Laine has 10th hat trick, Blue Jackets end road skid
Published on Saturday, January 14, 2023 | 11:36 p.m
Updated Sunday, January 15, 2023 | 12:26 am
DETROIT (AP) – Patrik Laine had his 10th NHL hat trick and the Columbus Blue Jackets snapped a 10-game losing streak, holding off the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Saturday night.
Laine, whose previous hat trick came on Feb. 17 last season against Chicago, was scoreless in his last nine games. Vladislav Gavrikov also scored for the Blues, and Johnny Gaudreau and Jack Roslovic each had two assists.
“I feel like it’s been a frustrating season overall,” Laine said. “It’s not just because I haven’t scored lately, but losing is not fun. If we’re winning and I’m struggling, I won’t be (upset). All that matters is winning.”
Elvis Merzlikins made 25 saves for his first win since Dec. 11.
“Amazing, especially how the guys played,” Merzlikins said. “We’re dead last, but we’re not going to give up hockey. We played hard, we were blocking shots and doing simple things.”
Olli Maatta, Jake Walman and Lucas Raymond scored third-period goals for the Red Wings, and Ville Husso made 21 saves. Detroit beat Winnipeg and Toronto to open its three-game homestand.
“There was no bounce and no life on the bench,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said of the four-goal deficit. “We were just looking around and waiting for something good to happen. It’s disappointing because we played a good game (against Toronto).
The Blue Jackets scored three goals in a 2:43 span during the first half.
Laine scored his first goal of the game just after the Blue Jackets killed Gavrikov’s penalty. Johnny Gaudreau lofted Laine’s one-timer from the left circle.
Gavrikov scored his third goal of the season on a putback during a scramble around the net.
Laine’s second goal came on a lucky break. Roslovic’s shot went wide of the net, bounced off the backboards and onto Laine’s stick.
“It was nice to get those two early and get out of there,” Laine said. “We had a pretty good first two (periods) as a line and as a team. Went down a bit in the third but happier for the two points now.”
Laine completed his hat trick with a slap shot from the left just 1:32 into the second half. He has scored 12 goals this season.
The Red Wings broke through when Mathieu Olivier fumbled the puck into his own net at 5:50 of the third. Maatta was credited with his fourth goal.
Walman made it 4-2 at 7:08 with his fifth goal.
A Raymond defenseman with just over four minutes remaining pulled Detroit within a goal.
“We haven’t been in that situation, to be blunt and honest,” Columbus coach Brad Larsen said about playing with an advantage. “We haven’t been in this situation all year, but we got through it. This is a big step for this group. I thought we handled it very well. You know they will push. They took some juice. They came at us and we made some mistakes. Again, we haven’t been in this situation, but we found a way.”
Larkin was disappointed the Wings couldn’t snap their three-game homestand.
“That’s been the story of this season, we’ve won two or three but we can’t get fourth and fifth and make a good run,” he said.
GAME NOTES
Gaudreau has 22 points in 16 career games against the Red Wings. … Roslovic scored his 100th point with the Blue Jackets when he assisted on Laine’s first goal. … The Red Wings won the first two games of the three-game series. … Columbus is 7-0-0 when leading after two periods.
NEXT
Blue Jackets: Host the New York Rangers on Monday night.
Red Wings: At Colorado on Monday night.
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