Columbus Blue Jackets breakdown: big third nets comeback over Tampa Bay Lightning
Sitting in their locker room Thursday night, the Blue Jackets needed to refocus during the second intermission of a game slipping away against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Down a goal, coach Pascal Vincent walked into the room to deliver a speech about believing in themselves before he ran through tactical changes for the third period. It was exactly what the Blue Jackets needed to hear at that point, even though Vincent downplayed his words in the aftermath of an impressive 4-2 victory to end a four-game winless skid.
“Like every game, we make the adjustments that we want to make, and we just talked about believing in ourselves,” Vincent said. “But that speech had nothing to do (with it). It’s all the players. They came back in the third and they did the job. It’s all on them.”
Specifically, the Blue Jackets’ core veterans led the way in a three-goal third to upend the Lightning (4-3-3) on goals by captain Boone Jenner, defenseman Erik Gudbranson and an empty-netter by Johnny Gaudreau for his first of the year to seal it.
Jenner’s goal tied it 2-2 at 2:53 of the third, by tipping a shot by Zach Werenski for his fifth goal of the season. Gudbranson’s first goal of the season followed at 9:24 for his fifth career winner, which was also his first goal in 58 games dating to last season.
“(Gudbranson) does so much for us on the back end that you see … the dirty work, blocking shots, and he was doing it again tonight,” Jenner said. “It was a heavy shot, so great to see him get that one. He’s been playing great for us. It’s a big goal at a big time and I’m pumped for him.”
Kirill Marchenko scored his first goal to open the scoring in the first for the Blue Jackets (4-4-2), who then fell behind 2-1 in the second on back-to-back Lightning goals by Steven Stamkos and Conor Sheary. Backup goalie Matt Tomkins started for Tampa Bay and took the loss. Elvis Merzlikins made 27 saves for the Blue Jackets to earn the goaltending win.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning: turning point
After a rough second period, the Blue Jackets needed somebody to breathe life into their offense in the third. Jenner answered the bell by tipping a shot by Werenski past Tomkins at 6:41 to tie it 2-2 and bring the crowd of 14,276 to its feet. Less than three minutes later, Gudbranson fully shifted momentum by putting Columbus up 3-2 on his first goal of the season.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning: play of the game
The Blue Jackets netted the game’s first goal with a pretty play that involved some impressive individual efforts. Defenseman Erik Gudbranson had the first by keeping the puck in the offensive zone inside the blue line at the right point. He worked the puck to Cole Sillinger along the half wall for a feed to Dmitri Voronkov in the slot, and the Russian rookie wheeled for a quick pass to Marchenko for the goal to cap a pretty tic, tac, toe tally.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning: Dispatch 3 stars
First star
Boone Jenner, Blue Jacket, center
Finished with a goal, assist and two points while winning 13 of 27 draws and scoring a huge tying goal in the third.
Second star
Erik Gudbranson, Blue Jackets, defenseman
Gudbranson scored the winning goal for his first marker of the season to break a 58-game goal drought. He also finished with a game-high +3 rating.
Third star
Elvis Merzlikins, Blue Jackets, goalie
Merzlikins made 27 stops, including seven on power plays against one of the NHL's top teams with a man-advantage.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning: notes
― Marchenko returned to the Blue Jackets’ lineup after sitting the previous two games as a healthy scratch. His goal was his first of the season and his third career goal in as many games against the Lightning. Marchenko has scored one goal against Tampa in all three matchups.
— Kent Johnson got a promotion to the second line to start the game, skating with rookie center Adam Fantilli and right wing Emil Bemstrom. They had a tough night through the first two periods, taking minus ratings points on back-to-back Lighting goals in the second, and it led to Johnson getting just two shifts in the third. Fantilli and Bemstrom were paired with Alexandre Texier in the third and Fantilli assisted on Gudbranson's winner.
— After a strong first period, the Blue Jackets were dominated in the second for the second straight game. Tampa Bay built a 29-13 edge in shot attempts in that period and outshot Columbus 12-6 with the aid of three power plays. That set the stage for a big Columbus pushback in the the third, which is also becoming a trend for the Blue Jackets.
― Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen attended the Cleveland Monsters’ game Wednesday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, where he saw forward Yegor Chinakhov’s two-goal effort firsthand. Chinakhov recently returned to action after a back strain kept him out for the entire preseason and first week-plus of the season.
Columbus Blue Jackets lineup vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Forwards
Johnny Gaudreau – Boone Jenner – Jack Roslovic
Kent Johnson – Adam Fantilli – Emil Bemstrom
Dmitri Voronkov – Cole Sillinger – Kirill Marchenko
Alexandre Texier – Sean Kuraly – Justin Danforth
Defensemen
Zach Werenski – Damon Severson
Jake Bean – Erik Gudbranson
Goalies
Elvis Merzlikins
Scratched: F Mathieu Olivier, D Andrew Peeke, D Adam Boqvist
Injured: C Patrik Laine (upper body)
Injured/non-roster: G Daniil Tarasov (knee)
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets score three in the third to down Lightning
