Hockey is a strange game. A 3-2 shootout win for the CBJ made no sense. The Columbus Blue Jackets were the better team against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers for most of the night. They led in shots, they had the territorial edge, they had it all going. Except on the scoreboard. Because, of course, the Flyers managed two goals in their limited chances. And Steve Mason was having a game to remember. Everything felt like a shutout win for Philly, right? A stolen victory en route to better playoff chances?
Of course not. Of course, the Jackets picked up two goals in the final two minutes. Of course they forced overtime with a Jenner goal and an Atkinson goal (pushing each of the two Jackets to 26 on the year). Of course the second tally came with less than 10 seconds to play. And then the CBJ managed a powerplay in overtime, the perfect comeback completion? Nope, and another big nope for the Flyers OT powerplay chance.
And then none of the typical early shootout options delivered for either side, pushing the shootout into five rounds before finally, finally Boone Jenner sealed the victory for the home team.
Why? Because hockey doesn’t care if you want it to make sense. Not at all.
The Very Good: Steve Mason
The old hockey adage says “Good things happen when you get the puck on net.” Steve Mason tried very hard to fight against that sage wisdom on Tuesday. Mason withstood a barrage of 46 shots against in regulation, leading his Flyers to OT. Prior to the two late-game goals, Mason was working on a lengthy shutout streak over the Blue Jackets (over 140 minutes of clean play that was finally cut short).
Last time around was an easier affair for Mason (19 saves in a 6-0 win). This time, the CBJ kept peppering the net, finishing with 51 saves on 53 shots, a .963 in a losing effort.
Blue Jackets-era Steve Mason was not very good. I invite a trip over to Hockey-Reference to compare Mason’s individual performance to NHL league-average in corresponding seasons. Somehow, Mason went from a severe liability to a real asset after moving to Philadelphia. Maybe this is a Goalies Are Voodoo situation, maybe this is the result of a mental weight being lifted. Whatever the reason, it’s not an outcome I expected, and full credit to the goalie for improving so much.
The Good: Boone Jenner
Boone Jenner added his aforementioned 26th goal of the year to break the shutout. It was a great tip, with fantastic physical presence in front of Mason, and superb awareness to pull off the score. This is no small feat; prior to the game, only 28 players in the NHL had 26 or more goals. The league is dominated by strong goaltending and has seen dips in goal totals. As Jenner closes in on 30, he’s doing a rare and incredible thing. The CBJ had better hope he can keep this up next year.
Jenner also picked up the game-winning shootout goal in the skills competition, a slick move to force Mason out of the net before pulling puck back and burying the rubber. Add in a strong 67% CF% (at even strength, via Natural Stat Trick)? Maybe this whole move to center will work out for him.
Fun Times: Shayne Gostisbehere
The Union College product didn’t show up on the score sheet for Philly. He did do this in overtime, and it merits a mention all its own
Is there anything @s_ghost14 cant do? pic.twitter.com/XgNbESBjYT
— joe (@joeypierogies) March 23, 2016
Not Good: Jared Boll’s Hit
Jared Boll leveled Pierre-Édouard Bellemare with a late hit early in the second period. The term late is the key descriptor here. The great @myregularface shared a few angles of the hit. The one below is the first, and you can find the others as replies on her Twitter feed. (Also, you should really be following her anyway.)
https://twitter.com/myregularface/status/712431932664127491
Boll was assessed 5 minute major for interference and a game misconduct for the hit. It seems the right decision by the refs. In all but the most zoomed-out views, the puck is well beyond Bellemare before Boll winds up into his stride to hit the Flyer. Not a pure head-hit, but very late nonetheless.
Boll is a previous offender in the eyes of the NHL Department of Player Safety, so I wouldn’t be shocked to see a fine or further penalty for this either. He was suspended three games last season, and this was a reckless, unnecessary play.
Some commentators and “old school” hockey fans may fret over the softness of the NHL. A personal opinion: I pay for tickets and cable packages to watch NHL players. It’s a better game when they aren’t injured, and perhaps there should be more suspensions to actively discourage dangerous plays.
Tweet of the Game
Boll’s hit was not good. John Tortorella’s reaction was… well… fascinating.
Torts is mad pic.twitter.com/Z7FnN21erN
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) March 23, 2016
The Blue Jackets return to action in Nationwide on Thursday against Carolina.
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