Jackets lose opener
The Jackets were welcomed to the ice by over 18,000 people on Thursday night to watch them take on the Philadelphia Flyers. Before puck drop, there was a plaza party that had the fans fired up before going into the arena. The highly anticipated debut of Adam Fantilli was on the menu for tonight.
1st Period
The Flyers took an early 1-0 lead off a shot from Joel Farabee, just 3 minutes into the game. A little over 8 minutes into the game, Jake Bean, playing his first regular season game since shoulder surgery last season, cleaned up in front of Flyers goalie Carter Hart, and buried the tying goal. This goal would see Adam Fantilli record his first NHL point, a primary assist. Travis Konecny would score the go-ahead goal 12 minutes in to give the Flyers the lead again.
PHI 2, CBJ 1 - Shots PHI 13, CBJ 15
2nd Period
The second period saw no scoring. But 14:22 into the second, Garnet Hathaway took a kneeing penalty against Zach Werenski. The play looked scary, and Werenski stayed down for a minute or two before being helped to the bench and down the hallway, we was in obvious discomfort. The play was originally called a major, but for some reason after review, it was deemed a minor, which Philadelphia killed off.
PHI 2, CBJ 1 - Shots PHI 14, CBJ 9
3rd Period
18:31 into the 3rd, former Jacket Cam Atkinson buried an empty netter to make it a 3-1 game. That seemed to be the nail in the coffin. But just 45 seconds later, Patrik Laine wristed one past Hart to make it 3-2, and there was hope back in the building. Travis Konecny silenced that hope when we put one in the net that was vacated by Merzlikins, sealing a 4-2 win for the Flyers.
Final - PHI 4, CBJ 2 - Shots PHI 37, CBJ 33
Postgame Notes
Elvis Merzlikins stopped 33/35 shots on Thursday, that's a .943 save %. Elvis looked solid in net and deserved a better fate. He played really well and kept the Jackets in the game despite the Flyers peppering him with high danger chances.
Adam Fantilli netted his first NHL point, a primary assist. It was his 19th birthday on Thursday. He only had 13 minutes of ice-time, but this being his first game, we shouldn't look too much into it. His time will come. He also won 50% of his faceoffs.
Patrik Laine won 40% of his faceoffs, he will get better, there's no doubt about that.
The hit on Zach Werenski by Garnet Hathaway was nasty and could've caused a major injury. HC Pascal Vincent said after the game that it's not expected to be serious and it a quad contusion. Hathaway isn't expected to be suspended, but a fine could be coming.
The Jackets take on the New York Rangers on Saturday night at Nationwide Arena at 7 p.m.
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.