By Joe Coopersmith

GAME AT A GLANCE

THREE STARS 1^st – A. Nylander, CBJ (3-0-3, GWG); 2^nd – D. Tarasov, CBJ (stopped 37-of-40 shots faced, W); 3^rd – Y. Chinakhov, CBJ (1-0-1)

GOAL SCORERS
Columbus: J. Danforth (10), A. Nylander (2), E. Gudbranson (4), A. Nylander (3), Y. Chinakhov (16), EN – A. Nylander (4)

Vegas: M. Morelli (3), W. Karlsson (22), C. Stephenson (14)

GOALTENDERS
Columbus: D. Tarasov (37 saves, W)
Vegas: A. Hill (27 saves, L)

SPECIAL TEAMS
Columbus PP:  0-for-2, 5 shots
Vegas PP:  0-for-1, 1 shot

BLUE JACKETS TEAM NOTES

• The Blue Jackets won for a second-straight game and improved to 5-4-0 in the past nine contests following tonight’s victory over the Golden Knights.
• The club also improved to 2-2-1 in the past five meetings in the series vs. Vegas.
• The home team has won four of the past five meetings in the series since Nov. 20, 2021 (4-0-1).
• CBJ killed off the Golden Knights’ lone power play attempt tonight and have now killed off all Vegas power play chances in five of the six meetings in the series at Nationwide Arena (14-of-15; 93.3 pct.).
• The Blue Jackets have now killed off all opponent power play opportunities in six of the past seven contests dating back to since Feb. 21 (17-of-18; 94.4 pct.).
• CBJ blueliners posted 1-3-4 tonight and have now recorded 12-35-47 in the last 22 games and 25-112-137 in 61 games this season.
• The Blue Jackets blocked 16 shots tonight and have now been credited with 857 blocked shots over the past 50 games dating back to Nov. 6 and have registered 1,066 blocked shots this season.
• CBJ recorded 33 shots on goal tonight and has now registered 360 shots on goal over the last 11 contests (32.7 avg.).
• Columbus has scored the first goal of the game in 23 of the past 42 contests, including five of the last seven.
• The club scored two goals in the first period tonight and has now scored 60 first period goals this season.
• LW Alex Nylander’s hat trick tonight marks the 50^th hat trick in club history.
• CBJ played their fourth of five Monday games, improving to 3-0-1 on the day.
• Columbus plays its 10^th of 13 back-to-back sets of the season on Monday vs. Vegas and Tuesday at Pittsburgh.

BLUE JACKETS PLAYER NOTES_­

• LW Alex Nylander notched his first career NHL hat trick with 3-0-3, while also stretching his points streak to three consecutive games (4-2-6), tying his career best (2-2-4 on Mar. 17-23, 2019; with Chicago).
• C Cole Sillinger registered an assist to extend his points streak to a career best four-straight contests (3-1-4).  He has also posted 3-2-5 in the last seven games.  With 11-13-24 in 56 outings, he sits two assists shy from tying his single season career-high set in his rookie campaign in 2021-22 (16-15-31 in 79 GP).
• LW Alexandre Texier notched his third multi-assist and fifth multi-point effort of the season with two assists, giving him 1-4-5 in his past five contests.  With 9-12-21 in 57 games this season, he has set new single-season career highs in assists and points.
• D Zach Werenski recorded an assist to stretch his assists streak to three consecutive games (0-4-4) and has now registered points in eight of the last 12 games (3-7-10) and 10 of his past 15 (3-9-12).  With 83-199-282 in 465 games, he is one assist shy from becoming the third player – and first defenseman – to record 200 career assists as a Blue Jacket.  The blueliner improved to 1-5-6 in nine career games vs. Vegas, including assists in each of his last three games against the club (0-4-4).
• RW Yegor Chinakhov notched a goal and has now collected 5-5-10 in his last 14 contests and 13-11-24 in his past 32 games (overall, 16-13-29 in 49 GP).
• D Erik Gudbranson scored a goal to give him 1-3-4 in his last ten outings and with 4-14-18 in 57 appearances this season has set new single-season career highs in assists and points.
• C Boone Jenner notched an assist to extend his points streak to three-straight games (1-2-3) and now has 6-5-11 in the last 11 contests (overall, 19-10-29 in 46 GP).
• LW Johnny Gaudreau recorded an assist and has now collected points in ten of his last 14 outings (2-13-15; overall, 9-35-44 in 61 GP).  He improved to 5-8-13 in 17 career games against Vegas, including 2-3-5 in his past six games vs. the club.
• RW Kirill Marchenko tallied an assist to give him 2-5-7 in the past 11 contests (overall, 17-15-32 in 59 GP).
• LW Justin Danforth scored a goal and with 10-10-20 in 61 games has set single-season career highs in goals (tied, 2021-22), assists and points.
• D Ivan Provorov recorded an assist and now has 1-2-3 in his past six games and 5-22-27 in 61 appearances.
• C Sean Kuraly tallied an assist to give him 9-7-16 in 53 appearances this season.
• D Jake Bean registered an assist and now has 4-7-11 in 58 games this season.

BLUE JACKETS POST-GAME AUDIO INTERVIEWS

HC Pascal Vincent | F Justin Danforth | D Erik Gudbranson | F Alex Nylander

GOLDEN KNIGHTS POST-GAME AUDIO INTERVIEWS

HC Bruce Cassidy | F William Karlsson | F Jonathan Marchessault

COURTESY BLUE JACKETS COMMUNICATIONS