Blue Jackets energized in win over Bolts at Nationwide
Saturday, October 18, 2025
By Kevin Rouch
krouch@cbussports.com
Dmitri Voronkov, surrounded by the Tampa Bay defense, played a big, physical role for the Columbus Blue Jackets in their 3-2 win at Nationwide Arena Saturday. Photo: Kevin Rouch
After a listless home loss Thursday to the Colorado Avalanche, the Columbus Blue Jackets responded with an energetic 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nationwide Arena Saturday. Not only did the Blue Jackets score one more goal than the Bolts, they also led in shots on goal (31-24), hits (23-14), and blocked shots (18-15).
What was the difference? Simply put, the Blue Jacket players. “It’s one thing for coaches to talk and yell and point out things,” noted head coach Dean Evason after the game, “but it’s another thing for [the team] to understand it and be accountable for what happened and they did that.”
The game started out well for Columbus when Kent Johnson recorded his first goal of the season just 4:58 into the first period. Then, despite the fact that the Blue Jackets led by a significant margin in shots on goal, Tampa scored twice before the first break to lead, 2-1.
In the second period, the Jackets’ persistence paid off. With six minutes left in the frame, Mathieu Olivier sent a perfect pass to Damon Severson who was trailing the rush and Severson connected on a quick shot from the slot.
Kent Johnson scored his first goal of the season to get the Columbus Blue Jackets on the scoreboard first in their 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Columbus retook the lead early in the third. With just 1:15 off the scoreboard, Kirill Marchenko scored his fifth goal in the team’s five games so far this season. As Marchenko came down the middle of the ice, he took a pass from Dmitri Voronkov, then out-maneuvered Tampa defenseman Erik Cernak before burying the shot.
The resilient effort paid off with a big win for the Blue Jackets. “So I thought we were hard on pucks, played a solid game, and we ended up getting rewarded early in the third,” said Severson. “And then we competed our butts off there, all the way through the buzzer and got a big win.”
It was a physical contest throughout. Just a minute into the game, two Blue Jackets, Boone Jenner and Dmitri Voronkov, and the Lightnings’ J.J. Moser went to the penalty box for roughing. Two minutes later, in his first fight of the season, Olivier squared off with Curtis Douglas. At 6’9, Douglas had an eight-inch height advantage but went to the ice first.
After three home games, Columbus heads back to the road for a Tuesday tilt in Dallas. The Stars started out quickly, winning their first three games, but have lost two straight. The puck drops at 8:00 p.m. EDT.
Columbus goaltender Jet Greaves picked up his first win of the season in the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday. Photo: Kevin Rouch