Riding a tremendous high following a 6-3 victory against the Buffalo Sabres on opening night, the Columbus Blue Jackets returned to the ice Saturday inside of Nationwide Arena, looking to run their winning streak to two games against the visiting Utah Mammoth.
However, the Blue Jackets started the game on their heels, managing just four shots on goal in the opening frame. Utah countered with 18 shots on goal and a 2-0 lead after the opening stanza.
Mikhail Sergachev and Nick Schmaltz got the visitors out front with two goals before the Jackets could respond. CBJ forward Kent Johnson answered for the home team in the second period, finding the back of the net off a great pass from newcomer Matthew Knies to cut the deficit to one.
The Mammoth hit back hard in the third period, scoring two goals to take home a 4-1 victory and hand the CBJ its first loss of the new campaign.
All told, Utah converted on three of four power-play opportunities, which proved costly for the Jackets.
Fun fact
Steve Mears of the Blue Jackets Hockey Network pointed out that the last four games between the Utah and Columbus ended in overtime, so this was the first contest that the teams had settled in regulation in quite some time.
The CBJ now has a rare layoff before its next game on Friday, October 9, when the Pittsburgh Penguins come to town for the season’s first Metropolitan Division tilt.
The puck drops at 7 p.m.