Well that was fun.
In a year such as this, if you are gonna win, you better make it a good win. That was a great one, as the Columbus Blue Jackets downed the New Jersey Devils 6-1. Nick Foligno paced the Jackets with a hat trick, while the team also got markers from Brandon Saad, Brandon Dubinsky, and Rene Bourque.
However, it wasn’t all roses.
After storming out to a 3-0 first period lead (and chasing Cory Schneider for Keith Kinkaid), Reid Boucher scored early in the second to make it 3-1. Joonas Korpisalo made a few beauty saves to keep the score where it was, Foligno scored to finish the hatty a few minutes later, and the rout was on. The Devils actually managed to out-shoot the Jackets 26-24, although you’d have expected it to be worse due to our old pal score effects.
The fancystats can’t even tell us much tonight, as the game was close (within one goal) for so little of it (only the first 8:12), and the CBJ managed to even come out on top of the Corsi battle 39-38. From all appearances the Jackets never really took their foot off the gas tonight, continuing to score right to the bitter end, and keeping things from getting all out of whack in the shot columns. Bourque capped it off late with a rare goal, on a breakaway to boot. A fun night all around.
Bad: Jack Johnson is injured
Just about the only Jacket who didn’t have a good time tonight was our friend JJ. He played a mere 10:19 tonight, as he left in the second period with an upper body injury of as yet unknown severity. With the trade deadline fast approaching, this could throw a wrench into anything involving him or another CBJ defenseman. Best for all involved is something not too serious that it would hamper anything the front office is looking to do. Plus, it’s better karma-wise to wish someone isn’t seriously injured.
Ugly: Intent to blow
I hate this rule so much. While in this case, it came out in the CBJ’s favor as Joseph Blandisisi’s goal was not counted. But come on, that was a goal. Joonas did not have the puck, and Blandisi knocked it in well before the whistle went. This is a case of the NHL making something that should be so freaking simple complicated. It’s one of their favorite things to do, right behind taking something that is really good and making it worse (I see you NHL.tv). Just make the whistle the cut off point. Puck is in before the whistle, it’s a goal.
Good: His name is Joonas
Dude was on fire tonight. The Devils more or less packed it in halfway through the game, but this could have been a close one. He made about three saves in the second period that easily could have been goals. Add in the one called back, and this could have been a 4-3 Devils lead in the second. Instead, Joonas did the damn thing and the CBJ kept on rolling. Wheeeeeeeee.
<Insert vid of Joonas making ridiculous saves whenever NHL.tv gets around to posting one>
Best: Foligno, Calvert, and Karlsson
The gleesome threesome combined for 3 goals, 7 assists, +10, and a whopping +26 in Corsi. Foligno was getting most of the rub during the game, but Calvert and Karlsson were the fancystat stars of the night (+12 and +11 respectively, no other player on either team was more than +6), and helped the CBJ penalty kill shut the Devils down. This included an extended run of time in the offensive end, with scoring chances to boot, all while killing a penalty. As for Foligno, it was so great to see him even out that PDO situation. He didn’t have the prettiest night goal scoring-wise (although his assist had enough glamour to even impress Dubinsky), but that’s how these things work. When we talk about luck in hockey, it’s plays like his third goal. It isn’t purely luck, as he had to work his ass off to get to where he was able to put the puck where it was when it went in. After a career year last year, he’d been sitting on an unsustainably poor shooting percentage this season. These are the bounces he’s been missing this season, as this game single-handedly upped his season long shooting percentage from 5% to 7.25%. To celebrate, let’s watch Calvert do some great forechecking before Foligno goes to one knee for his first of the night.
Beauty.
Quote of the Night: Matt Calvert
“Was a pretty special night. And Bill too. I think our defensive game has always been there and we’ve had Nicky Foligno these last few weeks too. I think all three of us were gripping the stick a little tight but tonight was fun. (In addition to the goals), we had chances, it felt we were back in junior hockey out there and I had a lot of fun.”
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