Coyle’s Hat Trick, Defensive Masterclass Fuel Blue Jackets’ 4-2 Win Over Blackhawks
The Columbus Blue Jackets continue their roll under Rick Bowness, picking up a 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL’s lone Friday night matchup. With Charlie Coyle putting together a four-point night, including the second hat trick of his career, and Elvis Merzlikins standing tall in net, Columbus improved to 7-1 under their new head coach.
From start to finish, this was a game the Blue Jackets largely controlled. Chicago’s top line, led by Connor Bedard, showed flashes and kept things interesting, but when it came time to close, Columbus slammed the door shut.
Let’s break down three key takeaways from a win that’s starting to feel like the new norm for this Blue Jackets squad.
Charlie Coyle Is Making a Selke Case-And Then Some
Charlie Coyle isn’t the loudest guy in the room, but his play is speaking volumes right now. He’s long been known as a responsible two-way forward, but this version of Coyle? He’s putting together the kind of stretch that demands league-wide recognition.
He kicked off the scoring with a power-play goal, marking the seventh time in eight games that Columbus has struck first under Bowness. That’s not just a trend-it’s a tone-setter. Later, he capitalized on a turnover from Andre Burakovsky to notch his second goal of the night, showing the kind of awareness and poise that’s become his calling card.
But it wasn’t just the goals. One of the most pivotal moments of the game came with the Blue Jackets on the penalty kill.
Chicago had a shorthanded rush brewing, but Coyle tracked back, disrupted the play, and preserved the lead. That’s the kind of defensive responsibility that puts you in the Selke Trophy conversation.
And when it came time to match up with Bedard’s line late in the game, Coyle’s unit got the assignment-and shut them down.
After the game, Coyle emphasized the importance of staying the course.
“How do you stay going the right way and staying consistent and believing in what we do and how we should do it? That’s all stuff we got to keep growing in our game and what we do.
And it’s going to pay off. I think we see it more and more paying off right now and we’re getting wins because of it.”
Zach Werenski, who’s had a front-row seat to Coyle’s impact, put it bluntly-he’s out of things to say.
“Yeah, I’m sick of talking about that guy. It’s been 1,000th game, the ceremonies, now tonight.
Honestly though, he’s been incredible and I really can’t say anything else. I feel like I’ve said it all.
He’s one of the best teammates I ever played with and obviously what he does on the ice. He plays the right way.
I think he leads by example. It’s nice to obviously see him get four points tonight and three goals.
But it’s everything else away from the puck that he does that’s so important to our group.”
Coyle’s doing it all-scoring, defending, leading. And with trade rumors swirling, it’s hard to imagine the Blue Jackets letting go of a player having this kind of all-around impact.
Closing Time: Jackets Lock It Down in the Third
Heading into the third period up 3-2, the Blue Jackets were in familiar territory. But unlike earlier in the season, this time they didn’t flinch.
Columbus held Chicago to just 24 shots all night-eight in each period-and limited them to just a couple of chances late in the third when the Blackhawks were pressing for the equalizer. With just over six minutes left, the shot count was 3-2 in favor of Chicago. That’s not just defensive structure-that’s suffocating hockey.
Head coach Rick Bowness was pleased with the effort but still sees room to grow.
“We didn’t give up much in the third, so that’s a good thing. But we still want to generate a little bit more.”
Werenski echoed that sentiment, noting the team’s ability to contain Bedard’s line down the stretch.
“I feel like that one line for them created a lot of offense tonight. I feel like in the third we did a good job of limiting their chances.”
The third-period woes that plagued this team earlier in the year? They’re starting to fade. And that’s a big deal if Columbus wants to keep climbing.
Penalty Kill Rising to the Occasion
Special teams have been a point of emphasis for Bowness, and the Blue Jackets delivered when it mattered. Columbus killed off two critical penalties-one in the second period and another in the third-without giving Chicago any momentum.
Bowness appreciated the effort but made it clear that discipline remains a work in progress.
“The penalty kill’s better. I don’t like taking a penalty in the third period.
We took a couple the other night and I don’t like seeing those penalties in the third period. So, that’s something we’re going to keep addressing.
And then you give the penalty killers credit. They came up big when they had to come up big.”
A big part of that success? Elvis Merzlikins.
He turned aside 22 shots and came up with timely saves that kept the Blue Jackets in control. Bowness praised his goaltender’s compete level and composure-two traits that are starting to define Merzlikins’ game of late.
And with the way Merzlikins is playing, Columbus suddenly has two goalies it can trust, giving Bowness flexibility and confidence between the pipes.
What’s Next
With seven wins in their last eight, the Blue Jackets are starting to look like a team that believes in its identity. They’re getting timely scoring, buying into a defensive structure, and getting the kind of goaltending that wins games in crunch time.
Charlie Coyle is leading by example, the penalty kill is trending up, and the third-period collapses that haunted this team earlier? They’re becoming a thing of the past.
If this version of Columbus sticks around, they’re going to be a tough out for anyone.