Blue Jackets rebound from ugly loss to beat Calgary
Patrik Laine’s early goal in Friday’s 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames set a tone for the Blue Jackets in more ways than one.
It primarily helped the team shake off the bad memories from Wednesday’s five-goal loss to Buffalo, but it also was the first sign that Laine, Jack Roslovic and Yegor Chinakhov could be in for a good night as a line.
“We know how last game went, and especially the first period,” Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. “That 16-minute stretch pretty much sunk us. To get one early, I think it helped them, helped settle in. That was a solid game.”
Larsen first combined Laine, Roslovic and Chinakhov midway through Wednesday’s game, and Laine went on to score two goals. The trio stayed together Friday and saw the heaviest usage of any of the Blue Jackets’ lines — per Natural Stat Trick, they played 10:01 together at five-on-five.
In those minutes, they outshot the Flames 6-3 and generated three high danger scoring chances while allowing none. Laine’s goal was their only contribution on the score sheet, but they created several two-on-one rushes and were threatening throughout the night.
“Felt pretty good last game,” Laine said. “Obviously, scored a couple goals last game even though it didn’t really matter. Could’ve had four or five tonight, easily. I feel really happy with the way the offense was going for us. All four lines played good offense and defense.”
Larsen has toyed with separating Laine and Johnny Gaudreau on several occasions this season, but Friday was the first time they’ve played on separate lines for the entire game.
“If we can balance out scoring, more than loading up one line, it really helps us,” Larsen said. “It’s not a punishment. It’s going, ‘OK, can we balance this out a bit?’ ... You see those three guys skating, they all can move really well. You kind of cross your fingers that maybe you’ve got something there. We’ll see. Things change, but I really like what that line brought us tonight.”
● Merzlikins replaces Korpisalo again: On Wednesday, Joonas Korpisalo was lifted after allowing three goals on the first five shots he faced. His performance wasn’t an issue Friday, as he stopped all 12 shots he saw in the first
Kings at Blue Jackets
When: 6 p.m. Sunday
Radio: 97.1 FM
period, but Elvis Merzlikins still entered the game to begin the second period.
Larsen said Korpisalo was feeling lower body discomfort at the first intermission, which led to the decision to pull him from the game. That meant Merzlikins had about five minutes’ notice before he entered the game, an uncomfortable setting for a goaltender.
“It’s not what you want because you don’t feel good,” Merzlikins said. “Especially in warmups, Korpi takes always everything, so I had no shots. It’s hard to get in. My team did a really good job. They helped me out tonight. They let me get in the game.”
The Blue Jackets held the Flames to just six shots in the second period, which helped Merzlikins settle in for the push that came in the third period. He allowed one goal on 14 shots in the final 20 minutes, and the goal came after the Flames pulled Jacob Markstrom for an extra attacker.
Calgary 0 0 1 - 1
Columbus 1 1 1 - 3
FIRST PERIOD: 1. Columbus, Laine 7 (Chinakhov, Roslovic), 1:02. Penalties - Olivier, CBJ (slashing), 3:09; Laine, CBJ (hooking), 11:49.
SECOND: 2. Columbus, Robinson 3, 2:52. Penalties - Hanifin, CGY (cross checking), 3:15; Zadorov, CGY (holding), 5:45; Roslovic, CBJ (slashing), 14:03.
THIRD: 3. Calgary, Stone 3 (Hanifin, Backlund), 17:26; 4. Columbus, Kuraly 7 (Olivier, Jenner), 19:36 (en). Penalties Sillinger, CBJ (charging), 1:53; Toffoli, CGY (hooking), 1:59; Tanev, CGY (tripping), 5:05; Weegar, CGY (tripping), 6:07; Weegar, CGY (slashing), 9:32; Weegar, CGY (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:32; Bjork, CBJ (tripping), 9:50; Olivier, CBJ (cross checking), 14:46.
Shots on goal: Calgary 12-6-15 - 33; Columbus 9-8-10 - 27. Power plays: Calgary 0 of 5; Columbus 0 of 7. Goalies: Calgary, Markstrom 8-6-2 (26 shots-24 saves); Columbus, Korpisalo 4-5-1 (12-12), Merzlikins 2-7-0 (21-20). A: 16,902. T: 2:32.