The Blue Jackets recorded another win Thursday, with three goals against a struggling Dallas.
“It’s huge getting two in a row,” said Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. Columbus won 4-1 Tuesday, which was their first game allowing fans back at Nationwide Arena. “Now we just have to keep doing that.”
It was both teams, however, struggling in the first period. There were no goals despite a power play for each team.
The first penalty of the game was called on the Blue Jackets’ Cam Atkinson for hooking, then the Stars’ Denis Gurianov was called for tripping against Nick Foligno. Dallas’ Joe Pavelski actually has the most power play goals in the NHL this season.
“I thought we started the period better than we ended it,” said Blue Jackets’ defenseman, Seth Jones. About halfway through the first period the Blue Jackets lead 5-0 in shots on goal, but the Stars caught up by the end of the period.
Jones is actually from Texas and said his mother and grandmother were in attendance at Thursday’s game in Dallas. “It sucks that I can’t see my mom right now,” he said. Per the COVID-19 agreement between the NHL and NHLPA for the 2021 season teams are required to stay in their hotels for away games.
For much of the second period no goal streak continued. With about eight minutes left in the period officials called a penalty on Jones for high-sticking against Joel Kiviranta.
Boone Jenner scores game’s first goal
It was the Blue Jackets’ Boone Jenner who scored the first goal of the game assisted by Foligno and David Savard. The goal was a wrist shot that went in five-hole.
“It’s good to chip in,” said Jenner, “I want to do that for us.” He mentioned the puck “luckily found its way in.”
This marks Jenner’s eighth goal this season, in 25 games. Last season Jenner scored 11 goals in over 70 games.
At the end of the second period, the two teams were close in shots on goal, 15-14, with the Blue Jackets leading by one.
Oliver Bjorkstrand opened the third period with an unassisted goal, about three minutes in. “I’m not sure how [the puck] got to me actually, but I’ll take that any day,” he said.
Not long after, it appeared as though Boone Jenner scored a second goal in the five hole. In actuality the puck bounced in off of Eric Robinson’s skate. Jenner and Gabriel Carlsson both recorded assists on this goal. This bumped the Blue Jackets up to a 3-0 lead.
Stars end two-game goal drought
That lead came to an end as Miro Heiskanen scored the Stars’ first goal after getting shut out two games in a row. Stars’ captain Jamie Benn assisted on this goal.
“I don’t look at stats,” said Korpisalo on goaltending against a goal-thirsty team. He says he just focuses on what he needs to do.
The Stars scored again not long after. Jason Roberston made a shot assisted by Esa Lindell and John Klingberg.
With only about three minutes left, the Blue Jackets received another power play that they did not score on. Officials called inference on Andrej Sekera, against Nick Foligno. The two players were in the neutral zone as Foligno tried to catch a high puck. Sekera ducked and Foligno fell down when the two players collided.
Despite the Stars’ scoring spree late in the third period, the Blue Jackets secured their eighth win in nine games against Dallas.
“We regrouped and made sure we came back to our hockey,” said Bjorkstrand when asked about how the team regained control after Dallas’ goals.
The Stars were missing key players Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov.
This was Max Domi’s 400th NHL game.
These teams will face each other again Saturday at 8:00 p.m. eastern time.
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