The ultimate deceiving score game. A glance at just the score makes it look like the Jackets won this one handily against the Ottawa Senators 4-1, but an empty net goal and a post ENG goal made a super tight game look more lopsided. Even though the game was deadlocked at zero through two periods, it was a superb back-and-forth affair with some serious ebbs and flows. After the Jackets took the lead in the third period, the Senators pressed like crazy until Nick Foligno‘s goal gave the Jackets a two goal lead. That Sens continued to buzz, and managed to bring the game to within a goal, but Curtis McElhinney and company were able to hold them off until Scott Hartnell could bury the empty netter and Mark Letestu could bring it home with a rare post-empty net goal.
3rd Star: Nick Foligno
I was watching the Ottawa feed of the game, and boy do they love them some Foligno. He was a monster though, and that goal, just wow. He was very good all game, but he deserves a star just for his effort that ended up as the game winner.
2nd Star: Mark Stone
Sure. He had six shots on goal. He also went minus four (I know plus-minus is stupid) and went pointless. But he did allow for Curtis McElhinney to do this:
1st Star: Curtis McElhinney
I’ve ragged on him probably every time I have ever written about him, so I am going to keep this positive. He was fantastic tonight, singlehandedly keeping the Jackets in the game for number of stretches in which they were being outplayed significantly. He caught a few breaks with pucks sneaking past him but rolling wide, but all goalies need those from time to time. I usually feel like the Jackets need to win despite CMac, but tonight he was the biggest reason they were able to pull off the win.
Dud: Super Awesome Announcing
I mentioned watching the Sens feed earlier, and the Hockey Night in Canada crew did not get off to a very good start. David Savard got himself a pretty good scoring chance right of the bat, but the initial call of the play was credited to Mark Letestu. Their numbers are close enough that I can forgive a play-by-play guy for making that mix up. But then they doubled (and then tripled) down on the mistake. At the next stoppage, the colour guy called him Letestu while breaking down the chance from the beginning, from multiple angles, some of which showed Savard’s nameplate, and clearly showed him as a defenseman jumping into the play. Then they cut to show Letestu sitting on the bench. So yes, they wear numbers 55 and 58 which are pretty close. But Savard is a defenseman, Letestu has one of the more distinct skating strides in the league, and Letestu hadn’t even been on the ice yet. That’s some pretty poor work.
They made up for it later with a great anecdote about the Senators team charity auction. As it was about to end, Zack Smith decided to add another item to the auction. He’s apparently a gourmet cook, and said he would come over the to the highest bidder’s house, cook dinner, and bring along whatever teammates joined him on stage. Eleven other Senators players joined him, and the night with half the team with Smith cooking was auctioned off for $65,000. Pretty cool story.
Bonus Dud: Corey Tropp’s Miss
His miss on that second period one-timer “attempt” was one of the worst things I have ever seen.
Stud: Matt Calvert
Seven shots on goal (game high), and an assist, but he gets the stud for just his general Matt Calvert-ness. He was everywhere, doing everything, whenever he was out there. It’s even more impressive considering he’s lost ten pounds while dealing with his current illness. He’s a joy to watch when he is really going, and makes it impossible for anyone else to slack off. He was going tonight.
The Jackets take the ice again in Columbus on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. See you there! Or not, since I definitely won’t be there, but enjoy the game anyway!
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