Final Score: Senators 3 – Blue Jackets 2
Game Summary
This game did not go as well as the previous two. The Jackets played a pretty solid game but ended up losing 3-2.
Brandon Saad put the Jackets on the board with his 20th goal of the season.
Brandon Saad’s 20th goal of the season puts the Blue Jackets ahead 1-0. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/znOgqo1MqS
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 5, 2017
That is Saad’s third straight season scoring at least 20 goals. Saad continues to impress game in and game out. He doesn’t have flashy point totals of a Cam Atkinson, but he doesn’t need to be scoring to be effective. He does so many little things well and he does it consistently, which make him such a good player.
Zach Werenski assisted on that Saad goal, to bring him to within one point of tying Rick Nash for the Blue Jackets rookie point record. He tied the record when he picked up another assist on Sam Gagner’s power play goal.
Sam Gagner's first goal since December 23!#CBJ pic.twitter.com/A6CRcz3dj5
— ColumbusBlueJackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 5, 2017
That was Gagner’s first goal of 2017 and first since December 23rd. He had been in a terrible slump, going 30 games without goal. It was a tough go for Gagner as he's a pure offensive player so when he’s not scoring his impact his limited. He did have 10 assists in those 30 games, so he wasn’t completely putting up a zero. It was good to see him get a goal and hopefully this can spark him into a hot streak down the stretch.
Stat of the Night
Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.
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