GAME AT A GLANCE

GOAL SCORERS
Columbus: PP – Y. Chinakhov (7), Z. Werenski (10), SO – Y. Chinakhov
Minnesota: PP – K. Kaprizov (30), M. Zuccarello (19)

GOALTENDERS
Columbus: E. Merzlikins (36 saves, SOW)
Minnesota: K. Kahkonen (26 saves, SOL)

CBJ TEAM NOTES

• The Blue Jackets improved to 11-6-2 in the last 19 games and have now recorded points in 11 of their last 16 contests (9-5-2) after tonight’s shootout win.
• CBJ now have points in six of the last nine meetings vs. the Wild (5-3-1) and are 5-2-1 in the last eight games at home vs. Minnesota, including points in four of the last five (3-1-1).
• Six of the last eight games in the series have been decided by a single goal, including tonight.
• After trailing 2-1 entering the final period of play, the club now leads the league with eight wins when trailing heading into the third period.
• The Blue Jackets have earned their victories this season with the club coming back at some point in the game in 19 of their 29 wins, including nine of their last 11 victories.  The 19 comeback victories are tied with Colorado for the most in the NHL.
• Columbus has scored three-plus goals in 36 of its contests (including SO), recording three-plus in nine of the last 12 games.
• Six of the club’s last seven games have been decided by a single-goal (2-3-2).
• The Blue Jackets scored a power play goal in the first period and now have PPGs in four of the last six games.  (5-of-19; 26.3 pct.).
• With one goal and one assist by defensemen tonight, CBJ now have 34 goals and 130 points by blueliners this season.
• The club improved to 10-1-2 in OT/SO this season (4-1 in SO), one off the League-lead in wins.
• CBJ concluded the ninth of 15 back-to-back sets this season tonight with the club improving to 3-5-1 in 2^nd games (7-9-2 overall).

CBJ PLAYER NOTES

·        RW Yegor Chinakhov scored the Blue Jackets’ first goal of the night and the shootout winner, giving the rookie 7-5-12 in 48 appearances.  It’s his second career game-deciding goal, and he is now two-of-three in shootout attempts this season.

·        D Zach Werenski scored with 31 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.  It was the second-latest tying goal by a defenseman in franchise history (Jones: 19:31 of 3^rd period on Mar. 20, 2021).  Werenski now has points in three of the last four games (2-1-3) and 4-11-15 in his last 17 appearances and has registered double digit goals for the fifth time in his career (10-26-36 in 53 GP). 

·        RW Oliver Bjorkstrand recorded his 21^st assist of the season to give him points in six of the last seven games (4-2-6) and in 12 of the last 16 contests (8-5-13, overall 20-21-41 in 57 GP).

·        LW Gustav Nyquist tallied his 21^st assist of the campaign and now has points in three of the last four games (1-3-4). He has 4-10-14 in the last 19 contests and 10-15-25 with eight multi-point outings in 32 games since Dec. 16.

·        C Max Domi registered an assist and now has 0-5-5 in the last six games (9-20-29 in 49 GP).

·        D Jake Bean tallied his 12^th assist of the campaign and now has 4-12-16 in 44 outings.

·        G Elvis Merzlikins stopped 36-of-38 shots tonight, including all three of the Wild’s shots in the shootout.  He recorded his 20^th win for the first time in his career, becoming the seventh different netminder in franchise history to reach the single-season mark.

POST-GAME VIDEO INTERVIEWS

HC Brad Larsen  | F Sean Kuraly | G Elvis Merzlikins  | D Zach Werenski

CBJ UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Saturday, March 12                No Practice

Sunday, March 13                   vs. Vegas – 7:00pm ET at Nationwide Arena

Monday, March 14                 No Practice

COURTESY CBJ COMMUNICATIONS