Coming off another gut-wrenching loss that should've been a win, the Blue Jackets bounced back Monday night with a lot of help from their Russian comrades.
Faced with the challenge of hosting the Boston Bruins , who are tied for most points in the NHL, the Jackets won 5-2 on goals from Dmitri Voronkov , Ivan Provorov, Yegor Chinakhov , Kirill Marchenko and an empty-netter by Justin Danforth to seal it.
It was an impressive response to a brutal 3-2 loss Sunday at the Carolina Hurricanes in a game the Blue Jackets led 2-0 with 10 minutes left. After tying a franchise record with a nine-game winless streak, the Jackets (7-12-4) have won three of their past four games and could have a four-game win streak going had they not crumbled against the Hurricanes.
Their victory over the Bruins (14-4-3) was a step in the right direction in that regard. Building a 3-0 lead after two periods on the goals by Voronkov, Provorov and Chinakhov, the Jackets didn't sit back on their heels much in the third, which had become a huge issue in previous losses.
Here are four takeaways:
All that's needed to recognize rookie forward Dmitri Voronkov's importance to the Blue Jackets was to watch him play this game against the Bruins.
He scored a power forward's goal to open the scoring in the first period, jamming the puck home at the right post against Boston starter Jeremy Swayman . He then used his 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame to screen Swayman on Provorov's goal that made it 2-0 early in the second.
Voronkov also launched the Bruins' Charlie McAvoy into the wall while battling for position that period and was called for interference on a play that left the veteran defenseman on his knees in the corner after slamming into the wall. It drew immediate attention from the Bruins, which Voronkov willingly accepted.
It was one of Voronkov's most complete performances, which made the news earlier Monday that he's dealing with homesickness and has considered returning to Russia even more concerning. Those seeking a bright side to that situation got what they wanted during the game from Voronkov's North American based agent, J.P. Barry, and then from the rookie himself after the game.
"I work with his Russian agents, and we talked with him this past Saturday about it," Barry said. "He's had a change of heart. He also talked with his family in Russia, and they think it's best for him to stick it out."
Voronkov's teammates have given the same advice, led by Provorov, Marchenko and Chinakhov. All three dealt with the tough transition from living in Russia to living in North America in a new culture with new teammates while not speaking English.
It's challenging and Voronkov came over without anybody from home to lend support. His Russian teammates are doing all they can, but they can only do so much. One big step in the right direction was Voronkov getting his own apartment in Columbus recently.
"That's important," Barry said. "He's getting out of the hotel and that hotel life, and he's got some Russian guys there (teammates) who are helping him with day-to-day life things, if he needs it. He's going to stay."
Answering questions with Marchenko's help as a translator, Voronkov said he expects to feel more comfortable the longer he stays.
"It's just a big difference, just two countries, and it was a little surprising for him," Voronkov said. "Maybe the first months, (I) wasn't ready for that, but now … I have thanks for a lot of Russian guys for helping (me) here, and I will work with myself and with (my teammates) and just try to enjoy the game and Columbus lifestyle. (I) just need time."
Voronkov is off to one of the best rookie starts in franchise history with four goals, six assists and 10 points in 17 games. Against the Bruins, he finished with a goal, +3 plus/minus rating, three shots, one hit and a takeaway before Eric Robinson awarded him the Jackets' Civil War era "Kepi" hat after the win in the locker room.
Voronkov also received a homemade sign held by a fan during warmups that said, "The 5thLine Loves You, Dmitri."
Chinakhov's goal was a beautiful individual effort that included him outskating three Bruins at the end of his shift to collect the puck and turn it into a breakaway.
Capping it with a wicked wrister to beat goalie Linus Ullmark , the third-year Russian winger's skill was clear as day. It was only his second goal, and according to his agent, Shumi Babaev, the Jackets' first-round pick in the 2020 NHL draft isn't happy playing a fourth-line role.
"He doesn't feel they trust him, and he wants to leave," Babaev said via text message. "They don't understand how bad 'Chinny' feels."
Chinakhov did get to play with Voronkov and Cole Sillinger after a line shakeup by coach Pascal Vincent and they had an outstanding night. The Blue Jackets outscored the Bruins 3-0 during the 8:06 of 5-on-5 time that line logged together. He's playing on a one-year, one-way contract signed in April that's worth $800,000 and ends July 1, when Chinakhov can become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.
He's battled injuries since coming over from Russia in 2021 as the KHL's rookie of the year with Avangard Omsk, including a back strain this year that forced him to miss the entire preseason plus the Jackets' first 10 games. Chinakhov's first game action was with the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League, but he's since played 12 of the past 13 games for the Blue Jackets.
A goal and assist against Boston inched Chinakhov's totals up to two goals, two assists and four points, but he's not having the same kind of success he had in Russia.
Chinakhov spoke with reporters after the game and said during an answer to a question about Voronkov's homesickness that he wants to stay in the NHL. Chinakhov said that he, too, debated returning to Russia as a rookie, but his desire to play in the NHL motivated him to stay.
"Sometimes (I thought about it)," he said, "but I want to play here and that's it."
Should that feeling change, Chinakhov would need the Blue Jackets to loan him to a team in Russia if he wants to play there. The same applies to Voronkov, since both are under NHL contracts. Babaev said he expressed Chinakhov's concerns to Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen about 10 days ago, but no trade request has been made yet.
Kekalainen declined to comment.
The Blue Jackets' Russians were surprised to hear they set a record after each scored against the Bruins. According to the NHL, it was the first time in league history that four Russian players scored a goal for one team in the same game.
That's impressive considering how many Russians have played in the NHL, including the famed "Russian Five" – Sergei Fedorov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Slava Kozlov, Slava Fetisov and igor Larionov – who helped the Detroit Red Wings end a long Stanley Cup drought in the 1990s.
"It's really cool," Marchenko said. "It's a good memory for us, for all the Russian guys. It gives a little confidence and (it's) fun, but more important for us is it's a good win today."
Spencer Martin hadn't played for the Blue Jackets in three games and that start was his only one in the team's previous eight.
That's a long time watching from the bench and trying to stay sharp mainly through practices, but that's the life of a backup goalie. Martin has handled it with ease since the Jackets claimed him off waivers in the preseason from the Vancouver Canucks .
He stopped 31 of 33 shots and wasn't beaten until the Blue Jackets took a 4-0 lead on Marchenko's goal at 4:51 of the third period. Martin frustrated the Bruins by going 11 for 11 in the first period and 9 for 9 in the second. He also sparked a skirmish by slashing the Bruins' David Pastrnak during a rush to the net by the Bruins star. Following a whistle that stopped play, Martin and Pastrnak exchanged words and a couple shoves before Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson took over for his goalie.
Martin improved to 2-5-1 with the win, lowered his goals-against average to 3.20 and increased his save percentage to .903 in nine appearances.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Russian contingent leads Blue Jackets to blowout over Bruins
