NHL scores 2016: The Blue Jackets’ magic run just won’t stop

If 2016 wasn’t weird enough, the Columbus Blue Jackets are now tied for first place in the NHL with the Blackhawks. Yes, you read that right. Breathe it in, folks. A new age is upon us.

Let’s list all the things the Blue Jackets managed to do last night in their 7-1 victory over the Penguins, in no order of importance or significance:

And that’s just what they did last night. Columbus, in fact, has been taking it to the league’s best all year.

The Blue Jackets’ entire season has been something magical to watch. After finishing fourth from last in the NHL last year, they have all but guaranteed themselves a playoff spot — barring a collapse, of course — in a division thought to be ruled by bigger fish.

Instead, it’s now the Penguins, Rangers, and Capitals who look above them in the standings and see the Blue Jackets juggernaut standing in their way. Intimidating, is it not?

Hurricanes 3, Sabres 1
Devils 4, Flyers 0
Blue Jackets 7, Penguins 1
Wild 4, Canadiens 2
Senators 2, Ducks 1 (OT)
Lightning 5, Blues 2
Bruins 3, Panthers 1
Kings 4, Predators 0
Maple Leafs 6, Avalanche 0
Jets 4, Canucks 1

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1. Jaromir Jagr did it.

Not to be outdone, Jagr passed Mark Messier for second all-time on the NHL’s scoring list with his 1,888th point on Thursday. One game removed from tying Messier, Jagr wasted no time in passing yet another NHL legend in this calendar year.

It wasn’t a pretty assist, and Jagr said as much when he was interviewed after the historic moment.

Can’t Jagr stay in the NHL forever? Please?

2. Remember Minnesota? It’s streaking, too.

Given the way the Blue Jackets have exploded onto the scene, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the Wild, who are also on a winning streak. Three straight goals against Carey Price, and the Canadiens gave Minnesota their ninth win in a row.

Maybe more important in the score was the Price versus Devan Dubnyk matchup in goal — our first chance of the season to see the front-runners for the Vezina face-off. Dubnyk got the better end of the game, saving 32 Montreal shots, while Price allowed a soft one that got the Wild started on their comeback.

3. There were shutouts galore.

The Flyers, Predators, and Avalanche were all shut out on Thursday by a combined score of 14-0. Both the Flyers and Predators finished their schedules before the leaguewide holiday break on sour notes. Philadelphia was outplayed on all sides of the puck, looking just as tired as you’d expect a team would be after beating the Capitals in a shootout the night before. Nashville was unable to rebound from an early goal against in a 28-shot loss to the Kings.

The Avalanche, on the other hand, got their doors blown off in a 6-0 pounding against the Maple Leafs for their fifth loss in a row. Colorado’s stretch has kept them in last place in the NHL with just 23 points and a 11-20-1 record.

4. Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine showed their stuff.

The No. 1 and No. 2 overall draft picks from 2016 had a good evening. Matthews scored his 16th of the season — which, yes, is more than Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have combined this year.

Laine, on the other hand, scored his 19th of the year to keep ahead of Matthews as the gap closes.

What a race these two rookies are going to put on in the second half of the season.

The Senators won their fourth in a row on Mike Hoffman’s overtime goal. The win keeps Ottawa four points ahead of the Bruins — who also won on Thursday — for second place in the Atlantic. Just three points above the Senators? The first-place Canadiens.

Jagr can totally do it, guys.