Zach Werenski’s goal in OT and 5-point game helps Blue Jackets to 7-6 win over Lightning

By Nicole Kraft
Published  November 21, 2024 10:57pm EST
Associated Press
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    COLUMBUS, Ohio - Zach Werenski’s goal at 1:25 of overtime punctuated a five-point game as the Columbus Blue Jackets rallied from an early three-goal deficit and beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-6 on Thursday night.

    Werenski had tied the game at 4 in the second period and added three assists as the Blue Jackets won their second straight game. Sean Monahan had a goal and three assists and Dmitri Voronkov added a goal and an assist. Kent Johnson scored on a power play and short-handed in his first game back after missing 14 contests due to an injury sustained on Oct. 17. Yegor Chinakhov added a goal and Elvis Merzlikins stopped 24 shots.

    COLUMBUS, OHIO - NOVEMBER 21:  Yegor Chinakhov #59 of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ryan McDonagh skate after the puck during the third period of the game at Nationwide Arena on November 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus defeated Tampa Bay 7-6. (P …

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    Anthony Cirelli, Mitchell Chaffee, Brandon Hagel and Connor Geekie each had a goal and an assist for Tampa Bay. Brayden Point and Cam Atkinson also scored, and Nikita Kucherov finished with three assists. Jonas Johansson made 36 saves.

    Takeaways

    Lightning: Tampa Bay appeared to be cruising after scoring three goals in the first, but failed to hold the lead.

    Blue Jackets: Columbus returned home after seven of its last eight games on the road and scored four times in the second period.

    Key Moment

    Tampa Bay jumped out to a three-goal lead in the first period before the second turned into a shootout with Columbus scoring four times and Tampa twice.

    Key Stats

    Brayden Point, in his second game back from a lower-body injury that sidelined him for four games, scored a power-play goal at 1:51 of the first period—just 23 seconds into a Columbus penalty. Point has three goals in two games and is tied with Nikita Kucherov for the team lead with 11.

    Up Next

    Both teams are back in action Saturday night. The Lightning host Dallas, while the Blue Jackets host Carolina.

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