The Columbus Blue Jackets traveled to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul to take on the Minnesota Wild Tuesday in each team’s opening game of the season. Minnesota had a 3-1 lead toward the end of the third period, when Zach Werenski scored on a power play. But that was all the Jackets could muster and fell 3-2.

The Wild began the scoring with just 2:09 left in the first period when Matt Boldy wristed one home from the right circle just after the expiration of a Minnesota power play. Marcus Johansson was blocking the view of Columbus netminder Elvis Merzlikins at the front of the net.

The Blue Jackets evened the score two minutes into the third period. Cole Sillinger shot from the slot rebounded to the right half wall. Sillinger chased and fed Kent Johnson in the right circle who spun and sent a low line drive past Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson. Sillinger and Ivan Provorov had helpers on the play.

One of the story lines coming out of the Columbus Blue Jackets’ training camp was that Kent Johnson had notably improved his strength and speed in the offseason. That work carried over to opening night against the Wild as the third-year winger ended up recording a goal and an assist on the night. 

Minnesota grabbed the lead again with 3:25 left in the second. The Blue Jackets failed to get the puck out of the zone as Boldy took it off Adam Fantilli’s stick just inside the blue line. Boldy sent a pass to the left of the goal to Johansson who quickly found Joel Eriksson Ek on the right side. Eriksson Ek was ready and sent a screamer past Merzlikins.

The Wild stretched the lead to 3-1 in the third period. As a Minnesota power play was winding down half way through the period, Boldy, who was in the left circle, found Mats Zuccarello in the right circle. Zuccarello slapped a one-timer into the near side of the net. Boldy ended the night with a goal and two assists.

Columbus fought back. Late in the third, the Blue Jackets went on the power play. Yegor Chinakhov was at the point, in control of the puck, and found a wide open Zach Werenski in the right circle. Werenski, who is toting a new, more shooter-friendly stick this season, laced one past Gustavsson.

The Jackets went 6-on-5 for the last two minutes and, despite the chaos and resultant shots created in front of Gustavvson, could not score again. The game ended with the final score of 3-2 in favor of the Wild.

The loss spoiled the homecoming of Columbus head coach Dean Evason, who had guided the Wild for parts of the last five seasons with great success. “We liked how our group played tonight,” said Evason following the game. Regarding the film shown to the crowd of his days in Minnesota, he noted, “Of course, there’s emotions. It was very nice. You don’t hear the crowd very often, but yeah, I heard the majority of them cheering.”

The Blue Jackets head to Denver to play the Colorado Avalanche Saturday at 9:00 p.m. EDT.