Blue Jackets rebound with 4-1 win over Dallas; Merzlikins solid behind the pipes

GAME AT A GLANCE

GOAL SCORERS
Columbus:
 O. Bjorkstrand (3), G. Hofmann (1), Z. Werenski (2), EN – A. Texier (2)
Dallas: 
T. Seguin (2)

GOALTENDERS
Columbus:
 E. Merzlikins (31 saves, W)
Dallas: 
B. Holtby (22 saves, L)

CBJ TEAM NOTES

  • The Blue Jackets improved to 4-2-0 with tonight’s 4-1 regulation win. 
  • It’s the club’s fourth win at home this season (4-1-0, 8pts) and is the best record in the first five home games of a season in franchise history in both wins and points.  The previous best was three wins (six times) and seven points, recorded in 2009-10 and 2007-08 (3-1-1).
  • CBJ have posted points in four-straight home game vs. the Stars (3-0-1) and are 10-2-2 vs. the club at Nationwide Arena since Jan. 28, 2013 following tonight’s victory.  Columbus improved to 17-6-2 in the series overall since the 2012-13 season.
  • The Blue Jackets killed off all three of the Stars’ power plays tonight and have now denied 17-of-21 opponent power plays this season (81.0 pct).
  • Columbus failed to connect on the power play on four opportunities tonight.  It’s the first time this season that the club did not record a power play goal in the five games it was awarded a power play attempt (did not have an attempt on Oct. 16 vs. Seattle).

CBJ PLAYER NOTES

·        RW Oliver Bjorkstrand registered his third multi-point game of the campaign with a goal and an assist.  The assist on Hofmann’s second period goal was the 100th of his NHL career.  He leads the team in assists and points with 3-6-9 in five contests.

·        C Gregory Hofmann notched his first career NHL goal and multi-point game with a goal and an assist.  He now has 1-2-3 in his first six NHL outings.

·        D Zach Werenski recorded his second multi-point game of the campaign with a goal and an assist.  He ranks second-T on the club in points with 2-4-6 in six games.

·        C Sean Kuraly notched his first point as a Blue Jacket with an assist on Werenski’s third period goal.

·        C Alexandre Texier scored his second goal of the season on an empty net late in the third period.

·        C Jack Roslovic tallied his third assist of the season on Bjorkstrand’s first period tally and now has 0-3-3 in six games.

·        LW Eric Robinson recorded his first assist of the campaign on Werenski’s goal (1-1-2 in six contests).

·        G Elvis Merzlikins stopped 31-of-32 shots (.969 SV%) to improve to 4-0-0 on the campaign.  He tied the franchise record for the longest win streak to start a season, joining Joonas Korpisalo (2018-19) and Sergei Bobrovsky (2017-18).

POST-GAME VIDEO INTERVIEWS

HC Brad Larsen  |  F Gregory Hofmann  | G Elvis Merzlikins  | F Cole Sillinger

CBJ UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Tuesday, October 26              Day Off

Wednesday, October 27        Practice – 12pm ET at Nationwide Arena

Thursday, October 28            Practice – 11am ET at Nationwide Arena

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