It is a new day Jackets fans, time to take a deep breath and take in the California smog filled air. Lets see what is happening before today’s game.
Pregame
Dwight King – Anze Kopitar – Dustin Brown
Tanner Pearson – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli
Andy Andreoff – Jarret Stoll – Justin Williams
Kyle Clifford – Mike Richards – Jordan Nolan
Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughty
Robyn Regehr – Alec Martinez
Brayden McNabb – Matt Greene
Jonathan Quick
Martin Jones
Kings lines courtesy of LA Kings Insider
It was thought that Gaborik may draw in today but it sounds like he is still injured along with Trevor Lewis. As we have stated many times before, this California road trip is an absolutely killer, for example, looking down the middle today you have to face Mike Richards on the fourth line, a tough task for many second and third line centers in this league will make it especially hard for the Jacket’s today. That 70’s line™ is one of the best scoring lines in the league and will be the line the Jacket’s most need to monitor this evening. If the Jacket’s can find some line combination that can keep them in check expect the game to be competitive, otherwise expect an undermanned Jacket’s team to succumb to last year’s Stanley Cup Champions.
#CBJ have activated D Ryan Murray from injured reserve and will dress him today vs. #LAKings. To make room on roster …
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) October 26, 2014
#CBJ RW Alex Wennberg has been sent to @TheFalconsAHL
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) October 26, 2014
#CBJ RW Cam Atkinson will not play today vs. #LAKings
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) October 26, 2014
#CBJ D Dalton Prout will play after two scratches. Cody Goloubef is a scratch. Not clear whose spot Murray is taking. Warmups reveal.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) October 26, 2014
#CBJ forwards Marko Dano and Corey Tropp with draw in today vs. #LAKings
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) October 26, 2014
So many different moves today, pretty tough to decipher it all. Biggest roster decisions of all have to be the Wennberg and Murray moves. Wennberg as we have stated before doesn’t seem up to the task just yet, some AHL seasoning will be good for him and help mold him into the second line center he will one day be.
Murray entering the lineup may not be seen as impactful of a return as Jenner or Dubinsky’s will be but trust us when we say this will bring steadiness to the back end. Wisniewski looks like he will be paired with Murray, who has not looked like himself just yet, a tenative Wisniewski is a bad Wisniewski so lets hope some of his bombs away attitude returns now that Murray has returned.
Dano and Tropp are also in today, a quick start will be necessary for them if they want to prove they are up to the task against the Kings.
In Game
First Period
The first five minutes of the game the Jackets decided to set the tone with a couple of hard nosed plays. Corey Tropp skated across the ice and put the hurt on Justin Williams. Matt Greene took exception to this hit and earned himself 17 penalty minutes for his troubles and a game misconduct. The tone was set and the Jackets seemed to have their feet under them and played a very steady game afterwards. An (iffy) interference call on Drew Doughty gave the Jackets the man advantage and subsequently the Jackets cashed it in as Tim “and” Erixon got his first career NHL goal.
Jacket’s aren’t doing so hot in the advanced stat battle as friend of the blog Alison Lukan shows us.
Even strength Corsi and Fenwick through the first period #CBJ pic.twitter.com/ubF29dLiGJ
— Alison (@AlisonL) October 26, 2014
Second Period
Don’t really know what to make of that second period. It looked like the Jackets were content with playing to a tie early in the second period (not a good strategy in my opinion) and the That 70’s Line changed the game with a tic tac toe pass to make the game 2-1. Shortly there after a wacky set of circumstances found Dwight King all alone in front making the game 3-1. It seemed after that goal that the Jacket’s may go in the fetal position and call it a day, luckily Mark Letestu had other plans and decided to postmark a shot into the top right hand corner. This game, like the Anaheim game, seems like it is taking place in the twilight zone, none of it really makes any sense and is moving at a remarkably slow pace. Remember patience is a virtue Jacket’s fans.
Third Period/Post Game
It is tough to remember in the heat of the moment that hockey is in fact only a game. For a game that centers around high speed collisions, you would think that severe injuries would happen more often. Luckily in this instance the Jackets aren’t dealing with a severe injury with Nick Foligno but it sure as hell produced a scary moment. Foligno, who was rubbed out along the wall by Jeff Carter was taken out by a referee’s hindquarters, at first it looked quite silly but with every passing moment as Foligno laid motionless on the ice, the gravity of the situation began to set in. Subsequently he was stretchered off and gave a thumbs up symbol to the cheering Staples Center crowd.
After the chilling moment both teams had to finish up the game, one team decided to keep playing the game, the other had their minds on different issues at hand. The Kings went to work on the Jackets shortly after the break scoring two quick goals and made mince meat out of the Jackets defense in this short span.
It is truly tough to put the end of this road trip in perspective as the Jackets didn’t play well throughout but that mindset may be lost after the injury today. Luckily the Jackets will get the opportunity to feast on some Eastern Conference opponents and get Atkinson, Calvert and (hopefully) Foligno back at close to full strength soon enough.
Rest easy Jackets fans we have 74 games to go.
Click here for your advanced stats fun.
Tweet of the Game
Todd Richards said Nick Foligno will travel back to Columbus with the team. #CBJ
— Rob Mixer (@RobMixer) October 26, 2014
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