Stars Go Supernova In The Third To Outshine The Blue Jackets

This night didn't start well for fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

When people tried to open the Bally Sports app on their various devices, they couldn't log in. Bally was having a service issue that was hindering CBJ fans, as well as fans of the NBA, and other NHL teams around the country. Many of us were forced to listen to the game on the radio or the Blue Jackets app. What a disaster!

1st Period

The game started as bad for the Blue Jackets as it did for the fans trying to watch the game. 27 seconds in, Thomas Harley, assisted by Robertson and Hintz, put a puck past Elvis Merzlikins to make it 1-0. A disaster of a start.

But just a few minutes later, after the CBJ took a punch in the mouth to start the game, Dmitri Voronkov, in just his second NHL game, scored his first goal. A goal that was scored in close on Stars goalie Jake Oettinger. The goal was assisted by Sillinger and Johnson. 

13:41 into the first, new CBJ defenseman Damon Severson took a saucer pass from Adam Fantilli, via Zach Werenski and buried it. Severson beat Oettinger for his first goal as a Blue Jacket. It was a nice shot that Oettinger couldn't stop, but the pass from Fantilli was a beauty. 

End of 1st Period

CBJ 2, Stars 1 - Shots - CBJ 7, Stars 9

2nd Period

The second period was all Stars. 5:52 into the period, Jason Robertson let a shot go from distance that was tipped in by Roope Hintz past Elvis tying the game at 2 a piece. 

Later in the period, the Stars would score again. But the Jackets challenged the play for offside and were successful. The Jackets video team should win an award for all the successful challenges they've won this season. They're 4/4 on replays. 

The period was back and forth and played evenly the entire period. Yes, the Stars scored a third goal that was called back, but in the end, it didn't count, and Elvis made some big saves in that period. 

The CBJ had one PP in the period but couldn't convert.

End of 2nd Period

CBJ 2, Stars 2 - Shots - CBJ 7, Stars 10

3rd Period

Going into the 3rd period, the faceoff battle was at 63% to 37% in favor of the Stars. Cole Sillinger is the best Jacket at 63%.

Of course, Matt Duchene would score his first goal of the season to take the lead 3-2. 

A minute or two later, Jake Oettinger robbed Boone Jenner 1 on 1. For the next few minutes, the Jackets were buzzing around the Stars goalie but couldn't beat Oettinger. 

9:10 into the third, the Jackets would go to the box giving the Stars another powerplay. Although the Stars have struggled on the powerplay this season, you can't keep giving a team like Dallas these opportunities. 

Evgenii Dadonov all but sealed it with 7:21 to go in the game when he scored to make it 4-2. Zach Werenski lost his stick on the play that enabled Dadonov to score. 

The Stars seemed to completely shut everything down in the third period once they took the lead. They were giving the CBJ no time and space to do what they wanted. 

The Stars made it 5-2 on an empty net chance by Wyatt Johnson.

Sean Kuraly scored with 2:50 left to make it 5-3. The goal was assisted by Provorov and Olivier. The Jackets pulled Elvis again for the extra man.

Neither team would score another goal. 

End Of The Game

CBJ 3, Stars 5 

Final Stats

Reactions

Dallas took over this game in the third period and never looked back. Defensively they just shut down the Jackets and didn't let them get any good chances at all. They had 12 shots in the third, with just one of them beating Oettinger very late in the game. 

The Jackets played the Stanley Cup Contending Dallas Stars tough for 2+ periods in this game, but in the end, the Stars were too much for a young Blue Jackets squad. 

HC Vincent said after the game, "A lot of guys worked hard, but we can't afford to have a few guys not working hard enough. That's not gonna fly." He goes on to say "Tonight was not good enough, so we're going to address it." 

The young Jackets need to bury this one in the vault and forget about it. They will have two days of practice to get ready for Tampa Bay, which will be another tough game, but at least they'll be at home in the friendly confines. 

Shake it off. 

Join Jason Newland's Columbus Blue Jacket page on Bunches, a new app that connects sports fans. Also, you can watch a new YouTube game show about the Blue Jackets, Around the Fifth Line.