As expected, given a daunting travel situation to conclude a back-to-back finale Nov. 18 at the Winnipeg Jets, the Blue Jackets had a five-game point streak come to a screeching halt.
Despite overcoming an early 1-0 deficit on Miles Wood’s goal in the first period, Columbus was outskated and outplayed in a frustrating 5-2 loss to split a back-to-back that started Nov. 17 with a 4-3 shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens in Columbus.
Playing a day later after a long postgame flight that didn’t get them to Winnipeg until 3 a.m. ET, the Blue Jackets (10-8-2) took a frustrating loss that was essentially handed to them by the NHL’s wacky scheduling during a Winter Olympic year that has all 32 teams complaining.
The Jets (12-7-0), who played on two days’ rest since their previous game, got goals from Adam Lowry, Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk, Kyle Connor and Logan Stanley. Eric Comrie started in net for Winnipeg and made 20 saves for the goaltending win.
Zach Werenski became the only Blue Jackets defenseman to reach 400 points in his career by scoring the second goal for the Blue Jackets, who started Elvis Merzlikins (xx saves) for the first time since Nov. 8 against the Vancouver Canucks.Â
Kirill Marchenko’s bid to extend his career high points streak to 13 games came up empty with a scoreless night. His streak ends at 12 games, one shy of tying the franchise record set at 13 by Ryan Johansen in 2014-15 and tied with Cam Atkinson’s 12-game streak in 2018-19 for second longest.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.socialÂ