Redemption story: 5 takeaways from Columbus Blue Jackets' win over Calgary Flames

CALGARY, Alberta ― It was a night of vindications for the Blue Jackets on Thursday at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Their 5-2 victory over the Calgary Flames was filled with redemption stories, from Johnny Gaudreau leaving with a win after getting booed every time he touched the puck to goalie Daniil Tarasov winning for the first time since Jan. 4 to the Blue Jackets simply not crumbling again with a lead in the third period.

"We got the job done," Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent said. "We didn't give them much (after the first). In the second period, they had four shots, and in the third period we played the proper way. We played with confidence and supported each other. It was a good period for us."

Despite being outshot 18-9 in the first and outplayed for most of the game's first 25 minutes, the Jackets (15-23-9) capitalized on three fortunate bounces that led to goals and then made the Flames (21-22-5) pay for Jonathan Huberdeau's boarding major that injured Jack Roslovic late in the third.

Inside a hostile atmosphere juiced by Gaudreau's second game as a visiting player in Calgary, it was an impressive effort by the Blue Jackets, whose goals were scored by Yegor Chinakhov, Damon Severson, Alexandre Texier, Dmitri Voronkov and Adam Fantilli.

Tarasov made 29 saves for his third win of the season (3-4-2) and first since allowing 11 goals combined in his past two outings prior to an abrupt end of a two-week evaluation period as the team's top net minder.

"It was a huge effort for the whole team," Tarasov said. "We scored the third goal (by Texier) on the PK and we just did a pretty decent job in the (defensive) zone. There weren't a lot of shots and traffic, and guys played really good with the rebounds. It was a really good effort."

Here are five takeaways:

Jonathan Huberdeau boarding major injures Jack Roslovic, helps Columbus Blue Jackets clinch win over Calgary Flames

Like they’ve done most of the season, the Blue Jackets were fending off a late push from the Flames while protecting a 3-2 lead in the third when Huberdeau sent Roslovic headfirst into the boards near the Columbus bench.

It was initially called a major penalty for boarding, withstood a review that could have reduced it to a minor and led to the Blue Jackets scoring a huge power-play goal by Voronkov. Huberdeau was in the Flames’ locker room by that point after also being given a game misconduct. His failure to let up on the hit was dangerous and a poor choice by a player on a team chasing a one-goal lead.

The Blue Jackets responded immediately by starting a scrum, but Voronkov’s goal was the biggest blow. As for Roslovic, who left the game with blood streaking down his face, no medical update was given after the game. The Jackets also lost defenseman Adam Boqvist not long before Roslovic left after he was struck in the face by Cole Sillinger’s clearing attempt while seated on the bench. The force of the impact knocked Boqvist onto the floor.

Vincent said he saw a pool of blood and a tooth on the floor of the bench after Boqvist left but didn’t issue an update on his status.

Columbus Blue Jackets capitalize on fortunate bounces against Calgary Flames

The Flames dominated the first period and carried it into the start of the second, but they allowed the game’s first goal and trailed 3-2 starting the third.

The reason for that was partly attributable to luck that fell in favor of the Blue Jackets, who scored their first three goals with the help of fortunate bounces.

Chinakhov made it 1-0 just 2:50 into the game after his attempted dump-in hit an official and bounced back to him for a solo rush that caught Markstrom off guard and led to a backhand goal.

Severson scored with 8:12 left in the first to put the Jackets up 2-1 after Markstrom’s clearing attempt hit something and dropped the puck to the ice for a shot that beat the Flames’ goalie as he scrambled back to the net. Texier followed suit, giving the Blue Jackets their third lead, 3-2, with a shorthanded goal at 6:33 of the second that was scored after his initial shot bounced right back to him off the crossbar.

That goal was also the Jackets’ first short-handed tally of the season.

The Flames’ poor luck included a gruesome injury to forward A.J. Greer, who sustained a left foot or ankle injury when his skate slammed hard into the boards while he was attempting to hit Jake Bean. He was called for tripping and was unable to put weight on his left skate.

