The Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Florida Panthers by the score of 3-2, tonight. While on the score sheet the game may look close, it was anything but as the Panthers dominated significant portions of the game.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
The Good: Alexander Barkov
Two goals on the evening doesn’t do the player justice as he was all over the puck. He made plays when necessary and was always in the right place at the right time. Barkov is becoming one of the better players in the league and he has the ageless wonder, Jaromir Jagr to thank for that. The Jackets’ game was a mess from the start with only one shot on goal and four penalties against in the first period and Barkov and Co. were able to take advantage.
Bonus good for Brandon Saad who seemed to be the one player who wanted to come out aggressive for tonight’s game. He led in scoring chances (3), shot attempts (6) and was seen challenging his teammates when they gathered along the bench during the Panther’s time out. Number 20 seemed to have his head in the game tonight.
The Bad: Resolve
After an ugly display last night against the Lightning, and an open challenge from their head coach calling the team’s performance “embarrassing,” one might think that the Jackets would rebound with some vim and vigor.
Unfortunately that was not the case. As already mentioned, the first period was poor, and the Jackets would end the night with eight total penalties including one for too many men. The Panthers brought out their effort early, with two goals in the first frame, and while the Jackets were able to bounce back a bit they could never climb out completely from the hole they dug. The two goals and final forty minutes doesn’t negate the fact that they came out extremely flat.
Brandon Saad said it post game, and it’s an oft use phrase but tonight it was extremely true, “it’s a 60 minute game.”
The Ugly: Bad Penalties
This is pretty self explanatory. The Jackets put themselves behind the eight ball last night with penalties and did it again. My numbers may be off but I believe you play better with the same amount of players on the ice as the other team. Once the team figures it out, it will be a startling discovery.
Another interesting trend that the Jackets have been facing seems to be the “response penalty.” Last season, the struggle for the team was the response goal – when they would allow the opponent to score within two minutes of a Jackets goal. These past two games we’ve seen penalties come in quick succession.
Last night versus Tampa of course there were three penalties in three seconds.
Tonight, in the first, Cam Atkinson’s cross-checking penalty came just 22 seconds after Clarkson’s roughing call. Then, in the second, the bench penalty for too many men was called just 1:47 after Hartnell’s high-stick.
The lapses in focus seem to come in bursts these past two games – it will be interesting to see if this continues. Hopefully, it does not.
Quote of the night:
Q: Were you surprised by your teams slow start?
Tortorella: “yep.”
<later>
Q: Do you still believe the solutions to these problem is in the room?
Tortorella: “yep.”
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