Well-traveled Vanek starting to feel at home
Thomas Vanek has become an expert at acclimating. Before the Blue Jackets acquired him at the trade deadline last month, he had already worn the jerseys of seven NHL teams these past five seasons.
So it shouldn’t be surprising that the 34-year-old wing, who guessed it would take him four to five games to fit in with his new team, scored two goals Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche in his fifth game for the Jackets.
“For me, it was big, because anytime you join a team you want to find chemistry,” said Vanek, who notched an assist on Seth Jones’ second goal Friday against the Detroit Red Wings. “I took a few games, which I expected, but I thought the last two games were good, and hopefully we can build off that.”
Vanek, whose two goals Thursday made him the Jackets’ secondleading goal scorer this season with 19, was brought in to boost the team’s goal production and bolster a power play that is slumping again.
“It’s always nice to get that first one out of the way,” Vanek said. “Hopefully, I can keep chipping in every once in a while and help out.”
Coach John Tortorella said Vanek’s knack for being around the net is one of his strengths. Vanek noted he has always enjoyed occupying that area, “giving a few cross-checks and taking a few.”
Jones pots a pair
Jones’ two secondperiod goals gave him five points (three goals, two assists) in the past two games, 46 points for the season (third most by a defenseman in franchise history) and his second career two-goal game. He had two against the Rangers on Jan. 31 of last season.
It also gave Jones a career-high 13 goals for the season, topping his franchise-record-tying total for a defenseman last season. Jones’ defensive partner, Zach Werenski, established the new mark of 14 on Thursday.
With Jones’ goals Friday, defensemen have accounted for six of the Blue Jackets’ past 12 goals.
Bread on a roll
Artemi Panarin’s assist on Jones’ first goal gave him 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in the past 11 games and at least one point in 10 of those games.
Atkinson had the secondary assist, and now has a point in six of the past eight games and 10 of the past 15.
Bobrovsky returns
Sergei Bobrovsky was back in goal against the Red Wings. Joonas Korpisalo started the previous two games as Bobrovsky recovered from the flu. Bobrovsky came into the game 10-4-1 all-time against the Wings with two shutouts, a 1.85 goalsagainst average and .941 save percentage.