Voracek buzzer beater forces overtime, but Nick Foligno's new team wiggles off the hook on Pastrnak shootout goal.
It was an almost perfect end to a great night at the Nationwide Arena.
After sitting through a pregame ceremony for the retirement of Rick Nash's No. 61, the Blue Jackets and the Boston Bruins gave a thrilling game to the largest crowd in the building's history (19,434).
In a tight match from start-to-finish, a game the Bruins won 5-4 via shootout was a way to cap the emotional evening—which included the return of beloved former Columbus captain Nick Foligno with Nash's honors.
Blue Jackets coach Brad Larson said, "Obviously, the game was an exciting game, but to be part of this (retirement ceremony), something I've seen before, but it was a special night." "I thought it was excellent. It was an hour. It didn't feel like an hour."
Once started, the game went even faster. It also ended with an exciting conclusion to regulation. With time running out 4-3 and Foligno sitting in the penalty box for a minor late hooker, Jakob Vorasek sent it to overtime with a tying goal that beat the final horn.
Vorasek's shot went through traffic and beat Boston goalkeeper Jeremy Swimman by 2.8 seconds, prompting Blue Jackets fans to roar. It didn't work out in overtime or a three-round shootout - the aftermath - decided by David Pasternak's goal in the top of the third - but dropping a second standing point could not have spoiled a historic night in Columbus.
"The fans are awesome here," Larsen said. "We're playing back-to-back here and [the Bruins] are resting, and it's a very good hockey team with Boston, so you're already worried about what will happen in the tank (we are). But That '5th line,' it drives them forward. It gives them energy and I think they were too big for us tonight.
The Blue Jackets got goals from Gustav Nyquist, Vladislav Gavrikov and Zach Verensky, before a dramatic goal from Voracek in third. Elvis Merzlikins started for the second time in as many days and took his second straight loss beyond regulation.
Jake Debreux, Eric Houla, Craig Smith and Patrice Bergeron scored for the Bruins (33-18-4). Boston finished the six-game road trip with their second straight win and a 7-1-0 record in their last eight games, leaving Foligno off the hook for a Voracek's goal—so to speak. For.
"It was a great game to watch," Voracek said. "Fast, physical, lots of goals, great saves. It would have been even better if we had won that game, but I think it was a good thing that happened with the Rick Nash ceremony today. I don't know if he Was on national TV, but that was a really good hockey game."
Foligno's return with the Boston Bruins shows former Blue Jackets captain still a favorite in Columbus
The popularity of Foligno in Columbus has not diminished at all.
It had been almost a full year since the Blue Jackets traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs, so it was the former captain's first visit with another team. The first clues to the kind of reception the store was receiving occurred midway through Nash's ceremony, when he was shown on a video board above the ice from a Bruins bench.
Once the video feed shown on the scoreboard was panned elsewhere, the focus created a great deal of excitement before turning back to Nash.
"I looked up and all I could see was me, and I was like, 'This is weird,'" Foligno said. "I was like, 'Oh, no, no, no, not in the middle of the ceremony!' It was good though."
It was just the beginning.
Foligno was also spotlighted during the first TV timeout in the first period with a "Welcome Back" montage that lasted almost a full two minutes. As the highlight of Foligno's memorable nine years as the Blue Jackets, players from both teams played their sticks on the ice while fans rejoiced.
At the conclusion, Foligno skated in the middle of the ice and swung the pair with a raised stick while the cheers erupted with a roar.
"Seeing Rick (the ceremony), the way he did it, the organization, it was incredible," Foligno said. "It was done so well and I'm so happy for him. So, I guess that just injured me all. I was honestly so happy for him. It was so neat. I'm really glad that I It was here for it. And then the first period hits and just... Being on that (other) side of the ice, isn't it? It's a little different. And then whatever tribute. Man, that got me. I feel that way. Wasn't expecting it."
This completely struck Foligno in emotion.
"It was really cool," he said. "It was my way of saying 'thank you' without being able to (say) every fan. Those fans meant a lot to me. They've been behind me through some crazy times in my life too, personally , Right? So, we've been through a lot together, on ice and off snow, and that's why this place is home."
