Blue Jackets scrap past Flames to win in Rick Bowness’ debut
Boone Jenner broke a late third-period tie, leading host Columbus to a wild 5-3 victory over the Calgary Flames in the debut of new Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness on Tuesday.
Charlie Coyle scored twice in a three-point game, Zack Werenski produced one goal and two assists and Dante Fabbro added a goal for the Blue Jackets, who fired coach Dean Evason on Monday and hired the veteran Bowness. The team responded with a win despite blowing leads of 2-0 and 3-2.
Jenner registered a "Gordie Howe hat trick" -- a goal, an assist and a fight -- while Columbus goaltender Jet Greaves made 29 saves.
Morgan Frost and Mikael Backlund each logged one goal and one assist for the Flames, who have lost five of six games. Rasmus Andersson added a goal while Yegor Sharangovich and Connor Zary both collected a pair of assists.
Calgary goalie Dustin Wolf stopped 38 shots.
With 94 seconds remaining in regulation, Jenner intercepted a clearing attempt and unloaded a shot from the left circle that found the net.
Coyle rounded out the scoring with an empty-net goal in the dying seconds.
The boost of a new bench boss paid early dividends when Fabbro opened the scoring at the 3:57 mark by firing a top-corner point shot with a screen set.
Coyle doubled the lead at 13:24 of the opening period. He delivered a perfect bank shot off the far post set up by Jake Christiansen's cross-ice feed to him at the right faceoff dot.
However, the Flames awoke from their doldrums past the midway point and drew even with a pair of power-play goals.
Frost put Calgary on the board by pushing home a loose puck in the crease at 12:00 of the second period to snap a 12-game goal drought. Then Andersson tied the clash with 41.8 seconds remaining in the frame by unloading a point shot after a faceoff win.
Werenski restored the Columbus lead thanks to a 5-on-3 advantage, converting a wrist shot from the point at 4:46 of the third period. He leads all NHL defensemen with 17 tallies.
Backlund pulled Calgary even again with another power-play goal, a rebound marker at 10:05 of the third period. The Flames had gone five games without a power-play goal, and they went into the clash last in the league with the man advantage.