Alex Nylander off to historically fast start with Blue Jackets
Alex Nylander's eight goals are the most in Blue Jackets history for a player's first 11 games.
The 26-year-old winger scored twice in Saturday's 4-2 win over the San Jose Sharks, including an empty netter with 1:05 left.
It helps, of course, that he's playing on the top line with Boone Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau.
“Since I've played with them in Montreal (on Tuesday), I think we've had really good chemistry,” Nylander said. “We've been a lot in the (offensive) zone and building off it every game. They're two unbelievable players, so you've got to be ready whenever you're on the ice. They can find you wherever. It's a great opportunity. I'm just really happy I can be on that line.”
Gaudreau has struggled to find onice chemistry with linemates at times. But he has clicked with Nylander.
“He sees the ice really well,” Gaudreau said. “He's very, very skilled, and he's got a great shot. When you have a player like that, you try to find the right players to put him with. I think we're doing a good job of playing well together and complementing each other. It's great to see him playing the way he's playing.”
Although Saturday marked just his 11th game with Columbus, Nylander ended the night just two goals shy of his previous season high of 10 set in 2019-20, when he played with the Chicago Blackhawks. He appeared in 65 games that season.
Nylander also had three assists and his plus-minus number stood at plussix.
The Blue Jackets traded forward Emil Bemstrom to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Nylander and a conditional sixthround draft pick on Feb. 22. Entering Sunday, Bemstrom had registered one goal and two assists since the deal.