Over the weekend, the Columbus Blue Jackets were scheduled a back to back series with travel. They concluded their home games for the month of March with their final collision of the season against the New York Islanders on Friday night. The next night, they traveled to Montreal and were destroyed.
These games saw the return of Sean Kuraly, Elvis Merzlikins, and Brad Larsen. Merzlikins round up leaving his first game back with an injury after being away on family leave. The Jackets also lost Mathieu Olivier and Erik Gudbranson in the first game of the series.
Timelines for the injured players are unknown, but Trey Fix-Wolansky, Jake Christainsen, and Jon Gillies remain with the main roster until further notice. Hunter McKown also had his first pro games and point this weekend with the Jackets after his time with the NCAA concluded.
Daniil Tarasov also sustained an injury Sunday in the Monsters’ game, and Nolan Lalonde has joined the Monsters.
CBJ P71 - Overtime Ouch
The Columbus Blue Jackets close their home games for the month of March with an overtime victory over the New York Islanders, 5-4.
The New York Islanders opened the scoring with a late first period goal from Zach Parise for his 20th of the season. Hudson Fasching had the lone assist.
Second period scoring began with a Columbus powerplay goal by Johnny Gaudreau for his 18th of the season. Jack Roslovic and Boone Jenner had the helpers.
Brock Nelson got the go ahead goal for his 31st of the season via Kyle Palmieri.
Liam Foudy evened the game with his 6th career goal from Gaudreau.
Kent Johnson pulled off the Michigan in what is the Columbus goal of the year. His highlight reel would count as his 15th in his young career.
Eric Robinson concluded the regulation Columbus goals with his 10th. Emil Bemstrom got the primary assist. Hunter McKown got his first career point in his debut.
Palmieri started the third period scoring with his 13th off a redirect shot by Adam Pelech. Scott Mayfield had the secondary assist.
Nelson got his second of the game and 32nd of the campaign off the game tying power play goal. Bo Horvat and Noah Dobson had the apples on the Islanders' fourth and final goal of the game.
In the extra time, Johnny Gaudreau one timed the puck to Adam Boqvist, and Boone Jenner redirected the puck past the Islanders' goaltender to get the overtime game winning power play goal just 40 seconds into overtime. This would be credited as Jenner's 25th goal of the year.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau was my Islanders' player to watch given his recent production streak. JGP was pointless in this contest, with a 63.6% in the faceoff dot in 15:10TOI.
Ilya Sorokin stopped 22 of 27 shots for a 0.815 save percentage.
Sean Kuraly was my Columbus player to watch as it was his first game back from injury since February 28. Kuraly was a -1 with a hit and block shot in 13:51TOI; he was also a 21.4% in the faceoff department.
Michael Hutchinson had his first win as a member of the Blue Jackets, stopping 34 of 38 shots for a 0.895 save percentage.
CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Kent Johnson-- Michigan (15)
2. Hunter McKown -- first career assist
3. Michael Hutchinson -- first CBJ win
CBJ P72 @ Montreal Canadiens - Rafael Hatty-Pinard
In the return of Elvis Merzlikins, the Montreal Canadiens dominated the Columbus Blue Jackets in Centre Bell by the final score of 8-2.
Lane Pederson opened the scoring of the game with his third of the year from Kent Johnson and Jack Roslovic.
Mike Hoffman evened the scoring with his 13th of the season from Mike Matheson and Nick Suzuki.
Jesse Ylonen got the go ahead go for the Habs for his sixth of the year from Brendan Gallagher and Joel Edmundson.
The final Columbus goal came in with two minutes remaining of the first period by winger Kirill Marchenko for his 19th of the season. Defensemen Andrew Peeke and Gavin Bayreuther had the assists.
Rafael Harvey-Pinard would get his first of the game for his 10th of the season. This would be the eventual game winner. Matheson and Suzuki had the helpers.
Harvey-Pinard got his second of the game and period counting as his 11th of the campaign from Hoffman and Suzuki.
Gallagher's fifth in his shortened season was assisted by Jake Evans and Ylonen.
Harvey-Pinard's hat-trick and 12th of the career came off the power play via Hoffman and Matheson.
Alex Belize recorded his fifth of the season and was unassisted.
Suzuki concluded the game scoring with his 23rd of the season; the assists came from Jonathan Kovacevic and Jordan Harris.
David Savard was my Habs' player to watch, being a +2 with a minor penalty and takeaway; three shots; six blocks; in 20:19TOI.
Samuel Montembault was the starter for the Canadiens, allowing two goals on 23 shots for a 0.913 save percentage.
Trey Fix-Wolansky was my Blue Jackets' player to watch, playing in his first game with the Blue Jackets since November 28. Fix-Wolansky was a -1 with a shot on goal in 13:19TOI.
Elvis Merzlikins was yanked in his game back with the Jackets since March 7, allowing 6 goals on 24 shots. Michael Hutchinson allowed 2 goals on 8 shots.
CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Kirill Marchenko -- goal (19)
2. Lane Pederson -- goal (3)
3. Jack Roslovic -- assist (32)
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