There were a lot of questions going into tonight’s game. It was the Jackets’ first on the road (the first of four on this trip), and the tail end of a back-to-back. We knew there would be changes in the lineup with Oliver Bjorkstrand assigned to Cleveland, so what would we get? In an impressively consistent performance, the Jackets downed the Stars 3-0 in front of a sellout crowd at American Airlines Center. Their offensive attack was balanced across all three periods – 23 5v5 attempts in the first, 15 in the second, 17 in the third. No turtling here. We had a skilled goal for the first point, a gritty second goal that came off a turnover, and an empty netter from Matt Calvert for good measure to seal the deal.
The team showed, as Tortorella said post game, “the right balance of patience and aggression.”
A day off in California tomorrow seems a good reward, before facing the Kings on Tuesday.
Let’s look at the superlatives.
The Good. This goal.
https://twitter.com/myregularface/status/790003664459030528
Here’s what is neat. The Jackets involved four stick to stick passes to culminate in a beauty of shot by Josh Anderson in what would end up being the game winner. To see execution like this from a team that was perceived to be floundering not so recently ago is a positive sign indeed. It’s also important to note the slow return to normal for Jenner who had the primary assist on this one and looked much stronger tonight in his 12:04 of ice time. Torts said he wanted to continue to give Jenner opportunities to find his way. He held to his word and it seems like it might be working.
The Good, part deux. Bob is Bob.
Tonight very quietly marked Bobrovsky’s 100th win as a Jacket and 13th career shutout (all of which came with Columbus). Through four games he’s posting a .935 SV% and he’s serving as the anchor once again to the team that so desperately needs him to be just that.
The Good, the trilogy. Werenski is legit.
Zach Werenski has at least one point in each of his first four games (2-3—5), extending his @BlueJacketsNHL record to start an NHL career.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 23, 2016
Four straight games – his first four in the NHL – all with points. Tonight, the 19-year-old (NINETEEN) provided the secondary assist on Hartnell’s goal that came off an Anderson forced turnover in the Stars zone. Werenski sees the game in a different way, his play is fast, his vision on the ice is perceptive, and his shot is lethal. Maybe – just maybe – this guy is the real deal. (Spoiler – he probably is)
Quote of the Game.
“We are going to have to earn respect, and it starts right now.” ~Seth Jones
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
