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Blue Jackets and Blackhawks go all-in on goal scoring, Jackets come up big late

Posted on by William Chase

On Thursday night the Columbus Blue Jackets were back in the Windy City to face the Chicago Blackhawks for two more games. Joonas Korpisalo was between the pipes for his fifth-consecutive start and Kevin Lankinen was in net for the Blackhawks.

There was a brisk pace on both ends and Columbus saw the first power play of the game in the first period. With much the same results. As evident of the tweet, Korpisalo loomed large to fend off the 2-on-1 the other way.

Just after nothing doing on the Jackets’ power play, Chicago ended up on a power play of their own and this time, Cam Atkinson came through with the short-handed marker. He’s had a knack for those. Nick Foligno assisted on the play.

Columbus has scored first 11 times this season and were only 6-5-3 coming into play. Chicago held the first period edge in shots 9-8.

In the second period it did not take long for Ian Mitchell’s game-equalizer — his first-career goal — to tie the score at one. David Kampf and Matthew Highmore assisted. It barely took as long for the Blackhawks to take the lead soon after, with Nicolas Beaudin also scoring the first goal of his career. On this goal, the assists were by Nikita Zadorov and Alex DeBrincat.

Two goals in less than two minutes.

There were points where the Blackhawks players were faster and the pucks and players were darting by. Pius Suter was the third Blackhawk rookie to get on the board of the second period. Beaudin and Patrick Kane got assists. Suter leads all rookies with six goals.

Needing a goal, it was the former Winnipeg Jet coming in on the five-game points streak who came through once again. That’s right. Jack Roslovic extended the streak, coming through on the Blue Jackets second power play of the night. Seth Jones and Max Domi earned the points on the play.

It was an exciting game through 40 and the Blue Jackets outshout the Blackhawks 18-10 in the second period but trailed on the big board 3-2.

The Blackhawks were 3-0-1 when leading after two while Columbus, 0-2-2, when entering the third trailing. Chicago seemed likely to add to that winning formula and Patrick Kane would not be denied.

On the power play, another goal inside the first minute of the period, doubled the Hawks lead again, 4-2. DeBrincat again picked up a point.

Boone Jenner, who hadn’t scored a goal since Jan. 31 in Chicago, found the scoreboard again on this night to snap the four-game goalless drought. It was Columbus’ second power play goal of the night and Atkinson picked up his second point for the assist. Kevin Stenlund assisted on the play and he now has points in all four games he’s played this season.

Later on, trying to keep up with the scoring spurts, it was Jack Roslovic netting his second tally. Atkinson picked up the third point for his night. Patrik Laine also picked up the assist and we had a brand new game at four-apiece.

Chicago regained the lead on their fifth goal as DeBrincat scored it. The assists were by Madison Bowey and Kane again, who notched his third point of the night.

Then things got interesting.

Columbus got the game-tying goal with Del Zotto scoring his first of the year. Atkinson picked up his third assist and fourth point of the night, and Andrew Peeke also earned a point in his first game on the night.

Then the Jackets got the eventual winning goal just over a minute left when Stenlund scored his second of the season, and his second point of the game. Oliver Bjorkstrand picked up on the assists party and Del Zotto also got an assist.

Columbus held on for the 6-5 win, their most goals scored in a game this season. They had the final edge in shots 43-26 (17-7 in the 3rd) power play conversion, 2⁄3 versus 1⁄2, and here’s the rest courtesy Natural Stat Trick. Joonas Korpisalo made 21 saves on 26 shots. Kevin Lankinen stopped 37 of 43.

The two teams will do this again Saturday night from the United Center at 8 pm EST.

Additional Notes

The Blackhawks are 23-8-2 versus the Blue Jackets in the last 33 games. Patrick Kane has 60 points (21 goals, 40 assists) in 49 games against Columbus. Feb. 14, 1989 is the last time the Blackhawks had two rookies score their first career NHL goals in the same game: Mario Doyon and Jeremy Roenick. In eight games as a Blue Jacket, Jack Roslovic has nine points (four goals, five assists) including four goals in the last four games — three in the last two. Not bad for a guy who missed the beginning of the season due to a contract holdout, and didn’t suit up for the Winnipeg Jets prior to the trade to Columbus. Seth Jones led the game in ice-time (26:12). Patrick Laine led the CBJ forwards (20:23). Jones and Del Zotto co-led the game with five shots. For Chicago it was Duncan Keith (24:38) and Patrick Kane (21:34). Alex DeBrincat and Pius Suter led their team with four shots.

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