After a tough week of practice, the Blue Jackets unfurled their best performance of the season Friday night at Nationwide Arena.
After being shut out by the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, the Jackets responded with an inspired effort in a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames.
“I want (my team) to feel good,” coach Pascal Vincent said. “I know those guys, right? I know they mean well. I know they want to do well, and sometimes you push your team. But you push your team in a way you know they will respond because you know those players. They weren’t happy with themselves the last game (against Detroit) … and tonight they responded well.”
Sean Kuraly and Justin Danforth scored goals, building a 2-0 lead in the third before Zach Werenski sealed it for Columbus with 2:21 left with an empty-net goal from his own zone.
Spencer Martin, starting in place of Elvis Merzlikins (illness), made 36 saves for the goaltending win. Elias Lindholm scored shorthanded in the third for the Flames (2-2-1), who split a back-to-back set they started with a win Thursday in Buffalo.
Jacob Markstrom started for Calgary and made 26 saves.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Calgary Flames: turning point
The Blue Jackets played their best game, but struggled to beat Markstrom.
They finally got a 1-0 lead on Kuraly’s goal at 6:29 of the second, which was scored with a wrist shot that capped a 2-on-1 created by Justin Danforth’s area pass to the neutral zone. It was the first time in four games the Blue Jackets scored first.
“Tonight, I guess I hadn’t gotten on the (scoresheet) yet,” Kuraly said. “I don’t even know if there was a pass there. I mean, I don’t think so, but before … the first ones, you’ve got to get him with quantity at the net and for me it’s not always pretty. That one works out as a nice one, but just get them at the net. That’s all I’m thinking.”
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Calgary Flames: play of the game
Blue Jackets rookie Adam Fantilli was in position to score his first NHL goal during a 3-on-1 rush in the second period.
Patrik Laine passed up a shot to give him a perfect feed, Fantilli put a one-timer on target and the party ended abruptly. Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom made a lunging glove save to prevent the Blue Jackets from extending a 1-0 lead while keeping Fantilli off the scoresheet.
Columbus Dispatch three stars: Blue Jackets vs Calgary Flames
First star
Justin Danforth, Blue Jackets, right wing
Danforth finished with a goal and assist in the win, bringing his season totals to 2-1-3 in four games.
Second star
Spencer Martin, Blue Jackets, goalie
Martin found out late afternoon he was starting instead of Merzlikins and proceeded to have another impressive outing. Martin made 36 saves for his first win since Dec. 27, 2022 against the San Jose Sharks.
Third star
Sean Kuraly, Blue Jackets, center
Kuraly scored the game’s first goal, put two shots on goal, delivered two hits and won eight of 11 faceoffs (73%) while centering the Jackets’ top checking line.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Calgary Flames: notes
— Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson delivered a high hit to Laine’s head with seconds left to play in the game, drawing a five-minute major for elbowing, a game misconduct and the wrath of Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson. Andersson’s hit, in which he jumped into Laine, set off a fracas at the final horn. The teams only play Jan. 25 in Calgary as their only other game this season.
“I see a hit to the head and lifting his feet,” Vincent said. “I saw the replay. That’s illegal in my book, so we’ll let the NHL deal with it.”
— Zach Werenski (thigh contusion) returned from injured reserve after practicing without restriction two consecutive days leading up the game Friday against Calgary. He missed two games on IR after Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway kneed him in the right thigh during an illegal hit in the Jackets’ season-opener. Hathaway, whose hit was described as “dirty” by Werenski and other Blue Jackets, received a minor penalty for kneeing and was fined $5,000 by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
― Werenski’s return forced the Blue Jackets to make another tough decision to open a roster spot for him. Rather than re-assigning rookie defenseman David Jiricek to AHL Cleveland, which wouldn’t have required waivers, the Jackets instead took the risk of losing speedy forward Liam Foudy to waivers. Foudy, 23, was non-rostered Friday and placed on waivers with the intention of assigning him to the Cleveland Monsters. Selected 18th overall in 2018, Foudy has the pedigree, speed and salary to make him an enticing waiver claim.
― The Blue Jackets also activated rookie forward Jordan Dumais on Friday and loaned him back to the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Dumais, 19, was non-rostered after training camp and placed on IR with an undisclosed upper-body injury that occurred in training camp. After adding quickness over the summer, Dumais is expected to resume his 140-point tear through the QMJHL from last season.
— Kuraly’s goal was his first of the season and rewarded the fourth line for a high-skill play. It was the 50th goal of the veteran center’s career in his 422 NHL game.
— Cole Sillinger got into a fight with Calgary’s Nazem Kadri in the first period and handled his own against a veteran who’s been in his share of scraps. Sillinger appeared to notch his first NHL fight during his rookie season, but that one was ruled a roughing minor. He picked up his first fighting major this time, along with an interference penalty for sparking the fight by dumping Kadri.
Columbus Blue Jackets lineup vs Calgary Flames
Forwards
Johnny Gaudreau – Boone Jenner – Kirill Marchenko
Adam Fantilli – Patrik Laine – Alexandre Texier
Kent Johnson – Cole Sillinger – Emil Bemstrom
Jack Roslovic – Sean Kuraly – Justin Danforth
Defensemen
Zach Werenski – Damon Severson
Jake Bean – Erik Gudbranson
Ivan Provorov – David Jiricek
Goalies
Elvis Merzlikins
Scott Martin
Scratched: Adam Boqvist, Andrew Peeke, Mathieu Olivier
Non-roster/waivers: Liam Foudy
bhedger@dispatch.com
@BrianHedger
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets rebound with impressive win over Calgary Flames
