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Detroit Red Wings deal Columbus Blue Jackets gut-wrenching loss with late breakaway
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- Detroit Red Wings deal Columbus Blue Jackets gut-wrenching loss with late breakaway
It flipped in a flash.
After gaining momentum off a late tying goal and getting a late power play after a failed coaching challenge for goaltender interference, the Blue Jackets had a golden opportunity to complete a thrilling comeback against the Detroit Red Wings turn upside down in a gut-wrenching 5-4 loss Thursday before a sellout crowd of 18,370 at Nationwide Arena.
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Detroit's Ben Chiarot blocked Ivan Provorov's one timer from the right circle with the Jackets' power play expiring, which created a loose puck near the Red Wings' blue line with Jonatan Berggren preparing to exit the penalty box. Former Blue Jackets forward Tyler Motte dove to send him a pass for a late breakaway and Berggren beat Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins with 35.7 seconds left to give the Red Wings (16-18-4) a wild win.
"I would love to be sitting here at least with a point and having the opportunity (to win in overtime), but ... we made a mistake, right, at the end?" Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. "We should get out of (the offensive zone), but our group's trying to score ... but we make a mistake at the end."
Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings get into a scuffle after the Red Wings defeated the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
A couple minutes earlier, the Blue Jackets (16-17-6) owned every ounce of momentum after James van Riemsdyk's second goal of the night tied it 4-4 with 2:41 to play. Red Wings coach Todd McLellan challenged for goaltender interference, which failed to give Columbus a chance to win on a power play without needing overtime.
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"We tie it up, we get a power play, and we talked about getting (a goal) on it, obviously," Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski said. "We didn't want it to go to overtime. Our (top) unit didn't do a good job of getting it in the (offensive) zone, and that's frustrating for our group that's been really good at home this year. It's on us, as well, for not giving us that chance (to win). This game's crazy. It can take weird bounces and change on a dime."
Werenski finished with a goal and two assists for a three-point game, Van Riemsdyk added an assist to his two goals for a three-point game and Sean Monahan scored the other goal for the Blue Jackets — who will host the Red Wings on March 1 at Ohio Stadium in their first-ever outdoor game.
Alex DeBrincat had a goal and two assists for a three-point game to lead the Red Wings, whose other goals were scored by Patrick Kane , Erik Gustafsson , Dylan Larkin and Berggren.
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Detroit overcame an early 1-0 deficit after Van Riemdyk's first goal on a power play 2:42 into the game, finishing the first period to lead 3-1 on goals by Kane, Gustafsson and DeBrincat. Werenski and Monahan scored to tie it 3-3 in the second, but Larkin reclaimed the lead for the Red Wings, 4-3, early in the third.
That led to Van Riemsdyk pushing the equalizer over the goal line to set off the frenetic finish.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets pay for late 'mistake' against Detroit Red Wings
