into Period 1! This wouldn't just be the first goal of the game, it'd also be the first goal of Mikael Pyyhtia's NHL Season! Danton Heinen gets to add assist number two to his season on the primary, while the secondary becomes assist number thirteen this season for defenseman Ivan Provorov. The Blue Jackets would hold the 1-0 lead until 16:20 when an airborne puck from Mammoth Jack McBain would put the Mammoth on the scoreboard. His tying goal would become the fifth of his season. Clayton Keller gets his twenty-nineth assist on the primary, and Nick DeSimone adds his second assist this season on the secondary. The rest of the opening period would play out without another goal, leaving us knotted at 1-1 after twenty minutes. The Blue Jackets would win the shots on goal battle for this first period, finishing 11-7. 

Something to watch: Denton Meteychuk left the game in Period 1 with an injury. He didn't return for the remainder of the game. Hopefully, he's alright, and it's a short-term injury, or better yet, they're just keeping him out for the rest of tonight's game as a precaution. 

Period 2 would see the Mammoth and Blue Jackets swap and repeat. The Mammoth would score first in the middle twenty minutes thanks to Mikhail Sergachev's seventh goal this season at 1:02. Clayton Keller picks up assist number two of the evening, while adding his thirtieth overall this season on the primary. N Schmaltz adds the secondary assist to his numbers, giving him twenty-five so far this season. The Blue Jackets would then tie the game as Mammoth Jack McBain would sit in the penalty box for hooking defenseman Zach Werenski. The power play goal would become goal number seven this season for Charlie Coyle at 18:31. Adam Fantill gets assist number sixteen this season on the primary, while Kirill Marchenko picks up his twentieth assist this season on the secondary. Once again, the rest of the time would tick away, and the teams would again be tied, but this time 2-2 after forty minutes of play. Also, again, the Blue Jackets would lead shots on goal this period, 14-8.  

In true Blue Jackets fashion, sixty minutes wouldn't be enough, and we'd head to extra hockey still tied at 2-2. A late power play for the Blue Jackets, after Adam Fantilli was tripped by Mammoth Daniil But at 19:36 would carry over into overtime. The Blue Jackets wouldn't score in regulation on said power play, but they would to secure the second point at 1:01! Dimitri Voronkov adds the power play goal to his season total, bringing him to sixteen. This also marks his first overtime game-winning goal, so congratulations to our #10! Zach Werenski gets on the score sheet with his thirty-first assist this season on the primary, while the secondary assist becomes number twenty-one for Kirill Marchenko, who finishes tonight with two assists! Blue Jackets break their losing ways with a 3-2 overtime win tonight! The Blue Jackets didn't win the shots on goal battle in Period 3, losing 12-9, but they'd win it in Overtime, 3-0. 

Adam Fantilli, with an assist tonight, also wins the Third Star of the Game. 

Mikhail Sergachev, who scored the Mammoth's first goal tonight, gets the Second Star of the Game. 

Dimitri Voronkov, who had his first overtime game-winning goal, gets the First Star of the Game! 

The Blue Jackets will now travel home after a long road trip full of time zone changes. We'll host the Calgary Flames this Tuesday with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m. 

GO CBJ!    


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