Tag: Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL Stars of the Week – Werenski Earns Top Honors

Today the National Hockey League announced their Three Stars of the Week for the week of November 18th through 24th.

First Star – Zach Werenski (D – CLB)

  • Werenski topped defensemen and shared the League lead among all players with seven points (2-5—7) in three games to propel the Blue Jackets (9-9-2, 20 points) to a perfect week. He bookended the week with one assist in both a 5-1 win against the Boston Bruins Nov. 18 and a 5-4 shootout victory over the Carolina Hurricanes Nov. 23 (highlighted by skating a season-high 4.75 miles in the contest). In between, Werenski posted 2-3—5 (including the overtime winner) in a 7-6 triumph versus the Tampa Bay Lightning Nov. 21 to match the franchise record for points in one game and become the first Columbus defenseman with a five-point performance. Werenski’s sixth career overtime goal (all w/ CBJ) also moved him into a tie for second place in Blue Jackets history, behind only Seth Jones (8). The 27-year-old Werenski – who has 3-7—10 during an active five-game assist/point streak dating to Nov. 15 – shares the team lead with 20 points through 20 total appearances this season (6-14—20). He also paces the League in time on ice per game (26:05) and ranks among the top NHL defensemen in shots on goal (2nd; 76), goals (t-2nd; 6), points (t-2nd; 20), power-play goals (t-4th; 2), assists (t-6th; 14), power-play points (t-6th; 8) and power-play assists (t-9th; 6).
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Second Star – Mikko Rantanen (RW – COL)

  • Rantanen also tied for the League lead with 2-5—7 in three games as the Avalanche (12-9-0, 24 points) completed an unblemished week. He notched two assists in a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Nov. 18, then scored the tying power-play goal in a 2-1 comeback win versus the Washington Capitals Nov. 21. Rantanen capped the week with 1-3—4, highlighted by the decisive goal, in a 7-4 triumph against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers Nov. 23. It marked his 24th career four-point performance and second of the season (also Nov. 13 vs. LAK: 3-1—4). The 28-year-old Rantanen, who will represent Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, sits fourth in the NHL with 14-18—32 through 21 total contests in 2024-25. He also places among this season’s League leaders in game-winning goals (t-3rd; 4), goals (t-4th; 14), power-play goals (t-6th; 5), power-play points (t-6th; 11) and assists (t-8th; 18).
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Third Star – Joseph Woll (G – TOR)

  • Woll stopped 54 of the 56 shots he faced, going 2-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .964 save percentage and one shutout as the Maple Leafs (13-6-2, 28 points) extended their winning streak to four games dating to Nov. 13 to move into first place in the Atlantic Division. He earned his second career shutout (also Nov. 21, 2021 at NYI: 20 SV) with 31 saves – including 16 in the second period – in a 3-0 triumph against the Vegas Golden Knights Nov. 20. Woll then denied 23 shots in a 3-2 victory over the Utah Hockey Club Nov. 24. The 26-year-old Woll owns a 5-2-0 record through seven total appearances this season, leading NHL goaltenders (minimum: 7 GP) with a 2.00 goals-against average and ranking eighth with a .921 save percentage.
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*All Graphics courtesy of the NHL, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, and Toronto Maple Leafs.

*Player Profiles written by NHL PR Staff.

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R.I.P “Johnny Hockey”

Good morning hockey world,

Unfortunately we all woke up this morning to the tragic news that star winger of the Columbus Blue Jackets (formerly Calgary Flames) Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed as they were bicycling on County Route 551 in New Jersey and were struck by a car. The brothers were back in their hometown of Salem, NJ for their sister Katie’s wedding in Philadelphia which was supposed to be today. It has been reported that the driver has been arrested and is suspected of driving under the influence.

