In a rare Monday home game (one of only three on the schedule), the Columbus Blue Jackets fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning, 2-1. The early going favored the Lightning, and a few key errors resulted in goals for the visitors. Meanwhile, the home team charged late but just couldn’t get a tying tally in the closing minutes. It’s not all bad for Columbus, as a promising young netminder made a strong first start. But moral victories won’t be enough as the time and the season march along. Here are tonight’s superlatives.
The Good: Joonas Korpisalo
The Bobrovsky injury is a problem for the Blue Jackets as a whole, but an opportunity for the team’s backup options. Tonight, that meant an NHL debut for rookie goalie Joonas Korpisalo. Throughout the game, the young Finn continued the great play he’d tallied so far in Lake Erie. Here versus the Lighting, Korpisalo sprawled when needed, moved quickly around the crease, and finished the night with an impressive .931 SV%.
The rookie held up his end of the bargain, and might be worth a few more starts before Bobrovsky returns. In the post-game interview on Fox Sports Ohio with Dave Maetzold, Korpisalo revealed his comfort within the role. He noted, “Of course before the game and the whole game day, I was kind of nervous. Lots of thoughts going on in my mind. But I somehow kept it in control, and straight when I stepped on the ice, all the nerves [were] gone.”
It’s worth remembering: Korpisalo is only 21, so maybe tonight was a quick glance into the CBJ future.
The Unfortunate: Alexander Wennberg
Look, two small moments don’t define a player, and we know Alexander Wennberg has been pretty good most of the year. Going into this game Wennberg was one of only 5 CBJ forwards above 50% CF% (via Natural Stat Trick). Tonight wasn’t his best showing, and the two quick errors helped to drag the Jackets to a loss.
The first goal against was a lovely feed by Wennberg… to Tampa’s Jonathan (Audy) Marchessault. Not ideal! The second, a poorly executed keep at the point on a powerplay, and a quick turn for a Lightning short-handed game-winner. Hopefully Wennberg returns to form in the next game.
The Annoying: A Third Period Without Reward
The Blue Jackets stormed back in the final half of the 3rd period (check out the game flow plot on Natural Stat Trick), ending that frame ahead in shot attempts 29-12, and shots on goal 12-6. Among the big moments: a Dubinsky shot from behind the goal line with 2:17 remaining. The puck careened off Ben Bishop’s laying back and toward the goal mouth. The puck sat motionless until Tampa’s Vladislav Namestnikov gloved the puck under Bishop and ended the play. The CBJ team Twitter shared a gif of the moment.
hmmmmmmmmmm pic.twitter.com/zn66rlA23b
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) December 15, 2015
It’s obnoxious whining to complain about the lack of penalty call, so I’ll avoid that directly. Rather, this felt like a summary of the game’s closing moments: so close, and just not quite enough to get the tie.
The Blue Jackets hit the road for a game in Dallas against the high-scoring Stars. Puck drops tomorrow!
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