Columbus Blue Jackets rookies Adam Fantilli, Dmitri Voronkov combine for key goal against Calgary Flames

Only five NHL rookies have reached double figures in goals, and two of them are Blue Jackets.

Fantilli sealed the win with an empty-net tally for his 12^th goal in 47 games and Voronkov’s goal was his 11^th in 41 games. Fantilli has 12-15-27 to rank fourth among rookies in points, while Voronkov has 11-13-24 to rank sixth.

Voronkov’s goal in Calgary, which they combined to score during the power play that followed Huberdeau’s penalty, provided the Jackets a two-goal cushion with 6:17 left in the third. It was a huge goal for a team that has struggled closing teams out for wins.

Johnny Gaudreau playing more like 'Johnny Hockey' since slow start

Gaudreau, who was again booed by Flames fans every time he touched the puck, started this season looking nothing like the player he’d become when he left Calgary in July 2022.

Through the first 17 games, he had one goal, five assists and six points over nearly five weeks and was benched in the third period of a 2-1 loss Nov. 4 to the Washington Capitals.

He’s since looked more like “Johnny Hockey,” in the past 30 games, dancing, darting and dangling through traffic with elite skating and setting up teammates regularly with good scoring chances. He didn't get on the score sheet Thursday in Calgary, but Gaudreau has contributed six goals, 17 assists and 23 points since his opening slump. He's now intent on continuing that upward progression.

“I’m definitely playing better than at the start of the year,” Gaudreau said. “I don’t really know what was going on there. It was a rough start to the season, and I could’ve been a lot better. I think a lot of players go through that.”

Not all players have upset the apple cart in the NHL quite the same way Gaudreau did in July 2022 by signing with the Blue Jackets. It was a move that took many by surprise, including most people in Columbus.

He’s been roundly criticized since, but it’s still the second year of his seven-year, $68 million contract and Gaudreau still hopes to be a big reason the Blue Jackets turn things around.

“A lot of players go through slumps, and you’ve got to find a way to just quickly adapt and be the player you know you’re capable of being,” he said. “It took me a little bit longer than I would’ve liked, but I feel like I’m back to where I want to be. There’s still another level. I definitely can play a lot better, but that rough start was tough to go through and hopefully I won’t have to go through one of those again.”

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski enjoys return from ankle injury

Zach Werenski is fed up with injuries, missing games and having to shake off rust coming back from long stretches without playing.

The defenseman’s latest health issue was a high-ankle sprain that happened Dec. 27 in New Jersey and kept him out of the lineup for more than four weeks. His return to action Thursday in Calgary was on the fast side for that type of injury, but he went into his rehab process with the goal of pushing things along.

“It’s been unfortunate for me, obviously,” Werenski said. “It’s part of the game, so I try not to get too frustrated by it. It’s out of my control. It’s not like it’s a groin or a hip flexor or pulled muscles. I’m doing everything I can to prevent injuries. The ones I’m getting are just freak ones. It sucks, but it’s just my luck, I guess. I’ve just got to deal with it and keep moving forward.”

Other injuries that have sidelined Werenski during his eight-year NHL career include major injuries to both shoulders, a fractured clavicle, a facial injury caused by a puck and a thigh contusion that kept him out two games in October after Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway kneed him in the thigh in the season-opener.

His goals for the remainder of this season are simple. Stay healthy and finish strong. The first of those goals might be the most challenging. High-ankle sprains tend to be nagging issues that stick with athletes until they get extended time away from their sport to let them fully heal.

“There’s nothing you can do for them,” Werenski said. “You’ve just got to wait, let it heal, and, on the ice, it’s going to suck because you’re going to tweak it and whatnot. I’ve actually been pretty good so far. It’s been pretty smooth sailing. The next test is playing games, but I’m ready for it. I’ve already missed too much hockey.”

bhedger@dispatch.com

@BrianHedger

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets douse Flames in Gaudreau's second return to Calgary