I was in complete and utter shock to hear the news when I opened up my phone to our TXHT group chat to see that Johnny Gaudreau had tragically passed away. Gaudreau has been one of my favorite players to watch as he was quite a highly skilled playmaker despite his small frame. Being that he was from my home state of New Jersey also had its appeal and made me a fan of him as well. He was famously known going back to his college days at Boston College and throughout the National Hockey League as “Johnny Hockey”. In college, Gaudreau helped Boston College win a NCAA national title and won two consecutive Hockey East player of the year awards while also winning the Hobey Baker award as the NCAA’s best ice hockey player back in 2014. When he made it to the NHL, Gaudreau’s impact was made right away and was a Calder finalist in his rookie year back in 2015 for the Calgary Flames (before becoming a Columbus Blue Jacket in free agency back in 2022), being a multiple time NHL All Star, and winner of the Lady Bang trophy for being the most sportsmanlike player back in 2017. He has also represented Team USA on the international stage at multiple World Championship tournaments at the junior and professional level as well. Johnny Gaudreau played in 763 games and recorded 243 goals with 500 assists for a total of 743 total points in the National Hockey League.

We all as hockey fans will miss watching “Johnny Hockey” dazzle us with his amazing hockey sense and skills out there on the ice. I still remember to this day the amazing play he made for Boston College in the NCAA title game in his freshman year no less to help seal the victory for his team and the championship. Off the ice, Johnny was an even more amazing person who was popular throughout the league and helped many charitable causes. Included below is a statement from both the Columbus Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames on his passing for whom both teams Gaudreau played for in the NHL. To pay tribute to him, here are some of Johnny Gaudreau’s best highlights which will include his famous play he made in the NCAA title game. R.I.P Johnny Hockey, we will miss you!

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Columbus Blue Jackets Get Defensively Better

After a very disappointing 2022-23 season, the Columbus Blue Jackets would get defensively better going into the 2023-24 season.

2022-23

Record: 25-48-9 (59 pts) – 8th in Metropolitan

Playoffs: Did Not Qualify

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Key Losses

Gavin Bayreuther (D – DAL), Brad Larsen (Head Coach)

Key Additions

Adam Fantilli (F), Damon Severson (D), Ivan Provorov (D), Alexandre Texier (F), Mike Babcock (Head Coach)

2023-24 Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets had a challenging season in 2022-23. They finished with a record of 25-48-9, earning a total of 59 points. In the Metropolitan Division, they claimed the 8th position. Despite their efforts, the team did not qualify for the playoffs.

With a new season ahead, Boone Jenner looks to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets as they get defensively better for the 2023-24 season. - Photo Courtesy of the Columbus Blue Jackets
With a new season ahead, Boone Jenner looks to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets as they get defensively better for the 2023-24 season. – Photo Courtesy of the Columbus Blue Jackets

An Offseason Change

The Columbus Blue Jackets underwent a coaching change from Brad Larsen to Mike Babcock for the 2023-24 season. This change brought a new direction and leadership to the team.

Brad Larsen had served as head coach for the Blue Jackets for the past two seasons. However, despite his efforts, the team struggled, finishing with a disappointing record and failing to qualify for the playoffs. As a result, the organization decided to make a change and bring in a new head coach.

Mike Babcock, a highly experienced and once respected coach in the NHL, was appointed as the new head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. With an impressive coaching career that includes winning a Stanley Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal, Babcock brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team.

Babcock is known for his strong emphasis on defensive play and attention to detail. His coaching style prioritizes discipline, structure, and accountability, which can have a significant impact on a team’s performance.

However, Babcock comes with some scrutiny as his time in Toronto ended on a sour note. There are multiple players that he coached in the past that have voiced their criticism about Babcock and his style of management and treatment of players. Babcock’s tenure with the Jackets will be heavily watched to see if he’s learned from his past mistakes, and has actually worked on bettering himself as both a coach, and a person.

Under Babcock’s guidance, the Blue Jackets are hopeful that they will improve defensively and become a more competitive team in the 2023-24 season.

