Blue Jackets fans come out in droves for open practice

Here's Johnny!
Blue Jackets fans got their first look at Johnny Gaudreau in a Blue Jackets uniform Saturday morning, and the Fifth Line turned out in droves to see the superstar winger at the OhioHealth Ice Haus for an open practice.

And Gaudreau didn't disappoint, as his line that also featured Patrik Laine and Kent Johnson was on the ice for three goals in a 4-0 scrimmage win for his White squad.
The Blue Jackets have been split into three groups at the beginning of OhioHealth Training Camp, which began Wednesday, and all three were on the ice in front of the fans for the first time Saturday.
A line of hundreds stretched from the Ice Haus doors all the way up Nationwide Boulevard to Front Street for what felt like a celebration of hockey in Columbus, complete with free T-shirts plus video games, interactive games and a session of the Jackets' Get Out And Learn! youth program on McConnell plaza outside Nationwide Arena.
"I wasn't surprised, to be honest with you," head coach Brad Larsen said of the turnout. "Everyone has been real excited. Fans are excited. It's great to see them out. I think it helps the players. It was great."

When the puck dropped in the Ice Haus, the Blue Jackets scrimmaged twice, with the Red team downing the Blue squad by a 6-2 score in the first scrimmage. Carson Meyer and Nick Blankenburg each scored twice for the winning squad, which also got goals from draft picks James Malatesta and Martin Rysavy as well as goaltending from Elvis Merzlikins and Nolan Lalonde. Blue saw veteran James Neal and prospect Ben Boyd get on the board.
Gaudreau, Laine and Johnson took the ice in the second scrimmage against the Blue team and pulled away to a 4-0 victory with two goals in each half. Laine tapped home the rebound of a Gaudreau shot that was loose in the crease to start the scoring, then Cole Clayton pinballed a shot into the net after a Daniil Tarasov save. Yegor Chinakhov scored a beautiful goal in the second half before Laine fired home to finsh things off. Jet Greaves and Hayden Stewart combined on the shutout.

Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner, Liam Foudy and Joonas Korpisalo were held out of the scrimmaging after each missed the end of last season with injury. Cole Sillinger also was held out after suffering an upper-body injury Thursday.
The Blue Jackets next open the preseason schedule Sunday, playing at Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. and hosting the Penguins at 7.