Blue Jackets

(10/14/14) Gameday Thread #3: Dallas Stars

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Alan Draper
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Pregame

The Dallas Stars are in town tonight for their only Columbus appearance this season. The teams will meet one more time (in Dallas) in early January. There’s quite a bit of buzz surrounding the Stars in the early going thanks to their potential for a high-powered offense. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin lead the way on ice (when not playing with puppies or doing whatever exactly this all was) and are joined by new pickups Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky.

The Stars are two games into their season, part of a lightning-speed barnburner against the Blackhawks and then a bit of a clunker in Nashville. Defending Big D has some great discussion on the outcome of both contests, Brandon Worely on the Chicago classic, and Josh Lile on the neutral zone play of the Predators.

Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News gets us started for today’s game with Stars forward lines:

That Nichushkin loss could be significant for Dallas, slotting Colton Sceviour on the top line for the game. It’s a great situation for Sceviour, but seemingly a a downgrade for the team tonight.

Defense and goaltending are also ready to go:

Lehtonen’s a great netminder and has been brilliant against the Jackets (a .936 in his 11 games vs the CBJ). His last visit in Columbus was a goaltender’s duel, Bobrovsky coming out ahead in the end. Might we see that again?

On the home side, Shawn Mitchell of the Dispatch gives us the lowdown on the Blue Jackets. It looks like minimal changes for the team.

Some other Columbus updates from Bob McKenzie and your friendly neighborhood Rob Mixer:

I’m a bit disappointed by this development, as Gibbons seems like a perfect skilled 4th liner (especially in the absence of Comeau).

This news (the general coming back, not the timing part) is certainly good, and it’ll be interesting to see how the defense shakes up as Murray closes in.

Some final pregame reading before the puck drops: Dan Rosen’s interview with Todd Richards on NHL.com gives us a look at the coach’s thoughts. There are some interesting tidbits on Johansen and the rookie forwards. Over at Puck Daddy, Ryan Lambert opens his college hockey coverage with a look at Jack Eichel and some other general observations. And finally, Sean McIndoe reminds us that a) two (or three) games is hardly worth getting worked up about, and b) plus-minus is still useless.

Enjoy the Tuesday hockey, and keep up with our thoughts in this post as it updates!

First Period

  • The game’s underway! First real chance of the night comes off Spezza’s stick about 2 minutes in. It’s denied, and neither team has done much to this point.
  • As we’re progressing, all the Columbus lines are having trouble exiting the zone. To this point, they’re lucky with some bounces limiting shots on net.
  • And all that zone time pays off for Dallas. Seguin pots his first of the year. Not an impressive showing in the early going for Columbus.
  • The Benn-Seguin line continues to completely overwhelm the Jackets. This time it’s Benn all alone, taking and beating both Hartnell and Anisimov. The Stars’ captain takes that effort and walks in for his own goal. It’s going to be a long night with plays like this.

  • Shots 8-1 at the first TV timeout about 9 minutes in. That’s not going to cut it, Bobrovsky is not the whole team.
  • The 40s Line finally gets momentum for Columbus, putting a respectable shift together. Nice passing, a few good looks, a tip from Wennberg. These are the first positive notes for the CBJ about 10 minutes in.
  • Boll left alone in front but can’t beat the post. Jackets at least with a few scoring chances after the brutal start.

https://twitter.com/RedditCBJ/status/522167932852633600

  • Rushes out of the d-zone are starting to look more competent for Columbus, an upgrade from the early minutes of the period.
  • We’ve gone a few minutes without a shot by the Stars. I think we can blame some score effects here (Dallas not pushing the play so much, Columbus making adjustments).
  • Columbus gets the first powerplay of the night (Erik Cole with a hooking call). The post-faceoff action results in a few more solid looks. Lehtonen is again more than ready for the attack.

That’s one period in the books. Shots are 14-8 in favor of Dallas. Jody Shelley’s mantra with less than 5 minutes left in the first? Just wait for Columbus to “settle in here.” It’s not a good sign when the Jackets surrender almost an entire period while waiting to settle. Give full credit to Dallas: the Seguin-Benn line has been an absolute menace. The Stars’ pressure in the offensive zone is giving the CBJ fits and they’ll need to adjust to survive the rest of the game.

Second Period

  • Puck is down and the Jackets have a bit of time left on the carry-over powerplay. John Scott scored tonight, maybe Columbus turns it around?
  • Lehtonen helps the Columbus cause, sending a puck flying over the glass. 17 seconds of 5-on-3 (started with a quick clear from the Stars). CBJ need to make something happen here.
  • Kari Lehtonen the center of attention throughout this powerplay, making a save off Hartnell, and then accidentally knocking his own net off the post. There isn’t much flow to the man advantage.
  • One of the linesmen takes a clearing attempt to the skate and play is stopped. He’s being helped off the ice and not putting any weight on his left foot. Only 3 officials for the foreseeable future.
  • Dallas effectively shuts down the rest of the PK time, and quickly turns even strength into a bunch of shot attempts. The ice is still tilted.