After the game, while holding a large pizza from a popular downtown establishment, Foligno caught up with a large group of former teammates outside the Jacket's locker room. He smiled as he received handshakes and hugs from Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner, alternate captain Zach Verensky, Gustav Nyquist and Oliver Björkstrand, forwards Max Domi, Merzlikins and others.
Merzlikins also brought a souvenir goalie stick and had Foligno to sign it.
"Just so many emotions and how much I care about this place, these people and this organization," Foligno said. "I wore my heart on my sleeve here, so it was really special to welcome me back like this. It cost me big time."
Boston Bruins lead Voracek gallantry after late penalty to Foligno
Foligno, who played 13:38 and assisted on Smith's goal, almost had a bad end to his first trip to Columbus.
After getting his stick into Nyquist's hands with 30.7 seconds in regulation, he was sent off to hook with the Bruins for a 4-3 lead. Foligno raged in the penalty box and then saw Voracek tie his buzzer-beater on the power play.
The Bruins' rally to win only eased their pain.
"I was so mad," said Foligno, smiling. "I'm trying to make the perfect game and it absolutely sucks when you get stuck in that. Of course, there's also this (Nyquist), who likes to rub it in a little more. I saw him later and he was like , 'I must have decorated it a bit.' But (the win) meant a lot. I kept telling him (Bruines) inside the room, 'I hate when things happen about me.' I always wanted it to be about the team, but I wanted them to know I appreciated it."
Voracek is targeting the limited Blue Jacket and Bruins . regulation will end for
The final five minutes of the game can be packaged into a promotional video and used to recruit new fans to the game of hockey.
Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron had a controversial goal to prop up his team 4-3 on the power play, before almost leaving the offensive zone by the puck, which may or may not have been a missed offside call.
It featured the Blue Jackets looking for a tying goal, with 30.7 seconds left in regulation and their net empty and Foligno in the box for a 6-on-4 power play. Jenner won a pair of back-to-back draws, one in the offensive zone and the other on center ice, to keep Columbus' hopes alive. Jenner's second faceoff win was followed by a rapidly advancing 2-on-1 one-timer by Laine, a huge huge save by Swmann to negate it and then a goal from Voracek.
If that wasn't enough to reel in potential fans, Laine's cross-ice, diagonal pass was also for the tying goal for Voracek, who took two Bruins' sticks before fully disembarking to see through the traffic. Removed.
“It was a great pass,” said Vorasek, who usually ends up delivering those plays. "I mean, at that point? To go through the sticks, the sauce passes with bad ice (a period late)? After that we talked about it. We were both worried that it Would jump on my stick and the game would end there, but it all landed and I was trying to get it. It was a good shot. Feeling great."
The goal was Voracek's third of the season and he had a two-point game with one goal and one assist. The playmaking winger has three two-pointers in his last six games and now has 42 points from three goals and 39 assists.
Verensky said of the tying goal, "I don't think he had a choice (other than to shoot). Obviously, he's a pass-first guy, but a great shot by him. It gives us a point, So it's huge."
Verensky shines for the Blue Jackets in back-to-back marathon outings
Werenski probably shouldn't get off his couch on Sunday.
After missing four games with an upper body injury, the Blue Jackets' top defender logged back-to-back overtime games with more than 30 minutes of ice time.
After playing a regular-season career-high 32:51 in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Friday, Verensky came back just a day later and skated 30:16 against the Bruins, ending with one goal, nine attempts. , four shots, two takeaways and a block during a strong performance.
Verensky also hit hard in the net while trying to sabotage a scoring opportunity during one of the Jackets' power plays, but said the pain didn't last long. In fact, he stayed on the ice to finish that innings and completed the game without any problem.
"It felt like a playoff game," Verensky said. "It's that time of year right now. Obviously, they're ahead of us in the standings and just with the whole building [of being] and the excitement in that, you can feel on the ice level it's like a playoff game - and they The games are so much fun Play Play."