Nyquist, Blue Jackets defeat Blackhawks to end 7-game losing streak

COLUMBUS --Gustav Nyquist scored two short-handed goals for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who ended a seven-game losing streak with a 4-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationwide Arena on Saturday.

Emil Bemstrom and Kirill Marchenko scored, Johnny Gaudreau had two assists, and Joonas Korpisalo made 27 saves for the Blue Jackets (11-22-2).
"We needed this for sure," Nyquist said. "We'd lost a few in a row, and to be able to go into the new year with a win is nice. We've obviously been struggling to get those, so it's just a good feeling today."
Andreas Athanasiou scored, and Alex Stalock made 34 saves for the Blackhawks (8-23-4), who have lost 11 of their past 12 games.
"It was probably one of our worst performances of the year. Just disconnected," Chicago coach Luke Richardson said. "We've had a couple of those this year, not many.
"Our guys, I've got to give them credit. They push until the end most nights. Tonight, we were just frustrated."

Athanasiou gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead at 11:33 of the first period, scoring from the left circle off a pass from Isaak Phillips after Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier turned the puck over on a breakout. The assist was Phillips first NHL point (ninth game).
Bemstrom tied it 1-1 at 18:40 with a one-timer from the left circle off a cross-ice pass from Gaudreau on a power play.
Bemstrom has scored in consecutive games since being recalled from Cleveland of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis Wednesday.
"When you're just enjoying hockey and having fun, you get confidence," Bemstrom said. "It's just fun to play out there."

Nyquist gave Columbus a 2-1 lead at 3:50 of the second period with his first short-handed goal, scoring off a pass from Jack Roslovic in the slot.
Marchenko extended it to 3-1 at 19:57 from the right circle, 24 seconds after a penalty kill by the Blue Jackets.
"The PK did a great job there, [Korpisalo] did a great job back there," Gaudreau said. "It was a quick turnover by the other team, and a nice play by our [defensemen]. Just a great shot by [Marchenko]. He has a great shot."

Marchenko, who was playing on a line with Gaudreau for the first time, has five goals in 12 games since making his NHL debut on Dec. 6, including three in his past four games.
"It's tough to communicate a little bit," Gaudreau said. "His English isn't the best but we're making it work. He's a great player, a smart player. It's fun to play with him, and hopefully we can create some chemistry and kind of stick together."
Chicago was outshot 14-5 in the second period.
"Stalock made some real unbelievable saves to keep us in the game," Athanasiou said. "It would have been nice to help him out more, but he was huge back there for us."
Nyquist scored his second short-handed goal into an empty net at 19:21 of the third period for the 4-1 final.
NOTES: Gaudreau had 13 assists in December, tying Artemi Panarin (2017) for the most in Columbus history. ... Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine missed his second straight game (COVID-19 protocol). … Columbus goalie Daniil Tarasov, who was expected to serve as the backup, was a late scratch and is day to day after sustaining an upper-body injury in practice Friday. Elvis Merzlikins backed up Korpisalo after missing three games (illness). … Columbus defenseman Andrew Peeke was a healthy scratch for the first time this season. He played all 82 games in 2021-22. … Blue Jackets defenseman Adam Boqvist had an assist for his first point of the season.