Entering his second season in Columbus, Johnny Guadreau will look to help the Blue Jackets get defensively better. - Photo Courtesy of the Columbus Blue Jackets
Entering his second season in Columbus, Johnny Gaudreau will look to help the Blue Jackets get defensively better. – Photo Courtesy of the Columbus Blue Jackets

Getting Defensively Better

Along with the addition of Babcock, the Blue Jackets would also go out and trade for defensemen Ivan Provorov (from Philadelphia) and Damon Severson (from New Jersey). The Jackets will also be getting back Zach Werenski, who only played 13 games due to injury. With these three defensemen the Jackets have improved there defensive corps tenfold.

After leaving their goalies out to dry last season, the Blue Jackets look to shore things up defensively, and with the moves they made, they look to be going in the right direction.

Read our other 2023-24 Team Previews: ANA, ARI, BOS, BUF, CAL, CAR, CHI, COL

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TXHT Jersey Share – A Good Surprise from the Mystery Box

Ladies and gentlemen welcome to another edition of TXHT Jersey Share where today we take a look at the one of our latest editions through Cool Hockey and their Mystery Box.

In this Mystery Box we got our first customized jersey in a very long time as I was fortunate to get a Gustav Nyquist Columbus Blue Jackets jersey. This jersey marked the first time I received a jersey with an anniversary patch AND a jersey with an alternate captain “A” on it.

Overall this is a very nice jersey, and one the Jackets have been wearing since the change over to Adidas back in 2017. This is also one of the first PrimeGreen jerseys I’ve gotten, that wouldn’t be Washington Capitals, and I must say, it looks really nice.

On the Blue Jackets themselves, I really like the overall look of the jersey. I’m especially fond of the font style they used for the name and numbers on the jersey. This was definitely a great pick up through Cool Hockey in one of their Mystery Boxes.

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2022-23 Team Preview – Columbus Blue Jackets

2021-22

Record: 37-38-7 81p (6th in Metropolitan)

Playoffs: Did Not Qualify

Key Losses

F – Kevin Stenlund (WIN), F – Oliver Bjorkstrand (Trade – SEA), D – Gabriel Carlsson (WAS), D – Scott Harrington, D – Dean Kukan

Key Additions

F – Johnny Gaudreau, D – Erik Gudbranson, F – Mathieu Oliver

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2022-23 Preview

After a respectable season under first year head coach Brad Larsen, the Columbus Blue Jackets are looking to improve upon their below .500 2021-22 season. Coming into the 2022-23 season the Blue Jackets added grit on their blue line with the signing of Erik Gudbranson, and then won the free agent lottery when they signed Johnny Gaudreau to a seven year deal. With the addition of Johnny Hockey to Columbus the Jackets will look to increase their offensive production this season with a team that is still primarily intact, minus a couple moves.

In goal Elvis Merzlikins will look to continue his development as the start for the Jackets with Joonas Korpisalo in the backup role once again, but could Korpisalo be trade bait at the deadline this season if the Blue Jackets are not in the playoff picture? How the team continues to grow and develop will dictate that decision.

This season I do see the Blue Jackets making a push for the playoffs, but I’m interested in seeing how Gaudreau and Patrik Laine will mesh together.

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Devils Come Up Short, Lose 4-3 to CBJ

New Jersey Devils (19-30-5 43pts) @

Columbus Blue Jackets (28-25-1 57pts)

Game Recap:

Coming off a dominate performance the night before, the New Jersey Devils looks to continue their winning ways as the head to Ohio to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Devils got an early power play eight seconds into the game and it wouldn’t take long for them to score. Jack Hughes put in a rebound for his seventeen goal of the season to give the team the 1-0 lead. It will be quiet for a little bit until Jake Christiansen buried a wrist shot into twine for his first NHL goal and tying the game at one. Moments later, Oliver Bjorkstrand extended the Blue Jackets lead to 2-1 who buried a one time shot for his eighteenth goal of the year as that score would stand heading into the second period.

