COLUMBUS, Ohio — Boone Jenner scored a natural hat trick and Columbus gave Pascal Vincent his first coaching victory by beating the New York Rangers 5-3 Saturday night for the Blue Jackets’ first win this season.
In addition to Columbus’ opening 4-2 loss at home to Philadelphia on Thursday night, rookies David Jiricek and Justin Danforth managed to score. Johnny Gaudreau and Ivan Provorov also contributed to the team’s efforts with two assists each.
After the second period, Elvis Merzlikins had to exit the game due to flu-like symptoms, having blocked 24 shots. Spencer Martin made his Columbus debut by stepping in for the final 20 minutes, successfully defending against 15 shots.
Vincent expressed, “During the first two periods, we effectively controlled the game. Although things got a bit tense in the third period, it’s all part of the learning experience. I was impressed with how we regained our momentum and secured the victory after a previous loss.”
The Rangers saw contributions from Erik Gustafsson, who netted a goal and provided an assist, while Will Cuylle and Chris Kreider also found the back of the net. Adam Fox showcased his playmaking skills with two assists, and Igor Shesterkin was solid in goal, making 16 saves.
From the start, the Rangers appeared prepared to assert their dominance. Merely 50 seconds into the game, Gustafsson’s centering pass inadvertently deflected off a Blue Jackets player’s skate amidst a chaotic scramble and effortlessly glided past Merzlikins on his glove side.
At 9:26, Columbus equalized the score as Jenner skillfully scored from Gaudreau’s pass in the slot. Later in the opening period, with only 2:15 remaining, Jenner successfully redirected Gaudreau’s shot, granting the Blue Jackets their first power-play goal of the season and securing them the lead.
In addition, three close attempts were made in the first period. At 9:14 and 14:36, the Rangers had two goals disallowed due to offsides, while Patrik Laine’s shot at 7:24 almost crossed the goal line before being saved by Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba.
Fox described the first period as strange, noting that it had become excessively fast-paced and chaotic. While they had numerous opportunities to score, they were also conceding a significant number of scoring chances to the opposing team. Consequently, they lost the strong defensive cohesion they had established and found themselves in a considerable disadvantage.
At the 7:30 mark of the second period, Jenner’s incredible deflection of Jake Bean’s shot sent the hats flying from the stands, as the score jumped to 3-1.
Jenner expressed, “Admittedly, it’s a rare occurrence, so when it does happen, make sure to fully embrace the moment. It’s quite remarkable, and the fans’ cheers make it truly special. I struggle to put it into words, but it’s an incredibly satisfying sensation.”
Just over a minute later, Jiricek scored a remarkable goal from the right circle, extending Columbus’ lead to 4-1. This marked his first NHL goal since he was chosen as the sixth overall pick by Columbus in the 2022 draft.
Jiricek expressed, “During the initial match, I felt a bit anxious. It was challenging since it marked my first start with the Blue Jackets this year. However, I managed the pressure effectively and am determined to maintain this momentum.”
Cuylle’s first NHL goal at 10:53 of the third period helped the Rangers reduce the lead by half, yet Danforth’s goal with 4:06 left restored the three-goal advantage.
The scoring was sealed by Krieder’s goal on a power-play with only 36 seconds remaining.
HATS OFF
Jenner achieved his second career hat trick, with his first one occurring on March 12, 2019, against Boston.
INJURY UPDATE
Today, Jiricek became a part of the Blue Jackets lineup as Zach Werenski was placed on injured reserve due to a quadriceps contusion he sustained during Thursday’s game against the Flyers. Additionally, Ryan Lindgren, a defenseman for the Rangers, was unable to play in the game due to an upper-body injury he suffered during their victorious match against Buffalo on Thursday. In his absence, Zac Jones made his first appearance of the season.
BACK IN BLUE
Ivan Proporov made his first assist since joining Columbus this summer from the Philadelphia Flyers, helping Jenner score his second goal in the first period.
ELVIS HAS LEFT THE GAME
Vincent explained that Merzlikins’ condition had changed since the morning before the game. Vincent had not received any updates from the medical staff prior to the game. It is possible that Merzlikins began experiencing discomfort, leading to his inability to continue playing after the second period.
WELCOME ‘HOME’?
During the 2023 trade deadline, Jonathan Quick, the backup goalie for the Rangers, received a “welcome back” video from the Blue Jackets, despite only joining the team a few hours earlier. Quick’s face radiated a smile from the Rangers’ bench.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Host Arizona on Monday night in their home opener.
Blue Jackets: Host Detroit on Monday night.
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