The CBJ Writer

Can you believe this is the final game of January and the last before the 2023 NHL All-Star Game? The Columbus Blue Jackets would host the Washington Capitals tonight, and this game didn't disappoint. Let's recap some hockey, 5th Line.  This would be a fast-paced game from puck drop, which is expected against the Capitals, no matter which arena you play in. Goal one would come from G. Hathaway at 5:06, giving his Capitals a 1-0 lead over our Blue Jackets. The second goal would also belong to the Capitals, coming from T. Von Riemsdyk at 14:25. The 2-0 Capitals lead wouldn't last long after this goal, however, as Andrew Peeke would score the fifth goal of his 2022-23 NHL Season at 14:40. The only assist on this goal would be number seventeen of the season for Patrik Laine. The score would now be a 2-1 Capitals lead, which would carry into Period 2.   Alright, there was a fight this period, but I can't comment too much on it since it happened while I was away eating dinner...

From the drop of the puck, the Blue Jackets were chasing the Kraken's game. M. Geekkie would score at 8:40 into Period 1, giving his Kraken a 1-0 lead. For the significant time spent in our zone, the fact that this was the only goal scored in this period is nothing short of a miracle. Elvis had some great saves, eleven, but he'd shine out of necessity in Period 2.   Elvis Merzlikins's saves in these twenty minutes would be stunning, crossing the span of the entire goal multiple times to give his offense a chance to score. Our Powerplay Kill would look good and help the team out, but our inability to capitalize when given a Powerplay of our own hurt us.  his was especially true when former Blue Jacket Alex. Wennberg scored at 8:33. With this goal, the Kraken would build upon their goal advantage, now 2-1. This period would end with a Blue Jackets goal, however, number ten for Kent Johnson would come at 18:58. With the only assist on this goal, Jack Roslovic would expand hi...

This Period 1 didn't lack the thrill of NHL play, that's for sure. The Blue Jackets would get a Powerplay opportunity just seconds into this period. However, the Canucks would go down the ice and score at 1:25 by way of E. Pettersson. This would give the Canucks a 1-0 lead, which wouldn't last even a minute. The Powerplay unit would tie this game early with Kirill Marchenko's twelfth goal of the season. Adam Boqvist would add his tenth assist of the season on his goal, while Patrik Laine would add his sixteenth. Fun fact, this now gives Laine a five-game point streak. Sadly, this tie wouldn't last. Q. Hughes would score at 13:21, this being a Powerplay goal for their team. Then, at 19:15, a ping-pong-like shot from I. Mikheyev would come off the boards just right, collide with goaltender Joonas Korpisalo's skate, and cross the line. This goofy goal, but a goal nonetheless, would give the Canucks a 3-1 lead over us going into Period 2.        The early bit of thi...

Yes, 5th Line, we have a scoring update from last night's game. This rarely happens and especially in our Blue Jackets' favor, so of course I have to write a blog! This scoring update revolves around that third period, game-tying, Kirill Marchenko's goal. Remember, last night it was marked as having no assists; this has now changed,  The primary assist went to Kent Johnson, marking his fourteenth of the season. This also gave him that Overtime Winning goal and this assist, for a two-point night.      The secondary assist went to Adam Boqvist, marking his ninth assist of the season. This was also his second assist of the night, after he had the Primary Assist on goal 1 last night, scored by Captain Boone Jenner. So, two points last night for him too!    The Blue Jackets won this game off that Kent Johnson, Overtime Goal, making the final 3-2. The Blue Jackets have picked up 3 points out of a possible 4 while in Canada. Tomorrow night's game starts at 10:00 P...

 Period 1 would be highlight-worthy in the season in which the Columbus Blue Jackets have found themselves (injury galore). The speed was there, the defense was there, the goaltending was solid, and the offense wasn't far behind. Captain Boone Jenner would score his fourteenth goal this 2022-23 NHL Season at 12:25. This goal would have Adam Boqvist's eighth assist of the season and Patrik Laine's fifteenth. This would be the only goal of Period 1, giving the Blue Jackets an early 1-0 lead.   It was meant to be a milestone night for Gus Nyquist, this game tonight marking his 700th in the NHL. Sadly, he wouldn't see the second period after a game-ending fall to the ice in that opening period. If there are any updates about him tomorrow, I'll post them to my social media accounts because I don't want his injury to be bad enough that it warrants a post. (I hold those for serious, long-term injuries, and folks, I'd be a happy blogger to not write another one unti...

Period 1 of this game would be a stalemate until 16:18 when Flames W. Duehr would score. This would be the first and only goal of this opening period, giving us a 1-0 Flames lead heading into Period 2. N. Kadri would score just 1:32 into this second period. Some 5th Line fans were likely cringing at this point, wanting a sold showing for Johnny Gaudreau's first return to Calgary after singing with us. I had this hope too, but I wouldn't become hopeless on my team in Period 2! No way. At 9:04, Kirill Marchenk scored his tenth goal of his first NHL Season. The primary assist would mark number thirty-two for Johnny Gaudreau, while the second would add number thirteen to Patrik Laine's total. Then, presto, with another goal at 9:53, Patrik Laine would complete the comeback with the thirteenth goal of his season! Johnny Gaudreau would go up to thirty-three assists, with the primary on Laine's goal. Andrew Peeke would pick up the secondary, giving him a four-assist total. Thi...

The Blue Jackets would hold the San Jose Sharks to just 1 goal in Period 1, which is impressive when you consider they had 14 shots on our net while we had just 2 on theirs. That loan goal would come from T. Meier at 10:49 into the period. With 20 minutes in the books, the Sharks would take a 1-0 lead into Period 2.   The Sharks ran Period 1, but in Period 2, the Blue Jackets would look to fight back. With a goal from N. Bonino at 5:39, I, along with likely most of the 5th Line, settled in for another heartbreaking game. The Blue Jackets on the ice wouldn't accept that option, however. At 11:19, Johnny Gaudreau would match his number to his goal total this season, sitting pretty at thirteen after this score. Patrik Laine would pick up the primary assist and number twelve this season for himself, while the secondary assist would go to Nick Blankenburg, taking him to three and back-to-back games with points. 2-1 Blue Jackets lead, and then at 12:31, Captain Boone Jenner would ev...