On Thursday night, Artemi Panarin showed why the Columbus Blue Jackets traded for him in a blockbuster deal over the offseason.
The electric 26-year-old talent showed off his goal-scoring skills with the game-winner in overtime of the Blue Jackets’ playoff opener against the Washington Capitals on Thursday night in DC.
(even though USA for a moment thought the score was reversed!)
Not according to USA Network. pic.twitter.com/oRkIOv8IA9
— Rob Roddy (@gannonknight) April 13, 2018
Columbus trailed 3-2 with under five minutes to go in the third period, when Seth Jones tied it up:
BIG goal from @seth_jones3 to send this one to #NHLOT.
The #StanleyCup Playoffs are alive. https://t.co/BSCwwv6L8m
— NHL (@NHL) April 13, 2018
Quite a way for the Jackets to start off their playoff run, and this whole “series lead” business is something that is very new to them (they’ve had a very rough postseason history). Like, it’s literally never happened before.
WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY EPIC GAME.
The Blue Jackets fought the Caps, the referees, injuries and more to take their first ever Stanley Cup Playoffs series lead on Artemi Panarin's overtime winner. #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) April 13, 2018
And for the first time in franchise history, the Blue Jackets lead a postseason series
— Go Get Him, Tom (@tcopain) April 13, 2018
And another interesting nugget: the Jackets are now 3-1 in overtime of playoff games, but 1-11 in games that end in regulation.
The Blue Jackets beat the Capitals, 4-3, in overtime.
Columbus is 3-1 all-time in playoff games that go to overtime and 1-11 in playoff games that end in regulation. pic.twitter.com/1A9CptShgc
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 13, 2018
Columbus will look to jump out to a surprising 2-0 lead when these teams meet for Game 2 on Sunday in DC.
[USA]
