Blue Jackets Stay Hot with Gritty 5-3 Win Over Blues, Extend Streak to Five
The Columbus Blue Jackets are rolling-and they’re doing it with grit, depth, and a whole lot of belief. Saturday night’s 5-3 win over the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center marked their fifth straight victory, their longest streak of the season, and yet another statement that this team is finding its identity under new head coach Rick Bowness.
Let’s be clear: this was not a cruise-control kind of win. Columbus was playing its third game in four nights, and by the time the third period rolled around, they were down to just 10 forwards. But they dug deep, scrambled lines, and found a way to close it out-exactly the kind of effort Bowness has been preaching since he took over behind the bench on January 13.
“Good teams find a way to win. We're a good team,” Bowness said postgame. “A very impressive, gutty effort.”
And he’s right. The Blue Jackets are now 8-1-0 under Bowness, and they’re not just winning-they’re outworking teams.
Johnson, Werenski Continue to Shine
Kent Johnson had himself a night with a goal and an assist, including a slick tip-in on the power play that gave Columbus a 3-2 lead in the second period. The 21-year-old forward continues to show why he’s such a key piece of the Jackets’ future-not just with his skill, but with his timing. Every time the Blues answered, Johnson and company had a response.
Zach Werenski chipped in an assist to extend his point streak to five games (one goal, seven assists). The veteran blueliner has been a stabilizing force on the back end, quarterbacking the power play and logging heavy minutes in all situations.
Jet Greaves Holds Strong in Crunch Time
Goaltender Jet Greaves made 28 saves, and while it wasn’t always flashy, it was timely. Fifteen of those stops came in the third period, when the Blues were pressing hard and Columbus was running on fumes.
Greaves is now 4-0-0 in his career against St. Louis, and he’s starting to look like a reliable option in net as the Jackets navigate the second half of the season.
Blues Continue to Slide
For the Blues, it was more of the same-and that’s not a good thing. They’ve now lost six of their last seven (1-5-1), and the frustration is starting to show.
“We’re always chasing games,” said Brayden Schenn, who had two assists. “We just don’t have enough drive to come out and push teams early on.”
St. Louis had its moments.
Jimmy Snuggerud opened the scoring with a nice give-and-go play with Schenn, and later added an assist to extend his point streak to four games (two goals, four assists). Jonatan Berggren, claimed off waivers in December, also had a goal and an assist, continuing to show some spark in his new role.
But the Blues couldn’t hold momentum. Every time they tied it, Columbus answered.
Back-and-Forth Battle
This one was a rollercoaster. After Snuggerud gave the Blues a 1-0 lead midway through the first, it took Columbus just 37 seconds to respond. Boone Jenner forced a turnover and found Isac Lundestrom, who buried a wrister from the right side.
Denton Mateychuk’s point shot-deflected off a Blues stick-gave the Jackets a 2-1 lead later in the period. Berggren tied it early in the second with a power-play goal, but Johnson’s tip on a Provorov shot swung the game back in Columbus’ favor.
Tyler Tucker tied things again at 3-3 in the third, his shot from the wall deflecting off Jenner and in. But Damon Severson came up big with just under four minutes to go, firing a shot from the high slot that clipped a Blues stick and found twine for the game-winner.
Mason Marchment sealed it with an empty-netter in the final minute.
Injury Notes and Lineup Updates
St. Louis was without forward Jake Neighbours due to an upper-body injury, though head coach Jim Montgomery expects him back Monday against Nashville. The team also announced during the game that center Robert Thomas underwent a minor leg procedure and is expected to return after the Olympic break.
“It was just becoming a nuisance to him,” Montgomery said. “It’s no fun every time you take a stride and you have pain.”
Columbus forward Sean Monahan did not play in the third period. He took a hit from Schenn in the first but returned for the second before being shut down.
Final Thoughts
The Blue Jackets are showing signs of a team that’s buying in-top to bottom. They’ve outscored opponents 23-13 during this five-game win streak and are getting contributions from all corners of the lineup. Whether it’s Johnson stepping up offensively, Werenski driving play from the back end, or Greaves holding it down in net, this team is starting to look like more than just a feel-good story.
As for the Blues, the issues run deeper than a few unlucky bounces. The talent is there, but the urgency isn’t. Until they find a way to start games with the same energy they show when they’re trailing, the results likely won’t change.
Columbus is surging. St.
Louis is searching. And Saturday night was just the latest chapter in two teams heading in very different directions.