- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 442,151
- Reaction score
- 44
They won’t get a chance to keep it going in the postseason, but the Blue Jackets stormed into the offseason April 17 at Nationwide Arena like a playoff team.
Despite dealing with the disappointment of the Montreal Canadiens eliminating them on April 16, the Blue Jackets finished their season with a 6-1 blowout of the New York Islanders. Afterward, they remained on the ice to salute an announced sellout crowd of 18,874 that loudly returned the gesture.
Backed again with a stellar performance in net from rookie goalie Jet Greaves (36 saves), the Blue Jackets (40-33-9) finished the season with 89 points – two behind Montreal for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Zach Werenski, Cole Sillinger, Dante Fabbro, Dmitri Voronkov, Sean Kuraly scored goals for the Jackets, who busted the game open with five goals in the second period. Greaves nearly pitched a third straight shutout, extended his streak of now allowing a goal to 173:38 before Hudson Fasching ended it with 5:12 left to play.
The streak began with a goal by Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, who scored 1:10 into the Blue Jackets’ 4-1 victory Sunday in Washington. Columbus still had playoff life at that point and extended it again with a 3-0 victory Tuesday in Philadelphia.
The dream ended with the Canadiens’ victory Wednesday over the Carolina Hurricanes – who rested seven lineup regulars – but the Blue Jackets made sure they didn’t end a remarkable upstart season as underdogs with a loss.
After a first period without a goal either way, the Blue Jackets blew the door down against the Isles with five unanswered goals in the second.
Sillinger got it started with his 11th goal of the season for a 1-0 lead just 2:21 into the period and his tally was followed by goals from Fabbro at 7:43, Voronkov at 10:09, Kuraly at 15:14 and Werenski with 2:33 left to essentially put the game out of reach.
Werenski’s goal, which pushed his franchise record for goals by a defenseman in a season, capped a beautiful pass from Sean Monahan off an off-man rush.
Between all those goals, Greaves continued his outstanding play in net to keep New York from scoring. The Jackets were outshot 25-17 in the first two periods and Greaves stopped all 25 to continue a shutout streak that began after Alex Ovechkin scored his 896th career goal 1:10 into a 4-1 Columbus victory Sunday.
The streak ended late in the third, courtesy of Fasching's goal, but Fantilli got it back by scoring the Jackets' final goal of the season for his 31st goal of the season. It was also the Blue Jackets' franchise record 16th game scoring at least six goals.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at [email protected] and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets blow out New York Islanders to close out season
Continue reading...
Despite dealing with the disappointment of the Montreal Canadiens eliminating them on April 16, the Blue Jackets finished their season with a 6-1 blowout of the New York Islanders. Afterward, they remained on the ice to salute an announced sellout crowd of 18,874 that loudly returned the gesture.
Backed again with a stellar performance in net from rookie goalie Jet Greaves (36 saves), the Blue Jackets (40-33-9) finished the season with 89 points – two behind Montreal for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Zach Werenski, Cole Sillinger, Dante Fabbro, Dmitri Voronkov, Sean Kuraly scored goals for the Jackets, who busted the game open with five goals in the second period. Greaves nearly pitched a third straight shutout, extended his streak of now allowing a goal to 173:38 before Hudson Fasching ended it with 5:12 left to play.
The streak began with a goal by Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, who scored 1:10 into the Blue Jackets’ 4-1 victory Sunday in Washington. Columbus still had playoff life at that point and extended it again with a 3-0 victory Tuesday in Philadelphia.
The dream ended with the Canadiens’ victory Wednesday over the Carolina Hurricanes – who rested seven lineup regulars – but the Blue Jackets made sure they didn’t end a remarkable upstart season as underdogs with a loss.
You must be registered for see images attach
After a first period without a goal either way, the Blue Jackets blew the door down against the Isles with five unanswered goals in the second.
Sillinger got it started with his 11th goal of the season for a 1-0 lead just 2:21 into the period and his tally was followed by goals from Fabbro at 7:43, Voronkov at 10:09, Kuraly at 15:14 and Werenski with 2:33 left to essentially put the game out of reach.
You must be registered for see images attach
Werenski’s goal, which pushed his franchise record for goals by a defenseman in a season, capped a beautiful pass from Sean Monahan off an off-man rush.
Between all those goals, Greaves continued his outstanding play in net to keep New York from scoring. The Jackets were outshot 25-17 in the first two periods and Greaves stopped all 25 to continue a shutout streak that began after Alex Ovechkin scored his 896th career goal 1:10 into a 4-1 Columbus victory Sunday.
The streak ended late in the third, courtesy of Fasching's goal, but Fantilli got it back by scoring the Jackets' final goal of the season for his 31st goal of the season. It was also the Blue Jackets' franchise record 16th game scoring at least six goals.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at [email protected] and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
Get more on the Columbus Blue Jackets with our Cannon Fodder podcast
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets blow out New York Islanders to close out season
Continue reading...
