The Columbus Blue Jackets were in desperate need of an early lead against the Nashville Predators. Not only did they get that, their offense exploded in a much-needed way.
Kirill Marchenko scored a hat trick and added an assist. Sean Monahan added two goals and two assists while Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson had three-point nights in an 8-4 win over the Predators on Tuesday night. Luke Evangelista paced the Predators with two helpers on the night.
The Blue Jackets have needed a game like this for some time.
Game Recap
Marchenko opened the scoring just 1:15 into the game finishing off a Zach Werenski pass. Despite the early lead, head coach Dean Evason was not happy with the start. He gathered his team around at the bench during the first TV timeout and chatted about not cheating the game.
The message was well received afterwards. Goals by Fantilli and Monahan expanded the lead to 3-0 late in the first period. Filip Forsberg then responded just 24 seconds later on a snipe to cut it to 3-1 after the first.
Marchenko scored his second of the night early in the second period to extend to a 4-1 Blue Jackets’ lead. That’s when the Predators were able to close the gap in short order.
Michael Bunting and Justin Barron scored 43 seconds apart to make it a 4-3 game. Some nerves started to creep in amongst the fans. Both shots were scored from the right circle with traffic in front of the net. But that was as close as the Predators would get on Tuesday.
The Blue Jackets piled on three more goals to get it to 7-3. Fantilli and Monahan each scored their second of the night. The former Predator Dante Fabbro then scored against his old team. It was his first game against them since being claimed off waivers.
In the third, Monahan again found Marchenko which completed his hat trick. The three goals gave Marchenko 31 on the season giving him his first 30-goal NHL season.
Postgame, Marchenko admitted being very happy playing with Monahan.
“I scored three tonight. I’m so happy for sure,” Marchenko said. “He gave me great passes…He gives me confidence too & we feel each other really well right now & I enjoy playing with him. I hope we’ll play together a long time.”
Jordan Oesterle added a goal in the third to get to the final score of 8-4.
The game itself not only had a lot of goals. It had a lot of penalty minutes too. Near the end, Forsberg was taken down by Ivan Provorov. Ryan O’Reilly then fought Provorov. It capped off a night in which 36 PIM’s were secured combined, 19 by Nashville and 17 by the Blue Jackets.
The Blue Jackets also scored two power-play goals along the way. It had badly struggled before Tuesday’s game.
Elvis Merzlikins made 24 saves to get the win. Juuse Saros started and allowed seven on 26 shots. Justus Annunen came on in relief in the third and stopped 10 of 11.
The Blue Jackets were unable to gain ground as Montreal defeated Florida in overtime. They remain two points in back of the Canadiens but do hold a game in hand.
The Blue Jackets will practice Wednesday in advance of Thursday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche. The Predators now head to Dallas for a Thursday game with the Stars.