Columbus Blue Jackets snap winless streak in 7-3 win over Chicago Blackhawks: 6 takeaways
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Columbus Blue Jackets snap winless streak in 7-3 win over Chicago Blackhawks: 6 takeaways
Nov 22, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13), Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson (44, Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) celebrate with Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Kirill Marchenko (86) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on November 22, 2023.
Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch·The Columbus Dispatch
Boone Jennerled six Columbus goal scorers with two of his own,Zach Werenskiset a franchise record for defensemen with four assists and three other Jackets —Cole Sillinger(goal and assist),Kirill Marchenko(goal and assist) andAdam Boqvist(two assists) ― finished with two points each.
"So many good things happened today," Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent said. "A night like tonight, obviously, everybody has a piece to it. Everybody feels involved. The atmosphere is good. They've been working hard. Even with what we went through, before the game I really liked how positive we were as a team. ... It's only one game, we know it, but it was a good game and it's a good foundation for us."
Nov 22, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets Center Cole Sillinger takes the puck away from Chicago Blackhawk Connor Bedard during the second period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on November 22, 2023.
Columbus Blue Jackets make it rain goals against Chicago Blackhawks
It didn't matter to the Blue Jackets that goaliePetr Mrazekstruggled while starting for the Blackhawks despite dealing with an illness. He was between the pipes, their objective was to beat him, and that's exactly what they did five times on 18 shots.
Just for good measure, the Jackets tacked two more goals on the board in eight shots against backup ArvidSoderblom, who replaced Mrzaek after Blue Jackets rookieDmitri Voronkovmade it 5-1 at 12:16 of the second period.
He felt the Blue Jackets were close to breaking out, and it happened in spectacular fashion.
"We broke at the wrong times (during the streak), and we made the wrong play at the wrong time that ended up in our goal … and then we weren't able to recover," Vincent said. "What I like today is we were able to push the pace, even when we were up 3-0 (and) then 3-1. We started pushing the pace and pushing the pace. Our second period was outstanding, probably our best of the year, so I liked the mindset of our team, the way we kept pushing and sticking to the plan, sticking to the process and it paid off."
Oct 12, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) takes the ice prior to the season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers at Nationwide Arena.
Zach Werenski leads Columbus Blue Jackets in rout over Chicago Blackhawks
Werenski's goal-scoring will emerge eventually, but his current total of one empty-net goal won't be a drag on the outcome of games if he piles up assists like he did in this game.
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Werenski assisted on four of the Jackets' first five goals against the Blackhawks to set the franchise high for a defenseman in a single game and matched the single-game record for a Blue Jackets defenseman with four points, which he'd done previously.
Werenski's struggle to score goals became a storyline during the streak, as the star defenseman joined Laine andJohnny Gaudreauin falling short of expectations for the Jackets' highest-paid players. Returning fromseason-ending shoulder surgery last yearhas been a turbulent process, but it was encouraging to see Werenski play like his former self against the Blackhawks.
"It just takes time," Werenski said. "You can play 'OK' games and kind of fit in, but it's not what you want to do, right? You want to be a difference maker and get back to your old self, and that takes time. … It wasn't perfect tonight, but it was a step in the right direction."
Zach Werenski and Adam Boqvist were on the ice for the first day of training camp for the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Friday, September 23, 2021.
Zach Werenski, Adam Boqvist a good pairing for Columbus Blue Jackets
Werenski and Adam Boqvist are offensive-minded defensemen, which doesn't always work when paired together.
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That's likely why they haven't gotten an extended time as defense partners sinceBoqvist was acquired in July 2021in the blockbuster trade that sentSeth Jonesto the Blackhawks. Their success together, albeit a small sample size, suggests otherwise.
Boqvist, a healthy scratch now getting a chance to play afterDamon Severson's oblique injury, notched his first two points of the season with assists to give the Jackets' top defense pair a combined six assists on seven goals.
"They can feed each other (passes) and create that transition offensively," Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent said. "Righty (Boqvist) and lefty (Werenski). They can change sides. They can read off each other. Boqvist's offensive IQ is really good. He sees the ice. He's got good deception to his game. There's a lot of components to each of those two players that can be combined, and it could become a good pair."
Nov 22, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) watches his puck score as he falls behind the net during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on November 22, 2023.
Columbus Blue Jackets end power play drought in win over Chicago Blackhawks
The Blue Jackets didn't score on their first of three power plays, pushing their scoreless drought with a man-advantage to 0 for 22 in what could've become their eighth straight game without a power play goal.
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Instead, Jenner gave the Jackets a 3-0 lead with 6:05 left in the first period to cap their second power play in the game for his 10th goal of the season. Getting a high-low pass from Gaudreau and beating Mrazek on the short side, the Blue Jackets' captain gave his team a much-needed lift. Last season's 3-9-0 start was accompanied by the Jackets' 0-for-26 dry spell on power plays, which preceded a scorching hot streak in the middle of the year.
They could use one of those now.
Nov 22, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (11) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on November 22, 2023.
Bedard, the top pick of last summer's draft, pulled the Blackhawks within 3-1 on an impressive wrist shot late in the first that pushed his season total to 10 goals. Fantilli, picked two spots after Bedard, responded with a 'play of the year' caliber pass to set up Laine's third goal of the season.
Nov 22, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (11) hooks Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) during the second period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on November 22, 2023. No penalty was called on this play
After receiving the puck from Laine in the right circle off a turnover, Fantilli quickly returned it with a tape-to-tape backhand pass from about 40 feet away. Laine, charging to the net, redirected the puck over Soderblom's pad to complete a beautiful goal.
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Laine was stone-faced afterward. Fantilli was all smiles. This past summer, the two became friends after Laine took the rookie under his wing. Now, Fantilli couldn't be happier they're playing together.
"I'm super excited," he said. "To be on the same line again is going to be a lot of fun. We have quite a bit of chemistry, I feel. Hopefully we can get him and myself going a little bit more and be what the team needs from us."
Nov 22, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Nick Foligno (17), a former Blue Jackets captain, and current Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner (38) faceoff during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on November 22, 2023.
Nick Folignohas important new role for rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks
Nick Foligno, theBlue Jackets' former captain, held court Wednesday at Nationwide Arena during his only scheduled visit of the season.
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"It's always strange coming to a hotel here," he said. "This is home for a lot of reasons. It's always nice to see the same old faces and people. It's a special place and always will be for our family. Always nice to be back."
It's a starkly different experience this year than it was in Boston, where Foligno helped theBruinspost the NHL's best record last season. After he was traded to the Blackhawks withTaylor Halllast summer, Foligno agreed to sign with the Blackhawks and fill a key role helping Bedard and other Chicago rookies develop into NHL impact players.
Losing isn't fun, but he's enjoying the experience. It's similar to his role as a parent.
"The things that you never had to say last year (in Boston), you have to say repetitively this year," Foligno said. "It almost reminds me of my kids, right? You're just saying the same things over and over, but they don't know. And it's not their fault. It's just the reality of the situation we're in, and it's exciting too. A lot of veteran guys in here have a chance to teach them what we feel is the right way."
