Despite early struggles, the Columbus Blue Jackets showcased resilience and skill, defeating the Detroit Red Wings 5-2 on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena. This victory not only marked the Jackets’ third consecutive win but also placed them level with the Red Wings at 66 points, intensifying the battle for playoff positioning.
The Blue Jackets came out strong, relying on a stellar performance from James van Riemsdyk, who scored twice and added to his impressive tally against Detroit this season. Captain Boone Jenner led the charge with three assists, highlighting his pivotal role as the team navigates the playoff race.
Detroit’s Alex DeBrincat opened the scoring just 27 seconds after the second period started, putting the Red Wings up 1-0. The celebration, though, was short-lived. Van Riemsdyk quickly capitalized, redirecting Jake Christiansen's point shot to level the match. Following this, Sean Kuraly took advantage of close-range chaos to push Columbus ahead 2-1. Kent Johnson added another goal before Van Riemsdyk sealed the second-period surge, making it 4-1.
JT Compher managed to claw one back for Detroit with a power-play goal, but Kirill Marchenko's empty-net goal finalized the score at 5-2. Daniil Tarasov, who was starting his first game since January 31, made 29 saves, displaying impressive poise under pressure as he turned aside all 12 shots faced in the final period.
"Lots of blocked shots, good sticks," said coach Dean Evason about the team’s defensive effort. The Blue Jackets are known for their young talent, and this game underscored their ability to perform under high-stakes conditions. Tarasov's return to form, combined with Jenner’s leadership after returning from injury, was particularly commendable, as the team learned to preserve leads effectively.
Prior to this game, the Blue Jackets had shown resilience amid adversity, namely coping with injuries to key players throughout the season. Despite these challenges, they managed to tie for the top wild card spot leading up to their imminent rematch on Saturday at Ohio Stadium, where fans will witness the first-ever outdoor game for the Blue Jackets, expected to draw more than 90,000 spectators.
This outdoor game adds another layer of excitement and anticipation to the series against the Red Wings, who had previously beaten the Blue Jackets six out of seven meetings. The stakes are high as both teams vie not just for points but also for pride against their playoff rivals.
While Friday’s focus will be on recovery and strategy, the atmosphere remains charged following the latest showdown. Columbus aims to seize momentum from this victory through focused practice sessions leading up to Saturday's game.
This clash is more than just points; it’s about establishing dominance and solidifying playoff positioning among tense rivals. The Blue Jackets and the Red Wings now find themselves not only battling each other but also contending with the pressure of expectations as they set themselves up for what promises to be an exhilarating game.