Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau: One of each in loss
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Gaudreau scored a goal on two shots, added an assist and went plus-2 in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Hurricanes.
Gaudreau set up Kirill Marchenko's goal early in the third period and then scored one of his own on a knuckling shot. The Blue Jackets couldn't make that 2-0 lead stand, giving up three goals over the final 10 minutes to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Gaudreau continues to play better with two goals and three assists over his last five games, but he's at a shaky 11 points, 50 shots on net and a minus-1 rating through 22 contests overall. Just two of his points have come with the man advantage.
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Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau: Ends goal drought
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Gaudreau scored a goal on four shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-3 loss to the Capitals on Saturday.
Gaudreau opened the scoring Saturday, blasting a slap shot past Charlie Lindgren in the slot. This was his first goal in eight games, and the American forward has just three points in nine games in November. Gaudreau had 74 points last season and continues to skate in a top-six role while playing on the top power-play unit, so perhaps this goal will be the spark that gets the former Flame back on track.
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Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau: Benched in third period
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Gaudreau was benched for the final 16 minutes of the third period in Saturday's loss to the Capitals, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
"We know Johnny can make a difference when he's skating and when he's involved, and tonight I felt he wasn't there," coach Pascal Vincent said after the game. "We're going to play the guys who are playing. It doesn't matter who you are. It's about the Blue Jackets, and I didn't like his game." Gaudreau had scored his first goal of the season just one game earlier, but he made little impact Saturday in a 2-1 loss, failing to record a shot on goal with a minus-1 rating in 11:55 of ice time. The 30-year-old missed practice Friday to attend to a personal matter, and it's not clear if off-ice concerns may have affected his focus and compete level Saturday -- nor if Vincent intends to send a further message to his team's highest-paid player by making Gaudreau a healthy scratch Monday against the Panthers.
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Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau: Finally lights lamp
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Gaudreau scored an empty-net goal in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Lightning.
It wasn't the most skillful tally, but Gaudreau finally ended the longest season-opening goal drought of his career, as he'd failed to light the lamp in the first nine games of 2023-24. Gaudreau's managed only five points in 10 contests and has one lonely power-play assist, but production could begin to come in bunches for the 30-year-old now that he's off the schneid.
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Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau: Two helpers against Blueshirts
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Gaudreau notched two assists, one on the power play, in Saturday's win over the Rangers.
He helped set up Boone Jenner for Columbus' first two goals of the night, and the first two tallies of Jenner's natural hat trick. Gaudreau is looking to rebound from a somewhat disappointing first season with the Blue Jackets, and while he might not return to the 115-point form he flashed with the Flames in 2021-22, the 30-year-old is still talented enough to deliver at least a point a game.
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Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau: Ices preseason win
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Gaudreau scored an empty-net goal in Monday's 5-3 preseason win over the Blues.
The 30-year-old is locked into a top-six role for the Blue Jackets this season and a spot on the top power-play unit while acting as a mentor for young talent like 2023 third overall pick Adam Fantilli. Gaudreau's coming off a somewhat disappointing first campaign in Columbus, managing 21 goals and 74 points in 80 games, but he's proven during his time in Calgary that he has a much higher ceiling -- if he has the talent around him to reach it. If the Jackets' other star players like Patrik Laine and Zach Werenski can stay healthy and prospects like Fantilli are ready to make an impact, Gaudreau could shine once again.
Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau: Scores goal vs. Buffalo
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Gaudreau collected a goal in Columbus' 5-2 loss to Buffalo on Friday.
Gaudreau has closed out the season with 21 goals and 74 points in 80 outings. While those are impressive numbers, it is a far cry from the 40 goals and 115 points he recorded with Calgary in 2021-22. Gaudreau played through the first campaign of his seven-year, $68.25 million contract with Columbus.
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Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau: Pots OT winner
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Gaudreau scored the overtime winner in Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Penguins.
The 29-year-old got sprung for a breakaway by Adam Boqvist and made no mistake, going five-hole on Tristan Jarry exactly one minute into the extra frame. Gaudreau has 20 goals and 73 points through 79 games, respectable given the state of the roster around him, but Thursday's win could prove costly for the franchise's chances of improving his supporting cast -- it jumped Columbus ahead of Anaheim and Chicago at the bottom of the NH:L standings, hurting the Jackets' chances of landing Connor Bedard in the draft.
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Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau: Back in action Saturday
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Gaudreau (illness) will return to the lineup Saturday versus the Rangers, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Gaudreau played only a few shifts Thursday against New Jersey before his illness forced him to leave the contest. He has 19 goals and 71 points in 76 games this season.
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Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau: Exits with illness
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Gaudreau (illness) left Thursday's game versus the Devils and will not return.
Gaudreau took only a handful of shifts in the first period. It's unclear if he'll feel well enough to play Saturday versus the Rangers, though the Blue Jackets are unlikely to push him since they're out of the playoff race.
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Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau: Two helpers in OT win
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Gaudreau picked up a pair of assists in Sunday's 4-3 overtime win over the Senators.
Gaudreau grabbed his first helper on Kent Johnson's power-play goal early in the first period before setting up Kirill Marchenko for the game-winner 16 seconds into overtime. Gaudreau has increased his production of late, recording 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in his last 12 contests. The 29-year-old forward is up to 19 goals and 71 points through 74 games this season.
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Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau: Goal and assist in loss
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Gaudreau tallied a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Rangers.
Gaudreau picked up an assist on Kirill Marchenko's power-play marker in the first period before adding a goal later in the frame, beating Igor Shesterkin with a wrist shot from the slot. The 29-year-old has been productive recently, recording six points (two goals, four assists) in his last four contests. Gaudreau's up to 19 goals and 50 assists through 71 games this season.
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Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau: Two points in OT win
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Gaudreau picked up a goal and an assist, both on the power play, in Friday's 5-4 overtime win over the Islanders.
It might end up being a costly victory for Columbus in multiple ways -- three different Blue Jackets got hurt during the game, and the win allowed the Sharks to move into the NHL basement, and the best odds of landing Connor Bedard in the draft lottery -- but Gaudreau isn't wired for tanking. The 29-year-old has four multi-point performances in the last seven games as he finished out the season on a heater, and he's up to 18 goals and 67 points through 69 contests in his first campaign with his new club.
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Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau: Grabs two helpers in win
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Gaudreau logged a pair of assists in Tuesday's 7-6 overtime win over Washington.
Gaudreau picked up his first helper on Emil Bemstrom's goal in the third period before setting up Jack Roslovic for the winner in overtime. Overall, it's been a down year for Gaudreau after posting 115 points last season, though he does have eight points (two goals, six assists) in his previous five games. The 29-year-old winger is up to 17 goals and 48 assists through 68 games with Columbus.
