CBJ Standouts
Quick Recap
The first period was a relatively sleepy 20 minutes, as Vancouver finished the period with a 6-3 edge in shots on goal. There wasn't much to report, with the best scoring chance coming when Jake Virtanen threw a long shot at Merzlikins that went over his glove and hit the crossbar before bounding away.
There was more going on in the second right from the start, as the Blue Jackets got an early 2-on-1 in the frame but Vancouver goalie Thatcher Demko made the save on Pierre-Luc Dubois with the glove. The Canucks also had a great chance the other way, as Tyler Toffoli came with speed, took a pass from Elias Pettersson and let go a shot that Merzlikins got a piece of only to see the puck roll over his body and into the crease. With help from Ryan Murray, Merzlikins dove backward and cleared the puck.
Columbus finally got the game's opening goal at the 7:18 mark of the period. Off a faceoff, Dubois spun off a Canucks player behind the net, came out the other side and spotted Bemstrom alone in front of the crease, and Bemstrom drove his pass over the blocker of Demko to make it 1-0.
Vancouver pushed for the equalizer as the second went on -- Merzlikins made a big power-play stop on a Bo Horvat one-timer, while Toffoli hit the post on the rush -- but it was Columbus who found the next goal. David Savard skated the puck from the right boards all the way behind the net and out the left side, where he fed Robinson for a one-timer that beat Demko over the glove to make it 2-0 with 27.9 seconds left in the period.
Columbus rode that momentum in the early moments of the third period, nearly making it a 3-0 game. The Blue Jackets had five shots on goal in the first minute of the period, then moments later Dubois stole a puck and fed Bemstrom across the royal road, but Demko fought off his one-timer and the follow-up effort.
The Canucks hit the iron for a third time after that, as it was Toffoli again who tipped a shot off the bar and into the netting. Vancouver then got its goal at 8:19, making it a 2-1 game. A failed pass by the Blue Jackets left the zone and Elias Pettersson, coming out of the penalty box, outraced Murray to it then made a nifty finish past Merzlikins with one hand while being hauled down for his 27th goal of the season.
That was all for Vancouver, which pushed for the equalizer but never got it as the Blue Jackets completed the win.
Notable
Zach Werenski played in his 300th career game. … Bemstrom is seventh among NHL rookies in goals. … Alexander Wennberg had the second assist on Bemstrom's goal, giving him helpers in two straight games and 201 career points. … Savard remains without a goal but has 11 assists this year. … Columbus scored six straight goals vs. Vancouver this year before Pettersson's goal. ... The Blue Jackets are a combined 12-4-2 on Western Canada trips since 2014-15.
Roster Report
Columbus made one change to the lineup, with Ryan Murray returning from injury. He took the place of Scott Harrington. Healthy scratches in Vancouver included forward Ryan MacInnis as well as defensemen Harrington and Gabriel Carlsson.
Up Next
The Blue Jackets return home to Nationwide Arena to take on Metro Division rival Pittsburgh on Thursday night.
