Blue Jackets Lose To Dallas In A Game Filled With Injuries & Controversy

Cole Sillinger(9), Adam Fantilli(16), and Ivan Provorov(4) scored the goals for Columbus, and Elvis Merzļikins played great despite the score. He made 34 saves on 39 Stars shots.

The game had a few storylines – Injuries, missed penalties leading to Stars goals, and a controversial goal for Dallas.

Dallas’s first three goals were preceded by what the game referees could have easily called penalties. Before two of their first three goals, Dante Fabbro took an elbow to the head, and Kent Johnson was hooked down. Both were not called, and both led to goals within seconds.

Later in the third period, controversy struck. Dallas took a long shot in which Stars forward Evgenii Dadonov knocked out of the air with his stick and in. Even in live action, it looked like it was a high stick that scored the goal. Dadonov himself didn’t even celebrate the goal. The play went to review and was “confirmed” by Toronto.

You take a look at the picture below and make a decision.

The NHL released the following statement regarding the goal: “Video review confirmed that Evgenii Dadonov’s stick was at or below the height of the crossbar when he directed the puck into the Columbus net.” 

That goal ended up being the game-winner. Everyone on the Columbus bench disagreed.

And now the injuries:

• Dante Fabbro took a high hit from a Star, had to leave the game, and did not return. A penalty was not called on the play. HC Dean Evason said after the game that Fabbro won’t be available to them.

• Zach Werenski was injured after getting tied up with a couple of Stars players. He looked to have maybe taken a slash or cross-check that led to the injury. He was in obvious pain sitting on the bench. He left the game with four minutes left in the second period but would return for the third.

• Mikael Pyyhtiä took a puck to the face and was bleeding. He would eventually come back.

• Kirill Marchenko took a puck to the face and would leave the game. One of his teammates tried to clear a puck, and while Marchenko was sitting on the bench, he got drilled by the puck. He never returned to the game.

Dean Evason said after the game, “It’s not a bad break. It’s a bad call. It’s a high stick. I just don’t understand it.” Evason was generally not happy with the way the game was officiated on Sunday night.

The Blue Jackets hung tough against one of the best teams in the league, despite being down their top pairing on defense, and their top forward at times during the game. This was a game that could’ve should’ve been won by Columbus.

Final Stats

Player Stats

• Cole Sillinger scored his 9th goal of the season. The goal was his 100th career point.

• Adam Fantilli scored his 16th goal.

• Ivan Provorov scored his 4th goal of the season.

• Kent Johnson recorded his 19th assist. That point gives him a 7 game points streak.

• James van Riemsdyk got his 13th assist. He now has points in 14 of his last 15 games.

• Dmitri Voronkov tallied his 17th assist.

• Kirill Marchenko got his 34th assist.

• Justin Danforth recorded his 7th assist.

• Mikael Pyyhtiä got his 3rd assist.

• Elvis Merzļikins made 34 saves on the night

Team Stats

• The Jackets power play went 0/3.

• The Columbus PK went 2/3.

• The Blue Jackets won 42.2% of the faceoffs.

What’s Next: The Blue Jackets finish their four-game road trip in Buffalo against the Sabres on Tuesday night.

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