Yegor Chinakhov's first NHL goal lifts Blue Jackets to 5-3 win over Red Wings

Yegor Chinakhov took 20 shots and played most of nine games without scoring a goal. He wasn't going to miss on the 21st.

Late in the third period of Monday's game against the Detroit Red Wings, with the Blue Jackets trailing 3-2, forward Jakub Voracek spotted Chinakhov at the blue line, about to slip past the Red Wings' defense.

All Voracek had to do was get the puck on Chinakhov's stick, and the 20-year-old rookie did the rest. With a lightning-quick release, Chinakhov fired the puck five-hole on Detroit goaltender Thomas Greiss — a game-tying tally for his first NHL goal.

Three minutes later, defenseman Zach Werenski scored the game-winner, and the Jackets (8-5-0) came back from a third-period deficit for the fifth time this season to win 5-3.

"We knew it was just a matter of time before (Chinakhov) scored, and what better moment than to score a goal in that kind of setting," Werenski said. "Tie the game up with a few minutes left. It was awesome. It was good for the bench, it was good for our team, and obviously good for him."

Detroit (8-7-2) struck first on a goal from Dylan Larkin in the first period and led 2-0 five minutes into the second period. But goals from Boone Jenner and Adam Boqvist tied the game later in the period, as the Jackets picked up the pace and put pressure on Greiss throughout the frame.

In the second period alone, shots on goal in all situations were 17-7 in favor of Columbus. The Jackets had two power plays in quick succession midway through the period, and though they weren't able to solve Greiss on those man-advantage opportunities, the momentum flipped in their favor.

Red Wings rookie Lucas Raymond, who leads all NHL rookies with 19 points, scored to give his team the lead with 6:29 left in the third period. It could've been a deflating goal for Columbus, but Chinakhov tied things up just over two minutes later to help lift his team to victory.

Forward Alexandre Texier, playing in his 100th game, added an empty-net goal with just 2.5 seconds left to seal the victory.

Blue Jackets making third-period comebacks a habit

For the fifth time in 13 games, the Jackets came back from a third-period deficit to win the game. In the 2016-17 season, when Columbus won the most games in franchise history, there were four third-period comebacks all year.

The Jackets also scored the game-winning goal with under two minutes left to play for the second time this season — a feat that has only been achieved 26 times in franchise history.

"I think we’ve come back quite a few times this year already in the third period," Werenski said. "For us, it’s just that belief in our room. If you play the right way, you’re gonna find ways to win. That’s what we’ve been doing.

"When they took the lead there, I don’t think anyone panicked. Just kept playing our game. Jake makes a good play and Chinakhov buries it to tie it, and we find a way to get two points in regulation."

The win also meant the Jackets got two points out of a stretch of three games in four nights and stopped a two-game losing streak. Larsen, who thought his team deserved at least one point in Friday's loss to Washington couldn't hide his relief at getting at least one win out of the three games.

"About a period and a half out of these three games, that’s about all I didn’t like from us," Larsen said. "I thought we looked tired (against the Rangers). We were chasing the game. But this game, we came to play. We showed a lot of character tonight coming through here and coming from behind. It would’ve been real hard to get through that third game and not get anything."

Adam Boqvist scores first goal as a Blue Jacket

Boqvist suffered a lower-body injury just five games into his tenure in Columbus after being acquired as part of the Seth Jones trade with the Chicago Blackhawks in July, and Larsen made it clear that Boqvist would have to earn his way back into the lineup once he was healthy.

That opportunity came Monday after a disappointing 5-3 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday that left Larsen looking to make a change to his defensive pairs. Boqvist took full advantage, scoring his first goal in a Blue Jackets sweater in the second period to tie the game at two.

On the entry to the offensive zone, Boqvist drove down the center lane, then dished the puck to Chinakhov who fired a shot on net. The rebound came to Boqvist along the goal line, who lifted it over Greiss' shoulder and into the back of the net.

"You saw the puck play from Bo, what he can do," Larsen said. "His poise and plays under pressure. He gets a huge goal. Even on the entry, he makes a real good play on the entry. Just drives through. That’s a tough goal. That’s not an easy goal he scored there."

Justin Danforth "noticed" by Brad Larsen in NHL debut

Though Danforth played just 7 minutes, 23 seconds in his first NHL game, Larsen was pleased with what he saw from the 28-year-old rookie. Danforth recorded two shots on goal and six hits.

"I thought Danforth, for his first NHL game, I noticed him," Larsen said. "I think he had (six) hits. He didn’t get a ton of ice time, but I noticed him when he was on the ice, and that’s what I want. I want him to get noticed on the ice."

It's been a winding road to the NHL for Danforth, who became the first Sacred Heart University player to play in the NHL. He signed with the Jackets in May out of the KHL and spent the previous two seasons in Finland.

Werenski's path to the NHL was essentially the total opposite. He was the No. 8 overall pick in 2015 and made his NHL debut at just 19 years old in Oct. 2016, when Danforth was beginning his senior season at Sacred Heart.

But despite their different paths, Werenski has a clear appreciation for the work it took Danforth to get to this point of his career.

"It’s always cool for a group when a rookie comes in, let alone a guy that’s been around the block like he has," Werenski said. "He’s been everywhere, putting the work in trying to get here. He finally had his dream come true to play an NHL game and he played really good tonight. Had some chances. I was impressed with it. It’s always fun to get a guy like that here with some new energy and a guy that's earned it."

Blue Jackets three stars

First star

Yegor Chinakhov, forward, Blue Jackets

Chinakhov scored his first NHL goal with just 4:18 left to play, tying the game at three goals apiece. He also recorded the primary assist on Boqvist's goal in the second period.

Second star

Zach Werenski, defenseman, Blue Jackets

Werenski scored the game-winning goal, the 11th game-winner of his career, with 1:19 left in the game. He led all skaters with over 28 minutes of ice time, recorded six shot attempts, three of them on goal, and blocked three shots.

Third star

Gustav Nyquist, forward, Blue Jackets

Nyquist had the primary assist on both Boone Jenner's goal in the second period and Werenski's game-winner. He played 19:01 and played a role in multiple scoring chances throughout the night, in addition to the two goals.

bjohnson@dispatch.com

@baileyajohnson_

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets defeat Red Wings behind Chinakhov's first goal