The Blue Jackets had quite the weekend. Hockey Fights Cancer engulfed Nationwide Arena on Friday night, alongside a gaggle of Maple Leafs fans, and Sunday offered a great 6:00PM game against a very strong Anaheim team. It had the makings of a weekend that could really turn in Columbus’ favor, with the potential to go from 4-5 to 6-5, vaulting them into the second spot in the Metropolitan division.
Friday was amazing. Hockey Fights Cancer is such a wonderful initiative which was founded in 1998 by the NHL. I encourage you all to click on the link and read all about how many people benefit from this program, and what kind of incredible support it gets from the players of the National Hockey League. While I don’t often link to other sites, I think also important to read, is Nick Foligno’s story. The interview and story were completed by our very own Alison Lukan, who writes for Fox Sports Ohio. All the stories, all the incredible fans pushing certain purple jerseys to incredible numbers in the silent auction (you know who you are, you fantastic human), and the overall attitude that seemed to engulf Nationwide made the night, in one word, overwhelming. We are all touched by Cancer, whether it is family or friend, and I commend all who decided to be a part of this amazing night.
To the game, it showed the Blue Jackets as we have come to know them. Slow to start periods, yet endlessly resilient as the ice begins to tilt against them. After two periods of play and a clear shot advantage, Columbus found themselves tied with Toronto. The game also included an incredible third period including four goals, one of the best short handed shot goals I have ever seen in person, and the opposing fans (who tried desperately to take over but could not) walk to the exits early with slouched shoulders.
To the crowd, I am proud of my Battle Joining Union Blue brethren. The arena was not full, and the blue/white Toronto jerseys were plentiful, yet every pro-Leafs chant got drowned by Columbus fans, and every moment the team gave them a reason, the majority of the building got extremely loud. I enjoyed a couple of texts sent from a friend in Ontario watching his Leafs, noting the crowd was quite loud even through the television. Cheers for that hat tip.
Bobrovsky was solid, but he didn’t dazzle. More and more lately, he seems mesmerized by the puck carrier much like we used to watch with Steve Mason. As the puck carrier slides across the slot, Bob goes with it, and any rebound opportunity shows a gaping net for crashers. Many of the opportunities were stymied by solid defensive play, but it should be a point of concern moving forward.
While Columbus managed to win the game and bring their record to 5-5 (due to winning three games in a row), the main victory on the night was the cause. I cannot say enough about #CBJHFC, and I hope anyone who missed it gets an opportunity to attend a game in future years when Hockey Fights Cancer is featured.
Anaheim
The game Sunday was met with a different feel. A Sunday 6PM game should have seen countless families in attendance, yet for some reason, only 10,500 people showed up and not a terribly large number of youngsters were in the mix. Disappointing, no doubt, but I cannot help but think back to the Calgary game and Boston game, two efforts that saw something other than the best from this team. I worry that Columbus’ resilience against Vancouver, New Jersey, and Toronto get overlooked because of a couple less than impressive performances. Hopefully, the fans realize that despite those games, there is something special about this roster.
The first period drew positive results for Columbus. While they managed to outshoot Anaheim 11-9, only Blake Comeau was able to solve him, scoring on a one timer from the (very) high slot thirteen minutes into the period. It seems like Columbus is doing a nice job of getting pucks on net over the last five games, however, their shots need to have more meaning if they want to bring the opposing goaltenders save percentage below .900 each game. The lone negative from the period came when Anisimov turned up the ice with the puck, only to be met hard by Beauchemin. The hit after being reviewed appeared clean, however, at the time, many watched as Arty’s head snapped back due to him being hunkered over with the puck. Foligno, being the great teammate that he is, immediately went after Beauchemin, earning himself a two minute minor for roughing.
There was very little bite to the Blue Jackets early second period efforts. Two unanswered goals by Anaheim in the first seven minutes of the period left Columbus scrambling to stay in the game. The lone offensive excitement came from Anisimov thanks to an awesome pass by Dubinsky. Rather than going to his patented backhand, Arty deked to his left and beat Anderson on the breakaway. The goal knotted the game at two apiece, and momentum seemed to return to Columbus’ favor. At least it was, until Dubinsky laid a monster hit on Saku Koivu, leaving him in pain on the ice. No referee raised his hand during play, yet the crowd sat in shock as the main referee announced a ‘five minute major for interference’ over the loud speaker shortly after the group of refs convened. Boos hammered the ice, and rightfully so. I would also like to point out that Cam Fowler opted to do the same thing Foligno did when Beauchemin hit Arty, chasing after Dubinsky and trying to fight him. He did not receive a roughing penalty for the decision.
The major penalty cost the Blue Jackets the tie two minutes into the third period. Etem scored on the rebound, and the Blue Jackets were forced to play from a deficit again. This time however, without one of their heart and soul players, ejected due to ‘interference.’ It seemed like a pretty emotional period, and despite not getting an ounce of help from the referees, Columbus managed to tie the game eight minutes in, thanks to a great tip by Anisimov on a shot from Wisniewski. One would think momentum would be firmly planted in Columbus’ favor at that point, however, an unlucky carom put the game on Perry’s stick, and his talent took over.
To say the refereeing efforts of this game were laughable would be an understatement. Blatant calls getting ignored, and when Anaheim was finally penalized 58.5 minutes into the hockey game, it was on a bad call. At one point, Fedor Tyutin attempted to take a puck around his net after a faceoff win, and was tripped very obviously (stick into skates and a big spill) with the orange stripes watching from only about twenty feet away. 10,000 refs in the stands saw it as well, and poured down boos once they realized a call would not be coming. It was a officiating nightmare, and it makes me wish some sort of accountability would be taken in these events. Complaints for bad officiating are a slippery slope, but it seems endless here. Teams and specific players garner the respect of the refs to not bother blowing their whistles, yet they seem eager to turn the tide against Columbus. It’s drawn out, it’s tired, and it’s changing the game too much.
Fortunately, the NHL made the decision to not have a meeting with Dubinsky. He will not be penalized any further for his hit on Koivu, and that is great news. While I do not wish harm for any player, it seems the biggest culprit in the hit was Koivu’s stick, which was mashed between the two players and gave him a good whack to the head after initial contact was made. A tough break, and I wish him the best in any extended recovery he may need.
Columbus will wait five days until their next start, a weekend away/home battle against Pittsburgh. I hope the fans show up for the game Saturday, because we all know what it’s like to allow those fans to come into our barn.
Carry the Flag!
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