The NHL’s oft-cited “hockey gods” are the sport’s invisible purveyors of luck, and they don’t always give second chances to those scorched by misfortunes.
When it happens, however, it looks a lot like the Blue Jackets’ 5-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 13 at Nationwide Arena.
As a sellout crowd of 18,749 hung on every touch of the puck, the Jackets somehow made their one-goal lead stand up against a fevered push by Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the Oilers just four days after collapsing late in a 5-4 overtime loss in Edmonton.
Jack Roslovic, a former Blue Jackets forward from Columbus, decided that game with a breakaway goal in overtime. Four days later, he didn’t get a chance to do it again. The Blue Jackets (9-7-1) staved off another late push from McDavid and Draisaitl, who surprisingly whiffed on an opportunity to tie it.
“We almost let it go, right?” Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said, more relieved than happy. “Fortunately, Draisaitl fanned on that one, or else maybe it would’ve been a different story, but they’re on the ice all the time and are very special players. A win’s a win, right? And we’ll take it.”
Chalk up another one for the hockey gods. Here are more takeaways:
Mathieu Olivier is more than a pair of fists for Columbus Blue Jackets
Prior to his postgame media huddle, Mathieu Olivier strolled around the Jackets’ locker room wearing the team’s donkey hat as their chosen player of the game. It barely fit his head, but its purpose fit him perfectly.
It was Olivier whom the hockey gods torched in Edmonton after he reached his stick out to break up a pass and deflected the puck into his own net, tying it 4-4 with 58 seconds left and the Blue Jackets on a disastrous power play.
Four days later, against the same team, Olivier led the way with three points on two goals and one assist. It was also the Blue Jackets’ annual Hockey Fights Cancer game, which coincided with a bobblehead that leans heavy into Olivier’s reputation as an NHL heavyweight fighter.
“I think the concept kind of explains itself, right?” he said, smiling. “The bobblehead doesn’t even have a stick, so it’s nice to contribute (offensively) to show something else tonight.”
Along with three fights, including a decisive win against Trent Frederic in Edmonton, Olivier has eight points on three goals and five assists.
“I thought they did a great job (with the bobblehead),” he said. “The fists are massive. No sticks or gloves though. I’m a hockey player that fights on the ice, not a fighter that plays hockey … but, obviously, with the Hockey Fights Cancer concept, you can’t go around it.”
Olivier wasn’t the only guy on the Jackets’ third line who had a great night. Charlie Coyle also chipped in three points with a goal and two assists, while Cole Sillinger added an assist.
Since being put together, the three have become an effective combination. They dominated the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 6-3 victory Oct. 29 in Columbus and gave the Oilers fits too.
According to Natural Stat Trick, the Blue Jackets were just under 50% in attempted shots (12-13), 50% in shots (7-7) and scored 75% of goals (3-1) with their third forward line on the ice for 10:46 of 5-on-5.
That line also drew a matchup against McDavid’s group and took all but one of their 14 faceoffs in either the neutral zone (seven) or defensive zone (six).
“I think you need to have that kind of line on any winning team, kind of a shutdown line that can go up against their top units,” Olivier said. “I look at Silly, Coyler and myself, and we’re three guys that take pride in doing that job. On some nights, we might not get all the offense we want, but if we stay steady on (defense) and do our job, then its mission accomplished for us.”
Boone Jenner injury challenges Columbus Blue Jackets’ depth
Boone Jenner is out with an upper-body injury that Evason assessed as “not short-term,” at the Jackets’ Oct. 13 morning skate.
Specifics weren’t released but it’ll be multiple games without him, if not multiple weeks. The only certainty is another stretch where the Blue Jackets’ depth will be tested. Last season, as Jenner recovered from shoulder surgery, alternate captain Zach Werenski handled the bulk of captain responsibilities and led the way on the ice with a career-best season. He also had help.
“We’ve got a lot of leaders in that room,” Evason said. “Obviously, Boone is a huge part of our group, our identity, all those things. He drives our work ethic, no question, but we have other guys who do that as well.”
Jenner’s absence creates multiple voids up front, including a role on the second power play. Against the Oilers, rookie Luca Del Bel Belluz skated at left wing on a line with center Sean Monahan and right wing Kent Johnson, while Yegor Chinakhov moved onto the second power play.
Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves gets third straight start
Jet Greaves started for the third straight game and earned the win with 24 saves, including three after Draisaitl cut the Blue Jackets’ lead to 5-4 with 8:33 left.
Prior to Greaves’ string of starts, the Jackets used an alternating tandem approach between him and Elvis Merzlikins. Asked if a flu-like illness that’s making its way around the locker room was the reason ending that approach, Evason paused for a moment before answering, “Nope.”
Merzlikins was sharp to start the season, but Evason wasn’t pleased with an emotional meltdown in the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 loss Nov. 2 at the New York Islanders. Merzlikins also allowed Brock Boeser’s winning goal for the Vancouver Canucks late in the third period Nov. 8 at Rogers Arena.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social