Brian Hedger

Zach Werenski and his 'puck luck' are ready for the Winter Olympics Zach Werenski's 20th goal keys Columbus Blue Jackets' seventh straight win, a 4-0 victory over Chicago Blackhawks to usher in Olympic adventure.

After making his own luck on 20th goal, leading the #CBJ to their seventh straight win, it's time for Zach Werenski to start his Olympic adventure in Milano-Cortina, Italy.

www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Monahan gets to a loose puck, doesn't have his stick slashed and gets the tuck into an empty cage to make it 4-0 #CBJ with 4:27 left.

That oughta do it for all but the pending goose egg.

Crevier off for tripping with 8:33 left and the #CBJ get their first power play of the night while leading #Blackhawks 3-0.

Dach draws a tripping minor on Severson with 4:51 left in the 2nd and the #CBJ leading the #Blackhawks 3-0. Chicago back to the power play. They're 0-for-2 thus far, both earlier this period.

Ref just sent Monahan off for a penalty and said it was "No. 13"

Monahan wears No. 23. His best friend is 13 and that number's in the rafters for the most tragic of reasons.

#CBJ

Bedard gets a golden chance in front of the net and clips the right post. It remains 3-0 #CBJ

3-0 #CBJ Heinen short side snipe at 5:17 of the second. Coyle with the cross-ice pass to set it up.

Heinen off for hooking Dach and the #Blackhawks head to the game's first power play trailing #CBJ 2-0 at 2:55 of the third.

Second period of ice hockey being played here in Columbus. #CBJ leading #Blackhawks 2-0 and we'll see if the intermission gave either or both sides enough time to let their tempers simmer down a bit.

Have to be honest here. I might, too, if I were him.

#CBJ and #Blackhawks coming out for the 2nd period ->

#CBJ goals in the first scored by defensemen ... Werenski and Provorov.

Fabbro didn't like something Colton Dach did or said as the horn sounded to end the first. Skated over to the #Blackhawks forward and cross-checked him at the waist and that led to a dust up of multiple players before all left the ice.

#CBJ go to the first intermission leading 2-0.

Marchment with the second assist after getting blasted by Donato, so it was worth it. Fantilli with the primary on Provorov's sixth goal of the season.

#CBJ

2-0 #CBJ Provorov under the bar, short side after Donato absolutely destroyed Marchment with a huge hit above the left circle.

Bingo.

#CBJ go up 1-0 on Werenski's 20th goal of the season, which leads all NHL defensemen. Threw a puck in front and watches it deflect off Crevier's stick and Vlasic's slate into the #Blackhawks net.

Hockey being played in Columbus ... #CBJ vs #Blackhawks

Blackhawks vs. Blue Jackets
Referee: Kendrick Nicholson #30
Referee: Brandon Blandina #39
Lines: Brad Kovachik #71
Lines: Kyle Flemington #55
scoutingtherefs.com/... #Blackhawks #CBJ #CHIvsCBJ #NHL

#CBJ lines/D stay the same vs #Blackhawks w/o Marchenko:

Marchment-Fantilli-Heinen
Voronkov-Monahan-Johnson
Sillinger-Coyle-Olivier
Lundestrom-Jenner-Wood

Werenski-Severson
Provorov-Mateychuk
Fabbro-Gudbranson

Greaves
Merzlikins

No Marchenko for #CBJ warmups, which means no Marchenko for the game tonight vs #Blackhawks

His lengthy 50-minute skate this morning wasn't an indicator that he'd play. It turned out to be more of a way to get one more solid skate in before the Winter Olympic break.

Look for Heinen at 1 RW again.

Marchenko finally gets off the ice about 50 mins after getting on it. That’s quite a morning twirl.

#CBJ

Marchenko being Marchenko, he is still
out skating about 45 mins after getting on the ice this morning.

We’ll see if that means he’s available to play tonight or not when the #CBJ host #Blackhawks

Greaves to start in net, Marchenko skating right now and a decision on whether he’ll
be available tonight hinges on how that goes.

#CBJ

Columbus Blue Jackets blank New Jersey Devils for sixth straight win The Columbus Blue Jackets extended their winning streak to six games with a 3-0 shutout of the New Jersey Devils, led by Elvis Merzlikins' 24 saves.

#CBJ links after their 3-0 shutout of the Devils, so please, please click away:

Recap w/updated playoff picture -> www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Elvis can almost jet off to Olympics -> www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Olivier's odd goal -> www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Columbus Blue Jackets blank New Jersey Devils for sixth straight win The Columbus Blue Jackets extended their winning streak to six games with a 3-0 shutout of the New Jersey Devils, led by Elvis Merzlikins' 23 saves.

Rapid recap of #CBJ sixth straight win ->

www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Olivier having the time of his life out there. Outskates Dougie Hamilton to a loose puck with an empty cage in front of them, draws a slash and gets rewarded with his second goal of the period and game.

Snaps his stick in half as a celly. Lol.

It's 3-0 #CBJ

Olivier and it's 2-0 with 7:55 left to play in the third there in NJ. #CBJ

Capitals and Flyers tied 2-2 early third and Penguins up 3-2 over Islanders after two periods in Elmont, NY.

#CBJ would benefit most from the Pennsylvania teams winning those games.

Fabbro, the second intermission guest, makes it 1-0 #CBJ on his fourth goal of the year in his return from a six-game absence for a laceration on top of his foot.