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Columbus Blue Jackets end road woes against Boston Bruins: 3 takeaways
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- Columbus Blue Jackets end road woes against Boston Bruins: 3 takeaways
This story was changed to edit an inaccurate photo caption.
It could've been another ugly night on the road.
More: Rewind: Merzlikins backstops Columbus Blue Jackets to road win over Boston Bruins
Instead, the Blue Jackets boarded a postgame flight as a happy bunch after a 5-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on Monday night at TD Garden — where they hadn't won in regulation in eight years (Feb. 22, 2016).
Nov 18, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) celebrates with winger Yegor Chinakhov (59) after defeating the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images Bob DeChiara, Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Five Blue Jackets players scored goals, center Sean Monahan paced 10 players on the scoresheet with two assists for a two-point night and goalie Elvis Merzlikins helped steal a victory that ended the Jackets' seven-game road winless streak.
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Here are three takeaways:
Elvis Merzlikins shines for Columbus Blue Jackets in Boston
Nov 18, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) makes a save during the first period against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
The Blue Jackets hung their goalie out to dry in the first two periods, especially the first, but Merzlikins bailed them out. He finished with 28 saves, allowing only Charlie Coyle 's power-play goal, but that doesn't fully depict how sharp Merzlikins was in this performance.
According to Natural Stat Trick's assessment, the Bruins used six power plays to help amass a 35-18 edge in scoring chances and even more impressive 17-8 margin in high-danger chances. During 5-on-5, the numbers were 26-14 in scoring chances, including 13-5 in the most dangerous areas of the ice.
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"This is a great building," Merzlikins said. "I love it here. It's nice to be here and play, and they're a good team. Fast. Physical. It's a great win here. You have to be really focused and read the game a lot, because this is a really tough team to play against."
Nov 18, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek (55) tries to gain control of the puck in front of goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) during the first period against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Throughout the game, Merzlikins made difficult key saves to prevent the Bruins from clawing back into the game. He also got help from his team's 21 blocked shots and Boston players missing the net 14 times.
"The chances (the Bruins) were getting in the first period were created by them but enhanced by what we did (turning pucks over)," Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. "So, 100% (Merzlikins) saved (us) in the first period and allowed us to gather our game."
Nov 18, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Jeffrey Viel (48) fights with Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Mathieu Olivier is on a mission for Columbus Blue Jackets
Mathieu Olivier had an eventful first period.
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It included a fight, a short-handed goal and a roughing penalty against his opponent in the fight, Jeffrey Viel , who made his season debut for the Bruins. Olivier's goal moved him into a tie for the team lead with Sean Monahan and Kirill Marchenko at six apiece, putting the Blue Jackets up 2-0 with a strong carry to the net. How impressed is Evason with a guy who's quickly becoming a two-way power forward?
"Very impressed," he said. "I have been all year, not only (with) his physicality but his ability to lead by example, to do the right things, to get up the ice, to get pucks in deep behind them, and he's probably one of the more vocal guys in our locker room. So, with the people that we have out and leadership that is needed, he has stepped up in that role for sure."
Nov 18, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Justin Danforth (17) celebrates his short-handed goal with his teammates during the third period against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden.
Columbus Blue Jackets get 'PK practice and two short-handed goals against Boston Bruins
If you're going to take 22 minutes in penalties on eight infractions during a game, like the Blue Jackets did in Boston, you'd better have a hot goalie and solid-to-strong penalty kill units. The Blue Jackets had both against the Bruins, and it paid off.
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Olivier's goal was one of two short-handed tallies for the Jackets, who also got a key insurance goal from Justin Danforth while short-handed in the third period. Cole Sillinger stole the puck at the Bruins' blue line, skated it up ice into a 2-on-1 rush, spotted Danforth charging to the net and sent a perfect feed for the goal.
The Blue Jackets went 5-for-6 killing penalties against the Bruins, which raised their rate of success to 80.7% for the season. That ranks 14thamong NHL teams.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 3 takeaways from Columbus Blue Jackets' win over Boston Bruins
