The Columbus Blue Jackets looked like a team reborn on Thursday night-and not just because there was a new face behind the bench. With a fresh voice calling the shots, the Jackets came out fast, played with purpose, and delivered one of their most complete efforts of the season in a regulation win over the Calgary Flames.
And they did it short-handed. Defenseman Damon Severson was a late scratch due to illness, leaving Columbus down seven regulars.
But you wouldn’t have known it from the opening puck drop. The Jackets came out with energy and urgency, jumping on the Flames early and building a 2-0 lead before the first intermission.
That wasn’t a fluke-it was the product of sharp execution on both sides of the puck.
The first goal came just under four minutes in, and by the time Charlie Coyle made it 2-0 off a slick feed from Jake Christiansen, it was clear: this team wasn’t waiting around to see how the game would unfold. They were dictating it.
They didn’t let up in the second period either. The Jackets opened with eight straight shots on goal, pinning Calgary in their own zone for long stretches.
Then came a spark from the Flames-literally. A scrap between Boone Jenner and Rasmus Andersson gave Calgary a jolt, and they capitalized with two power-play goals late in the period to tie things up heading into the third.
For a Columbus team that entered the night with a -20 goal differential in third periods-compared to -21 overall-that could’ve been the beginning of another late-game collapse. But this time, the story was different.
Five minutes into the third, Zach Werenski stepped up with a power-play goal to put the Jackets back in front. Calgary answered midway through the period, tying the game once again. And here’s where this version of the Blue Jackets showed its resolve.
Instead of retreating into a defensive shell or playing not to lose-as they’ve done too often this season-they stayed aggressive. Defensemen remained active in the offensive zone.
Forwards supported the puck. The team didn’t just protect their goalie-they made his job easier by staying on the front foot.
That commitment paid off with the game-winner, and it was a textbook example of how team defense and structure can create offense. It started in the Jackets’ own zone, with Jenner making a smart, composed play to get the puck out.
From there, Columbus transitioned quickly, with Jenner and Coyle providing strong support for Kent Johnson on the forecheck. That pressure forced a turnover, and Jenner was right there to pick it off, walk into the slot, and bury the go-ahead goal with confidence and poise.
It was the kind of play you expect from a captain-and the kind of play that’s been missing for much of the season.
This wasn’t just a win. It was a statement.
The Jackets looked connected. They looked determined.
And most importantly, they looked like a team that believed in what they were doing.
Veterans led the charge. Jenner, Coyle, Werenski, Ivan Provorov, and Dante Fabbro all made their presence felt.
Cole Sillinger, skating on the top line, played with energy and looked like he belonged alongside the team’s top talent. But perhaps the most encouraging signs came from the younger core.
Kent Johnson had his best game of the season-no question. He logged a season-high 20:55 of ice time, and he earned every second of it.
He was confident with the puck, engaged in all three zones, and looked like a player ready to take on a bigger role. After the game, both he and the coaching staff acknowledged the impact of the new leadership behind the bench-and Johnson’s performance showed it.
Adam Fantilli also stood out, playing with a noticeable edge and driving the puck to the net with purpose. Jake Christiansen, meanwhile, looked like the two-way depth defenseman the Jackets hoped he’d be when the season began.
There’s still work to be done-particularly on special teams, where the penalty kill continues to be a sore spot-but Thursday night was a step in the right direction. It was a glimpse of what this team can be when they play with belief, structure, and intensity.
One game doesn’t fix a season, but it can spark something. And for the Blue Jackets, who’ve spent much of the year searching for direction, this might just be the turning point they’ve been waiting for.