Hours after trading disgruntled center Pierre-Luc Dubois, the Columbus Blue Jackets got three first-period goals and beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 Saturday.
Nick Foligno, Mikhail Grigorenko, Vladislav Gavrikov, Zach Werenski and Eric Robinson scored, and Elvis Merzlikins had 30 saves as the Blue Jackets played their most explosive game of the season. Fifteen different Columbus players recorded points.
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Hours after trading disgruntled center Pierre-Luc Dubois, the Columbus Blue Jackets got three first-period goals and beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 Saturday.
Victor Hedman and Ondrej Palat scored for the Lightning, who lost for the first time in their first four games. Andrei Vasilevsky made 22 saves.
Gavrikov's snap-shot from the slot with 59 seconds left in the first put Columbus up 3-1. The Lightning capitalized quickly on a power play with Palat's tap-in 14 seconds before the break to make it a one-goal game again.
Tampa Bay defenseman Erik Cernak was injured in the first period and didn't return. Center Mitchell Stephens had to be helped off the ice with an apparent leg injury early in the third period.
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The Blue Jackets' second victory in six games came shortly after Dubois, one of the team's leading scorers, was sent to Winnipeg in exchange for Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic in a deal announced early Saturday.
Columbus Blue Jackets' Alexandre Texier, left, of France, looks for an open shot as Tampa Bay Lightning's Mikhail Sergachev, center, of Russia, and Callan Foote defend during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP PhotoJay LaPrete)
Victor Hedman and Ondrej Palat scored for the Lightning, who lost for the first time in their first four games. Andrei Vasilevsky made 22 saves.
Hedman started it by beating Merzlikins with a back-hander from the slot on a rush 4:10 into the game. The Blue Jackets tied it 17 seconds later when Foligno knocked in a rebound off Vasilevsky's stick. Cam Atkinson did good work fighting off Hedman all the way through the zone to get to the net.
Later in the first, Grigorenko got his first goal as a Blue Jacket when he tapped in a puck from the blue paint that had trickled behind Vasilevsky.
Columbus Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins, right, of Latvia, makes a save as Tampa Bay Lightning's Mathieu Joseph looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP PhotoJay LaPrete)
Gavrikov's snap-shot from the slot with 59 seconds left in the first put Columbus up 3-1. The Lightning capitalized quickly on a power play with Palat's tap-in 14 seconds before the break to make it a one-goal game again.
After a scoreless second period, Werenski's shot from the left circle went in for his first goal of the season 6:34 into the third. Robinson added an empty-netter with 1:48 left in the game.
TRAINERS ROOM
Tampa Bay Lightning's Callan Foote, right, checks Columbus Blue Jackets' Boone Jenner during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP PhotoJay LaPrete)
Tampa Bay defenseman Erik Cernak was injured in the first period and didn't return. Center Mitchell Stephens had to be helped off the ice with an apparent leg injury early in the third period.
UP NEXT
The Lightning continues their road trip with at Carolina for a two-game set on Tuesday and Thursday. The Blue Jackets host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday and Thursday.
Tampa Bay Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy, top, of Russia, makes a save against Columbus Blue Jackets' Alexandre Texier, of France, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP PhotoJay LaPrete)
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Tampa Bay Lightning's Victor Hedman, left, of Sweden, chases Columbus Blue Jackets' Liam Foudy behind the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP PhotoJay LaPrete)