The Columbus Blue Jackets (CBJ) played their final game of a 5-game road trip against the St. Louis Blues. The game remained scoreless after the first and second periods with CBJ leading in shots. In the third period, Dmitri Voronkov scored the only goal, assisted by Zach Werenski, leading CBJ to a 1-0 victory. Elvis Merzlikins made 21 saves, securing his first shutout of the season. Zach Werenski also achieved his 193rd career assist, surpassing Nick Foligno for the 3rd-most assists in franchise history.
The Athletic: Elvis Merzlikins dropped to one knee and pumped his right fist as the horn sounded. His first shutout in two-plus years - a 1-0 win in #stlblues on Tuesday - was hard-earned and much-needed. Dmitry Voronkov scored #CBJ lone goal. https://t.co/uzP84NuYq7
#CBJ earn a 1-0 win in St Louis to close out their 5-game road trip at 2-2-1. Elvis Merzlikins stopped all 21 shots faced for his 1st shutout of the season. The club returns to action after the NHL All-Star and mid season break on Feb. 10 when it hosts Tampa Bay…
#CBJ win 1-0. Elvis Merzlikins with a 21-save shutout, his first -- and the Blue Jackets' first -- since Jan. 13, 2022. Merzlikins' 10th career shutout. Voronkov, the only goal, his 12th of the season.
Jackets Win 1-0! Shutout Elvis! Go Jackets! #CBJ
FINAL: #CBJ 1, Blues 0 Merzlikins with 21 saves. First Blue Jackets shutout since Elvis blanked the Canes back on Jan. 13, 2022. What a way to go into the All-Star break.
final: #CBJ 1, #stlblues 0 ... Five-game winning streak gone by one of the worst performances in recent memory. Blues had a foot out the door ready for their All-Star break and it showed. Credit to Columbus. They came to play a game.
Merzlikins jumps on a loose puck with 38.5 seconds to go. #CBJ hanging on to this 1-0 lead.
Last media timeout, 5:48 to go. #CBJ up 1-0 on the Voronkov goal.
Jackets stay up 1-0 as we reach 10 minutes left in the 3rd period #CBJ
Defenseman Zach Werenski recorded his 193rd career assist with the primary assist on Voronkov's 3rd period goal to surpass Nick Foligno for the 3rd-most assists in franchise history. He now trails only Rick Nash (258) and David Vyborny (204) in #CBJ history.
#CBJ Voronkov gets a clean look coming through the slot after Werenski breaks down the Blues by carrying the puck deep into the zone. 1-0 #CBJ at 4:11 of the third
Gaudreau to Werenski to Voronkov, snap shot off the rush for a 1-0 lead #CBJ over #stlblues ... rewards Elvis Merzlikins for a fantastic sprawling save at the other end to keep it 0-0 starting the 3rd.
GOOOAAALLL JACKETS! Vronk SCORE! 1-0 #CBJ
#CBJ on the board 1st as Dmitri Voronkov scores on the feed from Zach Werenski. 1-0 4:11 into the 3rd with Voronkov's 12th of the season.
🚨 #CBJ goal: Dmitri Voronkov The big man keeps it going, but Zach Werenski makes it happen. The CBJ defenseman speeds through the St. Louis defense and feeds it across the crease for the Vronk Spike. Jackets up 1-0 with 15:49 left.
Voronkov puts #CBJ 1-0 at 4:11 of the 3rd.
Robert Thomas turnover in the offensive zone, Voronkov makes it 1-0 #CBJ. #stlblues
40 minutes down and still 0-0. #CBJ lead 11-9 in shots through 2 periods of play.
#CBJ and #StlBlues are 0-0 through two periods. Stone Age hockey. Merlikins and Blues forward Sammy Blais traded shoves/chops at the end of that period.
Bad #CBJ turnover in the dying seconds of the middle period, but Elvis Merzlikins makes the late save. 0-0 through 40 minutes here in St. Louis. Shots on goal are 11-9. A lot of shot blocks...
Near disaster there for #CBJ at the end of the 2nd, but Merzlikins makes a big stop. Crisis averted. Game remains 0-0. Jackets have 11-9 edge in shots over #stlblues
Deleted earlier post saying it was 1-0 #CBJ. #CBJ Jenner took a shot from the slot that hit the crossbar and NHL referee signaled "goal!" Upon a quick review, it was fixed. Still 0-0.