  • If not for Bobrovsky, this game is completely out of control.
  • More listless play and minimal opportunity… and then out of nowhere it’s Johansen with a goal! It’s a very sudden move up ice, a pass from Atkinson and a great release. 2-1 Stars.

  • Quite suddenly the Johansen line is flying. Foligno with a rush down the ice, Johansen with more puck control, Atkinson fast as usual. Lehtonen’s end is suddenly busy.
  • Anisimov and Hartnell with a mid-period 2-on-1, and they can’t quite pull it off. But now Garbutt’s in the box and the CBJ have a powerplay to go on top of their sudden surge.
  • Foligno-Johansen-Atkinson are buzzing, doing quite well to keep the puck in the zone. Lehtonen bobbles, but the ref blows the play dead as he loses sight of the puck. Powerplay ends with no Columbus goal.
  • Skille’s been put up with Letestu and Calvert. He seems to be all about the straight line speed, and he’s not getting too much for it.
  • Marko Dano draws a penalty, Stars back to the PK. CBJ might want to capitalize on something before the penalties stop?
  • Powerplay goal! Johansen taps in the Foligno effort in front of the net! Great pass from Johnson to set it up, too. Tie game and Johansen’s second goal!

  • Nick Foligno is going nuts out there, a backward one-handed shot right at Lehtonen nearly turns into another goal. He’s a man possessed in the 2nd.
  • A call on Hartnell puts Dallas on their first powerplay and it looks terrifying on paper. Hemsky, Spezza, Benn, Seguin, Daley. Yikes. In Bob we (must) trust?
  • A surprisingly great PK for the Jackets, lots of pressure at the blueline shuts down any real zone entries and we’re back at evens for the final minute.
  • For no particular reason, Jamie Benn and Nick Foligno drop the gloves right before the end. Foligno has been great tonight, but it’s an advantage to the Jackets to see Benn sit.

Welcome to Score Effects City? Whatever exactly hit them, the Jackets erupted that period, taking the shot lead after such a woeful first (16-9 in the second for a 24-23 edge). The Johansen line was killer, finally flipping the switch, and Jack Johnson was an offensive weapon to help set up the goals. It’s hard to imagine Dallas being so beaten in the 3rd, but Columbus doesn’t deal with Benn at the start.

Third Period

  •  And we’re back! This should be an interesting final 20, the Jackets finally found their feet but no longer have the score effect inspiration.
  • Cam with a breakaway! … and Lehtonen denies! What a play to open the period, a great save from the Dallas goalie.
  • Dallas is starting to establish a bit more of that early-game zone time thanks to Spezza’s line. They’re making some pushes and the CBJ are struggling to respond (save for Bob).
  • Seguin up to his tricks again, a scoring chance, great passing, an all-around dominant shift. The Jackets aren’t doing so well in the first 5 minutes of the 3rd.

  • Bob’s still keeping his club afloat. Then Foligno back out with his regular linemates results in a chance. It’s nice to see.
  • The Jackets are finally finding their way again, Wennberg nearly grabbing his first goal one-on-one with Lehtonen in the slot.

  • If I may be a broken record: the first line again driving Dallas nuts. A broken stick helped things along, but Wiz kept that play alive a number of times.
  • And the hockey gods do not smile on Columbus. Right after that dominant shift, a point shot from Jamie Benn turns into another goal for Dallas, a tip from Seguin so 91 gets credit. Stars up 3-2.
  • Jackets just not quite clicking through the offensive zone. Some rebounds that aren’t finding sticks, some time spent fighting along the boards without wins or shots to follow. Dallas not at full attack anymore, Columbus unable to claw back even.
  • Under 2 minutes and the CBJ are dealing in dump and chase. They can’t gain the zone. Todd Richards calls a timeout. This may be the last opportunity.
  • Columbus can’t even get out of the defensive zone. This isn’t looking good.
  • And Dallas gets the empty-netter. Hats for Seguin. Game over.

A poor first and a poor third ruined the Blue Jackets. No answer for Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin? No win. No offense past the CBJ first line? No win. It’s a shame to see the play from Johansen and Foligno go to waste.

Columbus plays Calgary on Friday at home. Here’s your Tweet of the Game:

https://twitter.com/Tepper/status/522200290351915009

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Alan Draper

Alan is a vastly experienced sports and gambling writer who is the Chief Editor of The Sports Daily.
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Alan Draper

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Alan is a vastly experienced sports and gambling writer who is the Chief Editor of The Sports Daily.
View All Posts By Alan Draper
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