Columbus Blue Jackets Triumph Over Chicago Blackhawks
In a thrilling encounter on Friday night in Chicago, the Columbus Blue Jackets secured a 4-2 victory over the hosting Blackhawks, thanks in large part to an outstanding performance by Charlie Coyle. This marked Coyle’s second career hat trick, as he netted three goals, including an empty-netter that sealed the game with just over a minute to play. His prolific offensive effort has now boosted his points total to nine over his last three outings.
Winning Streak for the Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets have found a winning rhythm, achieving their fourth consecutive victory and an impressive record of 8-0-1 in their last nine games. The Blackhawks, conversely, have stumbled as they experienced their third regulation loss in just five games, with a current record of 0-3-2.
Key Moments in the Game
Coyle’s performance included assisting on what would prove to be the game-winning goal scored by Mathieu Olivier at 6:47 of the second period. Earlier in the game, Coyle netted his first two goals, the first of which came on a power play as he scored from close range with just 47 seconds left in the first period. The second goal followed swiftly in the second period, where he unleashed a powerful wrist shot that found its way past goalie Spencer Knight just 1:23 after the intermission.
Chicago’s Connor Bedard momentarily reduced the deficit by scoring with only 2.7 seconds remaining in the first period. Later, Bedard assisted Frank Nazar’s goal during a 3-on-2 rush, satisfying Blackhawks fans with an adventurous play at the 10:05 mark of the second. Nazar’s effort made it a 3-2 game, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide in favor of Chicago.
Defensive Standouts
Columbus goaltender Elvis Merzlikins recorded 22 saves throughout the game. On the other end, Knight also managed 22 saves but faced considerable pressure during key moments. The Blue Jackets proved defensively sound, successfully neutralizing both back-to-back power plays from the Blackhawks, marking 26 missed opportunities for Chicago in eight consecutive outings since their last successful power-play goal on January 10.
Tactical Changes and Upcoming Matches
Before the game, the Blackhawks made tactical changes, recalling defenseman Sam Rinzel from Rockford and sidelining Artyom Levshunov, who has struggled recently with a negative five plus-minus rating against Pittsburgh.
Looking ahead, the Blue Jackets will be competing against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, while the Blackhawks will host the San Jose Sharks on Monday as they continue to search for solutions to reverse their current slump.