Captain Boone Jenner gave Columbus a 3-1 lead with a super early second period power play goal as he put in the rebound from a shot by Patrik Laine. Later on in the period, the Devils captain Nico Hischier fired a wrist shot top shelf at the right face off circle to get the score back within one goal. After two periods, the Columbus Blue Jackets lead the New Jersey Devils 3-2.

The Blue Jackets got another quick strike to begin a period thanks to Patrik Laine who beat Devils goalie Nico Daws to make it 4-2. New Jersey was not going away quietly as Pavel Zacha would snap a shot into the goal as time expired on the power play. After that, the Devils couldn’t get anything else going offensively and the Blue Jackets would go on to win by a final score of 4-3. Next time we see the New Jersey Devils in action is on Friday night as they head to the “Big Apple” to play the New York Rangers.

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Lineups

New Jersey Devils

Columbus Blue Jackets

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Game Highlights

Final Stats

Next Up: New Jersey Devils @ NY Rangers, Friday 3/4/22 7pm EST

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NHL 3 Stars of the Month – Marner Dominates for Top Honor

Today the National Hockey League has announced the Stars of the Month for the month of February 2022.

First Star – Mitch Marner (RW – TOR)

  • Marner would lead the League in assists (14) and points (23) while being tied for first in goals (9) while playing in 12 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the month of February. Marner would record a point in eight of the 12 games that he would play in, and he would have 7 multi-point games.
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Second Star – Jacob Markstrom (G – CAL)

  • Markstrom would record a 8-1-0 month with a 2.04 goals against average, a .929 save percentage, and one shutout in 10 games played for the Calgary Flames in February. Markstrom would yield two or fewer goals in seven of ten of the games that he played in. His eight wins would lead all netminders for the month of February.
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Third Star – Patrik Laine (LW – CLB)

  • Laine would record nine goals, 6 assists for 15 points in 10 games played for the Columbus Blue Jackets. All of LAine’s points were in the first eight games of the month which extended his point streak to 11 games.
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* All Graphics Courtesy of the NHL

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NHL Stars of the Week – Markstrom Earns Top Honors

Today the National Hockey League announced their Three Stars of the Week for the week of February 7th through 13th.

First Star – Jacob Markstrom (G – CAL)

  • Markstrom would go a perfect 3-0-0 for the Calgary Flames as he would post a 1.33 goals against average, a .959 save percentage, and one shutout. Markstrom would start out the week with his eighth shutout of the season as he would stop all 28 shots faced in a 6-0 victory over Vegas on Feb. 9th. Then on Feb. 10th he would make 46 saves in a 5-2 victory over Toronto, and to close out the week Markstrom would stop 19 shots in a 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Feb. 12th.
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Second Star – Patrik Laine (LW – CLB)

  • Laine would record three goals and three assists for six points in three games played for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He would open the week with two goals and an assist in a 5-4 victory over Washington on Feb. 8th. Then on Feb. 10th Laine would record an assist in a 4-3 overtime victory over Buffalo, and then to close out the week he would record a goal and an assist in a 2-1 victory over Montreal on Feb. 12th.
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Third Star – Nico Hischier (C – NJ)

  • Hischier would record five goals and an assist for six points in four games played for the New Jersey Devils, and to start his week he would record a goal in a 4-1 loss to Ottawa on Feb. 7th. On Feb. 8th he would score in a 7-1 victory over Montreal, and then Hischier would record two goals and an assist in a 7-4 victory over St. Louis on Feb. 10th. Then to close out the week Hischier would record a goal in a 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh on Feb. 13th.
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*All Graphics courtesy of the NHL and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Devils Lose Again to Columbus

New Jersey Devils (14-17-5 33pts) @

Columbus Blue Jackets (16-16-1 33pts)

Game Recap:

Facing a short handed type of lineup, the New Jersey Devils have a rematch in Columbus against the Blue Jackets. Speaking of short handed, they would open up the game early being on the penalty kill. It wouldn’t take the Bkue Jackets long to capitalize on the power play chance as Oliver Bjorkstrand would give his team an early 1-0 lead. He would get a pass from Jakub Voracek to the slot and bury the shot to beat goalie MacKenzie Blackwood. Moments later, Columbus would make it 2-0 thanks to a weird deflection from a Boone Jenner shot from the goal line that would bounce off of Jack Hughes’ skate and into the back of the net. Columbus was dominate early on. Later on, the Devils cut the score in half thanks to Nico Hischier who fired a shot from the high slot that would get beat goalie Joonas Korpisalo for his seventh goal of the season. New Jersey wouldn’t be done scoring as Jimmy Vesey tied the score up with 19.6 seconds left in the first period as he fired a wrist shot from the right face off circle that would beat Korpisalo. After the first period, the score would be tied 2-2.

At the 9:31 mark of period two, Yegor Chinakhov would give the Blue Jackets their lead back as he scored his second goal of the season. Ty Smith turned the puck over behind the net and Sean Kuraly sent it in front to Eric Robinson, and then to Chinakhov for the finish to make it 3-2. Moments later, Marian Studenic tied the score for the Devils as he banged in the rebound from a Jesper Boqvist shot for his first goal of the season. The score would be tied between the Blue Jackets and Devils 3-3 after the second period.

Columbus would get the game winner at the five minute mark thanks again to another goal from Oliver Bjorkstrand for his eleventh goal of the season. Jakub Voracek would send a cross-slot pass to Bjorkstrand who would then rip a shot over the glove of Devils goalie MacKenzie Blackwood. The Columbus Blue Jackets beat the New Jersey Devils again, this time by a final score of 4-3. Next time we see the Devils, they will welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Pridential Center on Monday night.

Lineups

New Jersey Devils

Columbus Blue Jackets

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Game Highlights

First Period

Second Period

Third Period

Final Stats

NJCBJ
Shots3034
Hits1324
Power Play0/31/3
Face-Offs46%53%

Next Up: New Jersey Devils vs Tampa Bay Lightning, Monday 1/10/22 @ 7pm EST

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Hughes 3pt night Helps Devils Win

New Jersey Devils (14-16-5 33pts) vs

Columbus Blue Jackets (15-16-1 31pts)

Game Recap:

After having their winning streak snapped the other night against the Boston Bruins, the New Jersey Devils look to start a new win streak as they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. It didn’t take the Devils very long to score as Tomas Tatar scored his eight goal of the season just fifty-two seconds into the game. Tatar got the puck in front of the net, made a nifty move to his backhand and roofed it in to make it 1-0 in favor of New Jersey. Moments later, Columbus tied it up thanks to Max Domi who scored his eighth of the year as he snagged a loose puck in front of the net and buried the rebound to tie the game 1-1. The game with the main tide heading into the second period.

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Period two would be a very tight and low scoring period. It would remain tied as neither team had many chances and with the ones they did get, weren’t able to capitalize on them. It would remain tied 1-1 heading into the third and final period.

Continuing the trend earlier of scoring early, Jesper Bratt scored his tenth goal of the season and would turn out to be the game winner. Brat’s goal would come on the power play as he received a pass to the slot and then quickly fire it past goalie Joonas Korpisalo to give the Devils a 2-1 lead. The rest of the way saw the Devils doing a great job at keeping the Blue Jackets at bay and off the scoreboard. Jack Hughes would seal the victory at the 18:40 mark by scoring an empty next goal and his ninth goal of the season. Tonight’s ‘s game would feature yet another three point game by Hughes as he continues his hot scoring streak as of late. Final score of tonight‘s game would be in favor of the New Jersey Devils as they would beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1. Next time we see the Devils will be on Saturday as they head out to Columbus for a rematch against the Blue Jackets.

Lineups

New Jersey Devils

Columbus Blue Jackets

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Game Highlights

Final Stats

NJ CBJ
Shots 28 32
Hits 11 6
Power Play 1/3 0/4
Face-Offs 50% 50%

Next Up: New Jersey Devils @ Columbus Blue Jackets, Saturday 1/8/22 7pm EST

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