Fansided

Columbus Blue Jackets shock Lightning with 4-3 win in Game 1

By Dave Stevenson |
TAMPA, FL - APRIL 10: David Savard #58 of the Columbus Blue Jackets celebrates a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at at Amalie Arena on April 10, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - APRIL 10: David Savard #58 of the Columbus Blue Jackets celebrates a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at at Amalie Arena on April 10, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images)

After trailing 3-0 in the first period, the Columbus Blue Jackets came back to win 4-3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets have never won a playoff series. After trailing 3-0 in Game 1 against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning, things don’t look good. However, the Blue Jackets scored the next four goals to shock the NHL in Game 1.

Goals from Alex Killorn, Anthony Cirelli, and Yanni Gourde gave Tampa an early 3-0 lead. They appeared to be cruising to a Game 1 win, as many expected. Columbus got outshot 13-7 and the Bolts were clearly the better team.

More from Puck Prose

However, the Blue Jackets weren’t done. After a rough first period, Columbus goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky kept his team in the game during the second period. That was long enough for the Blue Jackets to grab hold of the game.

Columbus captain Nick Foligno started the comeback with a second-period goal just over nine minutes into the period. Tampa started sitting back, as both teams had 11 shots on goal in the second period.

It was in the third period that the Blue Jackets made their big moves. A goal from sudden sniper David Savard, who now has five goals since the start of March, cut the deficit to one. Shortly after, forward Brandon Dubinsky got a four-minute penalty for high sticking. Josh Anderson bailed out his teammate with a shorthanded goal to tie the game.

Two minutes later, defenseman Seth Jones got the Blue Jackets’ fourth unanswered goal, giving them the 4-3 lead they did not relinquish. Columbus got desperate and Tampa clearly wasn’t ready for them. The Lightning are far from out of this series, as it’s just one game. But now the Blue Jackets have a ton of momentum. The pressure is on Tampa right now, not Columbus.

Game 2 will be on Friday. The Lightning will have to regroup and learn from their mistake of perhaps taking the Blue Jackets a bit too lightly. They are the more talented team, so the series is still theirs to lose. But Columbus just made a heck of a statement with their come from behind win.

Next. Ranking Each Team's Chances Of Winning The Stanley Cup. dark

3 Stars

  1. Josh Anderson got the game-tying goal and the primary assist on Foligno’s goal.
  2. Seth Jones got the game-winning goal and also had six blocked shots. Additionally, he had 25:33 of ice time.
  3. Anthony Cirelli of the Lightning had a goal and four shots on goal. He was Tampa’s best player.

For more 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage, check out our Stanley Cup Playoffs page.

Home / Columbus Blue Jackets