Columbus Blue Jackets Win A Crazy Game Against The Lightning After Being Down Three Goals In The First Period

Sean Monahan(7), Dmitri Voronkov(4), Kent Johnson(3-PPG, 4-SHG), Zach Werenski(5,6), Yegor Chinakhov(6) scored for Columbus, and Elvis Merzļikins stopped 24 of 30 Tampa Bay shots in a crazy win at home.

What started out looking like a Lightning blowout, turned into a wild night at Nationwide Arena.

The Lightning scored three early goals in the first to make it 3-0 before the CBJ would score and cut the lead to 3-1 with a Sean Monahan goal to make it 3-1 at the first break.

The Jackets would then outscore the Bolts 4-2 in the second period to make it a 5-5 tie at the end of two periods. The second period saw 6 goals and 35 shots on goal. There were 6 goals in the first 6:18 of the second period.

The third period was a little more subdued. The Jackets scored 10:39 into the third to make it 6-5, but then the Lightning would tie it 44 seconds later. Regulation would end with the score tied at six a piece.

Zach Werenski would send Tampa home with a loss when he scored the OT winner 1:26 into the extra period to make it 7-6. It was a game that was both fun to watch, and nerve-wracking at the same time.

With his career-high five points on the night, and his franchise-best 5 points in a game by a defenseman, he was the CBJ "Donkey of the Day!"

Dean Evason said about Zach Werenski: “I’ve seen a lot of hockey players. I don’t think I’ve seen one like him. Honestly. He’s amazing.” 

Final Stats

Player Stats

• Damon Severson tallied an assist, which was his 300th career point.

• Sean Monahan scored his 7th goal of the season and got his 10th, 11th, and 12th assists.

• Dmitri Voronkov scored his 4th goal and recorded his 2nd assist of the season.

• Kent Johnson scored his 3rd goal and 4th goal of the season.

• Zach Werenski scored his 4th and 5th goals and recorded his 11th, 12th, and 13th assists. He had 8 shots and the game-winning goal. He's now 2nd among defensemen in goals and points.

• Kirill Marchenko tallied his 11th assist.

• Yegor Chinakhov scored his 6th goal of the season.

• Cole Sillinger got his 8th and 9th assists.

• Mathieu Olivier recorded his 3rd assist and 9th point.

• Ivan Provorov recorded his 5th assist.

• Elvis Merzļikins stopped 24 of 30 Tampa shots.

Team Stats

• The Jackets PP went 1/1

• The Blue Jackets PK allowed goals on both of Tampa's man advantages.

• The team has won two straight, and five of their last six at home.

What's Next - The Blue Jackets are back home on Saturday to play the red-hot Carolina Hurricanes.

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