Boone Jenner (6), Damon Severson (3), Denton Matejczuk (7), and Kirill Marchenko (14) led the offensive charge while Jett Greaves delivered a standout performance with 27 saves, helping the Columbus Blue Jackets secure a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Monday night.
The day began with travel delays due to weather and airplane issues, pushing their arrival in Ottawa to 3:40 p.m. Despite the late arrival, the team quickly got ready and warmed up for the game.
Shortly after warm-ups, it was announced that forward Sean Monaghan would miss the game due to “maintenance,” with Zach Aston-Reese stepping in as his replacement.
The game was far from typical for the Blue Jackets.
In the first period, the initial five minutes were quiet with limited shots or action until Cole Schillinger sparked momentum by drawing a tripping penalty against Tim Stuetzle, giving the Senators their first power play. However, the Blue Jackets’ goalie Greaves successfully made two saves. Columbus got a power play when Fabian Zetterlund elbowed Dante Fabbro in the face, resulting in a penalty. Despite this, the Senators were unable to convert and the Blue Jackets’ goalie Levi Melilainen made five crucial saves to keep the score tied. Shortly after the penalty ended, the Blue Jackets capitalized on a Senators turnover, with Boone Jenner scoring off a no-look pass from Schillinger. There was also a brief altercation between Mathieu Olivier and Curtis McDiarmid. Dylan Cozens incurred a trip penalty, giving the Blue Jackets a second power play, but the period ended with Columbus leading 1-0.
Early in the second, Damon Severson extended the lead to 2-0 with a stunning goal just 1:21 in. The Senators earned a power play after Dante Fabbro was penalized for holding, but the Blue Jackets maintained their lead. Jake Sanderson of the Senators cut the lead to 2-1 at 8:16 after capitalizing on a turnover. Subsequent penalties and power plays occurred, with both teams failing to score further in the period, ending it with the Blue Jackets holding a 2-1 advantage.
In the third period, Denton Matejczuk scored early to give Columbus a 3-1 lead, and Severson added his second goal to cement their two-goal lead. Kirill Marchenko then sealed the victory with a beautiful odd-man rush goal, showcasing his rising prominence. The Blue Jackets held strong to finish the game 4-1, overcoming adversity and exploiting the Senators’ struggles.
Final player stats included Boone Jenner’s sixth goal of the season and 399th career point, Severson’s third goal and assist of the year with six points in the last four games, Matejczuk’s seventh goal, and Marchenko’s impressive 14th goal of the season. Schillinger and Charlie Coyle contributed with assists and good faceoff percentages, while Greaves made 27 saves including four on the penalty kill.
Team-wise, the Blue Jackets went 0-for-3 on the power play but successfully killed off all four Senators power plays. They won 54.4% of faceoffs (31/57) and recorded 23 hits.
Next up, Columbus returns home to face the New Jersey Devils on New Year’s Eve.
Fan Take: This result highlights the Blue Jackets’ resilience and ability to capitalize on opponent mistakes despite off-ice challenges, which is an encouraging sign for their future prospects. Fans should watch Kirill Marchenko closely, as his breakout performance could be a key storyline shaping the team’s season and momentum in the league.
