25-03-2025
Blue Jackets snap six-game losing streak with comeback win over Islanders
It was a helpless feeling, Columbus Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said.
There were less than 10 seconds remaining, and the Blue Jackets' fate — not only in Monday's game vs. the New York Islanders but quite possibly their postseason aspirations — rested in the hands of NHL officials as they reviewed a goaltender interference call for the second time in the game.
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NHL official Michael Markovic immediately waved off an Islanders goal that would have given them a 4-3 lead by ruling that Isles forward Kyle Palmieri had interfered with Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzļikins' ability to play the puck.
But the review…
'It took so long,' Evason said. 'It was really gut-wrenching there for a while, to look up at the clock and see basically nothing left and us being down. But we were fortunate. Maybe we caught a break there.'
The review, initiated by the league's NHL situation room, determined Markovic's ruling on the ice should stand, keeping the game tied at 3-3.
Several minutes later, after Adam Fantilli scored the lone shootout goal for either team, the Blue Jackets mobbed Merzļikins. They were all hugs and high-fives after a desperately needed 4-3 win, snapping a six-game losing streak and reigniting playoff hopes.
Fantilli, Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko scored regulation goals for the Blue Jackets, while Sean Monahan — in his first game since Jan. 7 following wrist surgery — added two assists. Merzļikins, who was outstanding early and in overtime, finished with 30 saves.
This being called no goal because of GOALIE INTERFERENCE is ridiculous.
If this cost the islanders their playoff spot oh man
— Drew Livingstone (@ProducerDrew_) March 25, 2025
The Blue Jackets, who hadn't won a game since March 9, came back from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits. It was Marchenko's goal, a wrister through traffic from above the right circle, that tied the score at three with 7:04 remaining in regulation.
'The first period, we didn't play the way we wanted and we all realized it,' Merzļikins said. 'That third period, you saw it. It was a huge, huge team win. We all knew that this game, especially, was very important for us. We needed to take these points from them. It was just beautiful to see how we managed to battle through this.'
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Despite the win, the Blue Jackets remain in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. But the two points change the picture dramatically, pulling the Jackets (73 points) within two points of Montreal (75) for the second wildcard. The New York Rangers (74) and Islanders (74), who earned a point in defeat on Monday, are just above Columbus.
'We've lost a little bit here,' Jenner said. 'We've not had the results, but we've played some good hockey. To get a result tonight was huge for us. Hopefully we can continue with that and run with it.
'But it feels great to come in here and get those two points and hear that music again.'
The Blue Jackets blare the song 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' by the 1970s supergroup ABBA after victories, but it's been a while since they've heard the tune.
They were boosted, certainly, by news over the weekend that Monahan, who had missed 28 games, and veteran defenseman Erik Gudbranson, who missed 66 games after shoulder surgery, were ready to return. This is the time of season when veteran players are massively important.
WINNER WINNER BAGELS FOR DINNER! @FanaticsBook | #CBJ
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 25, 2025
For the Blue Jackets, not coming unglued after a rough first period was key. Evason was clearly fuming when they returned to the bench after the first intermission, and there were signs of frustration all over the ice for the Blue Jackets, especially early in the game.
After being denied on a rebound put-back attempt, Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov skated to the bench on one leg so that he could elevate the other leg and break his stick over it. You don't see that every day.
'The guys were saying all the right things on the bench,' Evason said. 'It wasn't for a lack of trying — (they) were just trying to … trying to score, trying to do too much, way too much, instead of simplifying our game and getting after it, doing what we do.
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'It's not a negative. They're trying their butts off to score goals and win games and get points, but you have to go about it intelligently. Once they adjusted themselves, we played the right way.'
Fantilli cut the Islanders' 2-0 lead in half at 5:31 of the second period when he skated through the left circle and snapped off a shot that beat Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin under the bar. It was Fantilli's 22nd goal of the season.
Later in the second, with 2:47 remaining in the period, Jenner scored almost exactly the same goal from the other side. His wrister was deflected off the inside leg of an Islanders defenseman, changing the puck's trajectory before it sailed past Sorokin.
There were strong individual efforts all over the ice for Columbus. The Islanders held Zach Werenski without a point, but he played a regular-season career-high 33:44, more than any player has played in a game this season. And Monahan's wrist must be OK, since he won a team-high 11 face-offs.
Fantilli scored on a tremendous move — back and forth, back and forth, backhand roofer — in the second round of the shootout.
But the two goaltender interference calls played a huge role in the game.
With 48 seconds remaining in the second period, Islanders forward Anders Lee was in the crease next to Merzļikins when a puck glanced off him and went into the net for a 3-2 New York lead. Merzļikins was furious, and the Blue Jackets asked for a replay, but the call was allowed to stand.
THE CAPTAIN. #LGI | @Ford
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 25, 2025
Evason appeared to have a strong but constructive conversation with referees after that call. Who knows what impact that had on the second ruling, after the Islanders appeared to take a 4-3 lead late in the game.
Palmieri came out from behind Merzļikins' net and set up in front to create a screen. There was definitely contact, but replays showed it was initiated by Merzļikins. Also of note: Palmieri was stationed just outside the blue paint, which is permissible.
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The Blue Jackets didn't like that the first goal was allowed to stand after replay. They agreed wholeheartedly with the call on the second one, though.
'If the second one didn't go my way, I would probably lose my … I would be really mad,' Merzļikins said. 'The first one … I need to go talk to the refs to understand why it's not interference. I was reaching for the puck and I couldn't get there.
'The second one was interference, or maybe not, I didn't see it very much. But it felt like a little touch (by Palmieri). I just want to see the first one and understand why.'
