At Nationwide Arena on Friday, an impressive performance by goaltender Jet Greaves propelled the Columbus Blue Jackets to a commanding 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Greaves, making his second career start and first since April of the previous season, was a pivotal figure in the game, making a remarkable 41 saves, including 23 in the third period alone.
Greaves expressed his enjoyment of the game and praised his teammates for their solid performance, especially in effectively closing out the game in the third period. The Blue Jackets, coming off a back-to-back game and a 7-3 loss against the New York Islanders, showed remarkable resilience and teamwork.
Offensively, Yegor Chinakhov shone brightly with two goals and an assist, while Kirill Marchenko added a goal and an assist. Adam Fantilli also scored, contributing to the Blue Jackets’ (9-15-5) effort to snap a three-game losing streak. Dmitri Voronkov’s two assists were crucial in setting up scoring opportunities.
The game saw a worrying moment for the Blue Jackets when leading scorer Boone Jenner exited in the second period after being hit in the face with a puck. The extent of Jenner’s injury was not immediately clear post-game.
For the Blues (13-12-1), Robert Thomas scored twice, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the team from sliding to their second consecutive loss. Goalie Joel Hofer made 17 saves in the game. St. Louis defenseman Torey Krug acknowledged the challenges faced by the team, emphasizing the need to capitalize on opportunities.
The game’s opening saw Marchenko give Columbus a 1-0 lead early in the first period. Thomas then tied it for the Blues, but Fantilli quickly put Columbus back in the lead, reflecting on the team’s confidence and determination.
A significant issue for the Blues was their power play performance, ranked 31st in the NHL and failing to convert on three opportunities in the game. Thomas highlighted the need for the power play unit to capitalize on chances to change the course of the game.
Chinakhov’s two goals in the third period were instrumental in sealing the win for Columbus, with one coming off a power play. The Blues’ coach, Craig Berube, pointed out the mistakes that led to goals against his team and acknowledged the missed opportunities.
The game concluded with Alexandre Texier scoring into an empty net, cementing a 5-2 victory for the Blue Jackets. Notably, Marchenko set a franchise record by scoring his 30th NHL goal in the fewest games, surpassing Rick Nash’s previous record.
The Blue Jackets were without key players Patrik Laine, Erik Gudbranson, and goalie Elvis Merzlikins due to illnesses, but Greaves’ standout performance more than compensated, marking a memorable night for the young goaltender and his team.
