Highlights:
The Jackets’ win streak is over at eight games, after yet another overtime game finally went the wrong way on the scoreboard. Columbus truthfully didn’t deserve to be in this game: they played a very spirited second period, but wrapped it in a turd sandwich of a first and third. Though they managed to somehow lead the game twice in the third period, they also managed to blow both of them, which ultimately lead to an Eric Fehr winner just under a minute into OT.
The first period was just hard to watch, as the team was hemmed into it’s own end for the majority, and took two penalties, which lead to a whopping 12 powerplay shot attempts from Washington. Total all situations attempts after 20? 32-10 for the Caps. Total goals? 2-0 for the Caps. It was not a lot of fun.
The team came out strong in the second, and the two squads provided some of the most entertaining hockey of the season.
There were big hits: Nick Foligno crushing John Carlson along the boards in the Caps zone.
There were fights: three, in fact, including Dalton Prout continuing his reign of terror by pummeling the ultra-tough Tom Wilson. Michael Chaput also instigated his first ever NHL fight, against Troy Brouwer.
More importantly: there were Jackets goals! Nick Foligno and Jack Johnson potted powerplay tallies to even up the game.
The third period was not nearly as bad as the first, but it surely wasn’t what should’ve been expected after such a rough and tumble second. Though the Jackets managed to take the lead on a Foligno goal and, later, Michael Chaput’s first NHL goal, the Caps came right back both times. They scored the equalizers seven and two minutes after the Jackets took their leads. For anyone saying that the third period was still a “decent” showing? They were out-attempted 18-9, and didn’t get a single shot attempt in over four minutes TO END THE GAME. Yes, Chaput’s goal was the last attempt the team made on net in the game.
All this lead to a fifth-straight Jackets game that went into extra time. This one, however, did not take long to solve. Mike Green waltzed into the zone and around Jack Johnson, then passed the puck out front to Fehr, who beat Brandon Dubinsky just enough to bury the winner.
This was another CBJ game in a series lately: team gets outplayed for the majority of it but manages to keep the powerplay hot to take an arguably undeserved lead, then goes to extra time. It’s not a sustainable model for victory. It’s not BLUE JACKETS HOCKEY. It needs to be solved. The injury excuse has been valid for a lot of this season, but the use of it has obviously disappeared during this win streak. Yet, the same problems are still there: the team gets consistently outpossessed and outshot, and relies on goaltending and powerplay to bail them out. The squad is still the lowest scoring 5v5 team in the entire NHL, and tonight did nothing to change that. Team depth is questionable. The forwards that aren’t the “leaders” are largely unproven or are playing well above their skill, especially on the right wing. The defense is slow and now is relying on a guy who’s seen as a “tough guy” and a broken down old dude to be a shutdown pair. It’s not a winning formula.
But I am trying not to be all doom and gloom. A bright spot? Jeremy Morin. In two games, he’s a +4 in Corsi [+25/-21], has controlled the puck well and is firing the puck to the net whenever possible, hoping for rebounds, bounces, or just plain luck to strike. He’s been snake bit all season – zero points in 17 games – until he notched an assist on a poor angle wrister that happened to bounce right to Nick Foligno. He’s quick, shifty and does what this team needs right now: gets pucks towards the goal. Hopefully he’ll be rewarded with some more bounces soon.
Kevin Connauton also had another solid game, paired with James Wisniewski on the second unit. They were both +2 on the Corsi front, and both notched assists. Maybe the team has something with these two, but then again, maybe it’s that Wisniewski Effect: everyone looks good when they play with him.
More silver linings: eight game point streak! Woo!
Columbus will roll on to Saturday to face Tim Erixon [and probably some other guys?] and the Chicago Blackhawks. It’s going to be an incredibly tough game, as usual, as the Blackhawks are one of the best teams in the league. No doubt Jeremy Morin will be gunning to score against the team that buried him repeatedly on the fourth line and in the minors, so hey maybe something good can come out of it, and we can start a new streak!
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
https://twitter.com/RockmanHalo/status/545762894345166848
Until then…
– Jeremy
Follow me on twitter, @307x
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