Blue Jackets blast Blackhawks behind Patrik Laine hat trick

Feb 17, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) makes a save on a tip from Chicago Blackhawks center Dylan Strome (17) during the first period at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Patrik Laine had a hat trick and Boone Jenner collected a goal and two assists as the Columbus Blue Jackets earned a 7-4 road victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.

The win gave the Blue Jackets four victories on their five-game road trip. Columbus ended a six-game winless (0-3-3) drought against Chicago dating back to last season.

Laine scored the ninth hat trick of his NHL career, extending the forward’s points streak to eight games. The red-hot Laine has 16 points (10 goals, six assists) over the course of his streak, with multi-point performances in six of the eight games.

Jenner assisted on two of Laine’s goals and also tallied his 20th goal of the season. Jenner is the Blue Jackets’ team leader in goals and points (37).

Max Domi and Yegor Chinakhov each had a goal and an assist for Columbus, and Oliver Bjorkstrand also scored for the Blue Jackets. Gustav Nyquist, Vladislav Gavrikov and Zach Werenski also added two assists apiece.

The seven goals allowed is a new season high for the Blackhawks, who have given up six or more goals six other times this season.

Chicago is 3-7-2 over its last 12 games.

Ryan Carpenter and Philipp Kurashev each had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks. Alex DeBrincat and MacKenzie Entwistle scored Chicago’s other goals.

Patrick Kane recorded the 719th assist of his NHL career. The 15-year veteran is now tied with Hall of Famer Denis Savard for second place on the Blackhawks’ all-time assists list.

Five goals were scored during a wild first period, with Columbus taking the early lead when Jenner and Chinakhov each scored within a 13-second span. The Blackhawks equalized on goals from Kurashev and Carpenter, but Domi’s breakaway score restored the Blue Jackets’ lead at 16:55 of the opening frame.

Elvis Merzlikins stopped 28 of 32 shots to earn his 18th win of the season.

Playing in his third career NHL game, Blackhawks rookie goalie Arvid Soderblom stopped 30 of 36 shots.

–Field Level Media

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