Well friends, it’s hockey season. Welcome back to the crazy 82 game ride. Luckily, the Jackets started on an up note. Buffalo, a team that finished in last place last season, wasn’t exactly an intimidating opponent and arguably a welcome first opponent for a very different looking Jackets roster than a lot of fans expected. Nonetheless, the team suited up, with newly returned Ryan Johansen and three rookies suited up to beat the Sabres 3-1.
If you’ve not been with the Union Blue for these recaps in the past, a quick primer. Every game we look at the three stars as named on NHL.com and let you know if we agree or disagree. We then name one “stud” and one “dud” from the game and wrap it all up with a glorious piece of art from the famous @RockmanHalo. So let’s get to it…
3rd Star: Sergei Bobrovsky
Bob played very well, facing 22 shots and turning away 21 of them. Granted the star pickings were perhaps thin, but honestly this choice surprised me. You need Bob to help you win but a “good” night is not a great night. I dunno, perhaps we’re just spoiled.
2nd Star: Zemgus Girgensons
Ok. Maybe someone just likes to prove they can spell this and wanted to write it down. Granted, Girgensons had the only Buffalo goal of the night and it was impressive. The goal came off a solo effort that made Hartnell and Anisimov look silly and had Jack Johnson scurrying to try to protect his goaltender but otherwise, not a lot to write home about. Honestly, if you’re only going to get one Sabre in the star listing, I would have gone with Enroth. The goalie literally single handedly kept his team in it for the first 40 and turned away 37 of 40 shots. He took a pretty much everything the Jackets threw at him and turned it away calmly and competently. Can’t believe he didn’t get a mention here.
1st Star: Cam Atkinson
Yes. Yes. and Yes. Cam was brought to Columbus for his speed and his skill. The guy has a shot. And boy did you see that tonight. Even when Enroth was still able to turn away a shot, you couldn’t deny that Atkinson was usually involved in generating the chance in the first place. When Cam finally got his goal, that would end up being the game winner, it was a true reward for effort spent. Cam was lined up with Foligno and Johansen for the majority of the game really had him comfortable in his role. We’re used to thinking of him as being with Calvert but this new look line was a fun revelation.
Game in One Picture
Stud: The babies.
There was a lot of debate about Chaput, Wennberg and Dano making the lineup. Were they ready? Were they rushed? Would they still be here if the roster was fully healthy? Well all three looked better than good tonight. More importantly they looked comfortable. Dano led the team in Corsi at +15, Chaput played a solid 12:30 and earned his first NHL point of the season when he assisted Jack Skille’s goal, and Wennberg – well he’s just good at the hockey. Almost 18 minutes on the ice and the secondary assist on the final goal of the night. These guys fit in…and it will be fun to see how they respond as the season progresses.
Dud: Null.
Maybe it’s that anticipation for NHL hockey to begin, maybe it’s the fun of winning. But there really wasn’t much to complain about tonight. Hopefully that trend continues. I guess I could say the lighting kinda sucked at First Niagra Cenre?
Well that’s it Jackets friends. The team flies home tonight and will face the Rangers in their home opener Saturday. Should be a good time…and it’s two more days towards Jenner, Dubinsky and Murray being healthy.
Carry the Flag!
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