The Columbus Blue Jackets fell 3-2 in a shootout tonight to the visiting New York Islanders. The Isles got off to a hot start, with Ryan Strome scoring less than a minute into the game on Joonas Korpisalo. The Jackets held a lead for much of the game however, with Cam Atkinson and Brandon Dubinsky both scoring in the middle portion of the first period. Unfortunately, the Jackets couldn’t hold on, with Anders Lee tying the game up in the third. The teams would go scoreless through an exciting 12 shot overtime frame, before Cal Clutterbuck (gross) would win it for the Isles in the shootout.
Good: Cam & Dubi
They were both awesome tonight, easily the best skaters on the Jackets, and arguably the best skaters in the game itself. A goal and assist for each, they also combined with linemate Boone Jenner for 11 shots on goal, which is pretty good. The fancier stats also favor the twosome, as they also led CBJ forwards in Corsi at +7 (Dubi) and +5 (Cam).
Great: Joonas
Korpisalo was great. Better than great, even. Fantastic? Stupendous? I dunno, whatever it word fits, he was that. He made 44 saves on the night (plus another in the shootout), but of those 44 about 17 of them were of the ridiculous variety. Okay, 17 may be a stretch but this game very easily could have been out of hand in favor of the Isles. The CBJ owe this point to Joonas, as they don’t get to OT without him. They don’t even get to the shootout without the seven stops he made in OT, almost all of which were of the highlight variety. My favorite stop of the night was his third period pad save on John Tavares. While not the flashiest, considering the game situation, the player he stopped, and how definitively he shut him down, it was awesome. Unfortunately, the fancy schmancy new NHL site doesn’t have very many videos for the game yet, so here is an earlier stop on Anders Lee.
Grand: Jack Johnson’s foot
He took a brutal shot off it early in the game and left the bench. Based on the shot, where it hit him (right in the side of the foot where there is no padding, just lots of little, brittle bones), and his reaction, I assumed he had a broken foot. Say what you will about the guy, but he plays a lot of minutes, does it half decently, and I would much rather see him in the lineup than the alternative (Justin Falk?).
Wonderful: This play by Atkinson
Tweet of the Night: (mostly because this goal is #nice)
— NHL Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 10, 2016
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