After losing 4-1 Monday night to the Detroit Red Wings the Columbus Blue Jackets looked to regroup Friday night against the Calgary Flames. Blue Jackets head coach, Pascal Vincent was not pleased with his team's effort Monday and put his team through a grueling practice on Wednesday that included a 50-50 drill. Players in pairs would race for the puck something Vincent was not happy with Monday. Would Friday night provide a complete 60-minute and resemble the Blue Jackets team who beat the New York Rangers?
To start the game the Blue Jackets were happy to have the services of both Zach Werenski and goalie Elvis Merzlikins. In a bit of a surprise, Spencer Martin got the nod in goal. Cole Sillinger and Nazem Kadri would fight and head off, Sillinger was also charged with interference moments later Sean Kuraly would also head off for the delay of the game giving the Flames a four-on three-man advantage. No harm as Columbus killed both penalties.
The Fames and Blue Jackets would end the first knotted at 0-0. Columbus played with a much better pace and was fighting much better for 50-50 chances. The Blue Jackets did a better job of keeping the Flames to the outside and not giving them good looks at the net.
Sean Kuraly would get Columbus on the board first as the Blue Jackets took a 1-0 lead. The Blue Jackets would get their first power play of the game with 8:01 left in the second as the Flames's Matt Coronato was called for delay of the game. As the teams skated off the Blue Jackets still helped a 1-0 lead heading into the third period.
Columbus would need to continue the excellent pace it played the first two periods of hockey with to stay competitive and give the team a chance to win. Justin Danforth would score making it a 2-0 Blue Jackets lead. It was Danforth's second goal of the season. Moments later the Blue Jackets would go on the power play as the Flames A. J. Greer was guilty of hooking Johnny Gaudreau.
Calgary would score a short-handed goal off the stick of Elias Lindholm cutting the Blue Jackets lead to 2-1. Zach Werenski would make it 3-1 with his first goal of the season and the game would end with Columbus earning the win.
The Blue Jackets appeared with more and better pace throughout the game as well as play more physical. Asked if he thought this was the best game of the season Pascal Vincent did not waste any time, he said absolutely.
