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CBJ PG2 — Evason’s First Win |
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The Columbus Blue Jackets play the spoiler to the Colorado Avalanche’s home opener with an upset 6-4 victory at the Ball Arena. This game saw the first head coach win for the offseason hires of Don Waddell and Dean Evason; and the first career Columbus points for Sean Monahan and Kevin Labanc.
Period I
Early breakout rushes caught the Avalanche defense on a standstill. End to end passing led to the cross ice redirect for Zach Werenski earning his second goal of the season. Yegor Chinakov led Werenski to crashing the net for the redirect, earning him the primary assist. Chinny got the breakout pass from Sean Monahan, earning him his first career point with Columbus. A point in every other game is good production. This is the second game of his five year contract with the club. Johnny Hockey is happy. The first goal the game came just six and a half minutes into the game.
A little bit over a minute later, the same breakout resulted in the same consequence for the home team. A bar down Kent Johnson shot shocked the goaltending for his second goal of the season. The breakout pass came from Jake Christiansen.
The shutout hopes came to an end with eight seconds left in the first period. As a result of a Cole Sillinger tripping penalty, the Colorado powerplay kept shooting and the Nate MacKinnon rebound got past the defense and goalie for his first of the year. The reigning MVP had his assists from Ivan Ivan Ivan and Mikko Rantanen.
Period II
The offense came alive in this one, with five goals scored 7 minutes and 53 seconds, just before the halfway mark of the game. Real barn burner vibes between these offenses. It is early in the season, so it is not coming as a surprise as it does take time for the defense and goaltending to adjust to the new season and get their legs underneath them.
Like the first two goals, goalie Daniil Tarasov led the breakout from a behind the net collapse by the Avs, landing on Kevin Labanc’s stick, to Adam Fantilli, and between the goalie’s five hole. This led to Colorado changing goalkeepers. Adam Fantilli’s first of the season and 13th of his career came a minute and 56 into the second. Labanc got his first NHL point that was not in a San Jose uniform. Tarasov recorded his second career NHL point with the secondary assist.
Miles Wood replied for the home team 15 seconds later for his first of the season. Parker Kelly and Calvin De Haan got their first points as members of the Avalanche with the assists on his rebound.
Casey Mittlestadt evened the game on the powerplay just a minute after the Wood goal for his first powerplay goal and second of the season. Ross Colton and Cale Makar had the assists on the Mittlestadt rebound.
Kirill Marchenko reacquired the lead for the Blue Jackets on the one time for his first of the season from Damon Severson.
Chinakov expanded the lead to two for his first of the season. Monahan and Marchenko had the helpers.
Period III
Ross Colton brought the Avs back to within one for his first of the campaign with less than 90 seconds remaining in the game. MacKinnon and Makar got the assists.
Sean Monahan was set up for his first goal as a Blue Jacket on the empty net power play goal. Marchenko set Monahan up for the primary assist. Chinakov got the secondary.
Goalies
Not the night to be one. Especially on the home side.
Alex Georgiev allowed 3 goals on 9 shots faced. He was pulled in back to back games.
Justus Annuen stopped 11 of 13 shots faced for an 0.846 save percentage.
Daniil Tarasov stopped 26 shots of the 30 faced despite half of the goals being on the powerplay. His save percentage was 0.867.
Players to Watch
Colorado — Nathan MacKinnon — the MVP of last season had a last second blowout on the referees costing him a misconduct. The richest player of last season had a goal and helper. Nate Dogg was a +1 with 3 shots on goal.
Columbus — Jack Johnson — the defender returned to the team he spent last season on. In his return to Denver, he had 13:25TOI and was a plus +1.
CBJ 3 Stars of the Game
1. Sean Monahan — empty net goal (1), 2 assists (2)
2. Kirill Marchenko — goal (1), 2 assists (2)
3. Yegor Chinakov — GWG (1), 2 assists (3)
Next game: the Home Opener and Johnny Gaudreau tribute in front of the faithful will be on Tuesday evening against the reigning and defending, but injury tested Florida Panthers on the NHL Network.
More is coming…
Obituaries
https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/john-michael-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYM9fikwQbNkPlcwmTBaP2udJZw1oMBCmyXjp-GyttBpDhIoWnqY8lxQSQ_aem_zW3gpaArqsSO7D5ZI-Pdog
https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/matthew-ryan-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZ33XNOJYMaSDfXxs3NcH7AY99EWfo9ObneKgMrpds4HwrC3U6Gkj0igr0_aem_qqWUcGWcBFf0sebC0an4RQ
Want to support the Gaudreau family? Here’s several ways how:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-madeline-and-baby-tripp-after-tragedy - Donate to Gaudreau Family Fund. At the time of writing it is at $691K
https://youtu.be/7ax8zyd8nk0?si=xoI63iohdyn2vVvD - View Johnny B Goode Tribute - personal touch. Loved this slowed down clip by the voice of Calgary. Skip to the 25 second mark.
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/giving - Nationwide Children's Hospital (Johnny's widow, Meredith's workplace) support the children today.
https://foundation.ohiohealth.com/ - Ohio Health Foundation (where donations from a joint mental health charity drive from Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine went) Johnny joined the mission after Laine attended the NHLPA assistance club last season
https://www.childrenshospital.ab.ca/ways-to-help/donate/ - Alberta Children's Hospital for those in need and touched by the loss
https://kidsportcanada.ca/donate/ - Donate to the Youth Sporting Charity in Canada (Johnny Gaudreau donated for money each goal he scored to the Calgary chapter)
https://sniderhockey.org/support-snider/ - the Philadelphia Youth Hockey Charity (where Johnny and Matthew are from and started their youth hockey)
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