Columbus Blue Jackets Score on the Power Play against the Preds. Twice!

A mind blowing feat by the Columbus Blue Jackets as they score TWICE on the power play in a win over Nashville.

The Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 overtime victory was powered by an unexpected power last night, a power that the Jackets hadn’t been able to rely on in 11 games. Last night, the Jackets scored not one, but two goals on the mad advantage including the game winner.

Both goals came from the Jackets leading scorer, Artemi Panarin. The first goal came in the third period following Austin Watson committing goaltender interference. Zach Werenski and Pierre-Luc Dubois added the assist.

Just a minute into overtime Viktor Arvidsson committed a tripping penalty and it gave the Jackets a 4-3 advantage. It only took 14 seconds for the Jackets to end the game, again with a Panarin goal. The power play goal ended the game and gave the Jackets power play some much needed confidence.

The Columbus Blue Jackets haven’t scored in almost a month on the man advantage. Their last goal came on December 13th when Artemi Panarin scored on the power play against the Los Angeles Kings.

That drought spanned 25 attempts on the man advantage with zero goals. That streak had sunk the Jackets in the NHL standings with a power play percentage that was below 14%. Following a 2-2 night, the Jackets currently sit in 29th place in the league.

There is still plenty of work to be done but a night where the Jackets scored not one, but two power play goals seemed unimaginable over the last month. The team has the horses to take advantage of the extra man but for a myriad of reasons, most of them mental, they just couldn’t do it.

The power play has to continue to produce if this team wants to make a run in the playoffs. The best teams in the league rely on power play production in the playoffs when the games really tighten down.

Even if it was just for a night though, it was extraordinary to see what this team can do when it converts it’s chances on the power play.