Looked like it was going to be 1-0 #CBJ there, but review shows Jenner's wrist shot never crossed the line. Post, bar and out late 2nd and it's 0-0.
Boone Jenner was credited with a goal, but that puck did not go in.
Officials call goal by Jenner, that's not a goal. #stlblues #CBJ
#CBJ Jenner has a chance at a clean look off the rush from the left side, but overskates the puck.
Boone Jenner just ripped past a Blues defenseman and looked like he was gonna have a breakaway, and the puck popped up in the air over his stick as he got to the blue line. Unreal hop. That's how it's 0-0 still, haha #CBJ
#CBJ and #stlblues exchange huge hits in the Jackets' zone and then Johnson gets called for tripping. Blues to the PP 8:34 into the 2nd, 0-0. Provorov was the recipient of a big hit to start that sequence and Marchenko followed with one of his own behind the net.
And there goes that power play. #CBJ Voronkov nailed for slashing at 3:29. So, 1:28 of 4-on-4, then the Blues will be up a skater for :32.
Voronkov off for slashing ... negating #CBJ PP just 32 seconds into it. 4v4, game 0-0 3:29 into the 2nd.
#CBJ going back on the power play after Kuraly is tripped. #StLBlues Walker off at 2:57 of the second period.
Jackets back to the PK, Walker off for tripping at 1:57 of the 2nd, 0-0. #CBJ #stlblues
2nd period is underway #CBJ
0-0 in St. Louis after 20 minutes. I'd say the better chances belonged to the Jackets, but not exactly a barnburner. SOG are 7-4 #CBJ. CBJ with 22-10 edge in shot attempts, but eight blocked and seven wide.
End of the 1st and it's 0-0 in St. Louis. #CBJ have 5 seconds left on a PP that included several good looks but no goals. Jackets outshooting #stlblues 7-4.
After one, no score between the #stlblues and #CBJ. Shots are 7-4 in favor of CBJ. Blues lucky to get out of the first tied.
In the good news department, that was a strong opening PK for the #CBJ ... very reminiscent of how they did it the first couple months of the season. Game remains 0-0 vs #stlblues with 5:48 left 1st.
Last game of #CBJ's 5-game road trip is under way against the Blues in St. Louis. Merzlikins vs. Binnington.
#CBJ starters in St. Louis: Gaudreau-Jenner-Chinakhov Provorov-Severson Merzlikins Scratches: F Fantilli (injury), F Bemstrom, D Blankenburg Jordan Binnington in the #stlblues net.
Elvis Merzlikins gets the net for #CBJ in the pre-break finale at St. Louis. As pregame skate showed, Olivier and Roslovic in, Bemstrom and Fantilli (lower body injury) out
#CBJ facing a #StLBlues club on a season-long five-game win streak, including three straight in OT. Yegor Chinakhov (2-1-3) and Kirll Marchenko (1-1-2) stood out on Dec. 8, when #CBJ beat the Blues 5-2 in Nationwide Arena.
GOAL JACKETS! Chinakhov again! Jackets within one. 3-2
#CBJ Chinakhov scores again to pull the Blue Jackets within 3-2 with 4:02 remaining. Skated away from a faceoff and beat Daccord from the slot with a wrister.
Chinakhov scores again ... unassisted ... cuts it to 3-2 with just under four to play. #CBJ
Yegor Chinakhov with his 2nd of the game makes it a 3-2 game with 4:00 to play. #CBJ
GOAL JACKETS! (finally) Chinakhov. 3-1 other team.
#CBJ Chinakhov scores off a slapper from the left wing to make it 3-1 at 7:12 of the season. His 13th goal of the season.
#CBJ on the board. Yegor Chinakhov scores to make it 3-1 with 12:48 to play. Has recorded points in 3-straight games (2-2-4) and five of the last six contests (3-3-6).
🚨 #CBJ goal: Yegor Chinakhov Chinny stays hot, coming in on the left wing on the rush and beating Daccord short side. Jackets cut the deficit to 3-1 with 12:48 left.