Artemi Panarin rightfully drew the lion’s share of adulation after Game One. His three-point, overtime-ending performance was as good a CBJ playoff debut as you could’ve imagined in the summer of 2017.
Another recent Blue Jackets acquisition played a key role in Thursday night’s win: Thomas Vanek. Brought over from Vancouver at the trade deadline, Vanek scored a game-tying power play goal and picked up an assist to finish the night as one of three Jackets with multiple points (Panarin and Pierre-Luc Dubois). His four shots also led the team in that department.