Columbus Blue Jackets breakdown: Fourth line, Martin lead the way past Calgary Flames
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 Markstrom was on point all game.
They finally got a 1-0 lead on Kuraly’s goal at 6:29 of the second, which was scored with a hard wrist shot off a 2-on-1 rush created by Justin Danforth’s quick pass to the neutral zone. It was the first time in four games the Blue Jackets scored first.
"I don't even know if there was a pass there (on the 2-on-1)," Kuraly said. "I mean, I don't think so, but ... 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
Adam Fantilli was in position to score his first NHL goal during a 3-on-1 rush in the second. Patrik Laine passed up a shot of his own to give the standout rookie a perfect feed, Fantilli used it to put a one-timer on target and, abruptly, the party ended. Markstrom made a fantastic lunging glove save to prevent the Blue Jackets from extending their 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, assist and two points for his first two-point game in the NHL. He has a scoring line of 2-1-3 in four games.
Second star
Spencer Martin, Blue Jackets, goalie
Martin found out late afternoon Friday that he'd be starting instead of Merzlikins. He was impressive again in a pseudo relief role. Martin made 36 saves for his first win since Dec. 27, 2022 against the San Jose Sharks, when he played for the Vancouver Canucks.
Third star
Sean Kuraly, Blue Jackets, center
Kuraly, centering the Jackets' best checking line, scored the game's first goal, put two shots on goal, delivered two hits and won 8 of 11 draws (73%).
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Calgary Flames: notes
— Calgary's Rasmus Andersson delivered a flying elbow to Laine's head with seconds left 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 launched himself into Laine and left his feet, set off a fracas at the final horn. The teams next play Jan. 25 in Calgary as their only other meeting this season. Andersson is likely to receive supplemental discipline for the hit from the NHL's department of player safety.
"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. He missed two games on IR after Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway kneed him in the right thigh during an illegal hit in the 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 league.
― Werenski’s return forced the Blue Jackets to make another tough decision to open a roster spot. Rather than re-assigning rookie defenseman David Jiricek to the AHL, which could've been done without waivers, the Jackets took the risk of losing speedy forward Liam Foudy. He was non-rostered Friday and placed on waivers with the intention of assignment to the Cleveland Monsters if unclaimed by 2 p.m. Saturday. Foudy, 23, was selected 18th overall in 2018. He has the prospect pedigree, speed, age and salary to make him an intriguing waiver claim.
― The Blue Jackets activated rookie forward Jordan Dumais on Friday and loaned him back to the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. It didn't take him long to pick right back up where he left off from a 140-point effort last season. Dumais, 19, had a hat trick and two assists for a five-point game in his first game back with Halifax. Dumais, selected in the third round of the 2022 draft, was non-rostered after training camp and placed on IR with an undisclosed upper-body issue. After adding quickness in the summer, Dumais impressed at the Traverse City NHL Prospects Camp and continued to open eyes during his second NHL camp.
— Kuraly’s goal was his first of the season and it 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 and handled his own against a veteran who’s more experienced in scraps. Sillinger appeared to notch his first NHL fight as rookie in 2021-22, but it was ruled a roughing minor. This was his first NHL fighting major. Sillinger also received an interference penalty for upending Kadri prior to the fight.
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
Spencer Martin
Elvis Merzlikins
Scratched: Adam Boqvist, Andrew Peeke, Mathieu Olivier
Non-roster/waivers: Liam Foudy
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets rebound with impressive win over Calgary Flames
