In a boring affair the St. Louis Blues beat the Columbus Blue Jackets by a score of 3-1. After the high of last night, this game was a bit of a downer. Although the Jackets were not favored to win, with a +180 money line at 10bet, I was hoping that their momentum would carry them forward. Let’s take a bit of a deeper look.
Highlights:
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
The Good: The Start
After an emotional home game against the Penguins, it would totally make sense that the team came out flat. It isn’t an excuse but it is just a fact of the sport that after a tough game, a team often times can react apathetically. The Jackets didn’t want any part of that at the beginning as they pressed the Blues to make plays on the back end that they obviously weren’t comfortable making. The lone goal of the opening frame from the Jackets was a product of hard work and some good bounces – something the Jackets needed tonight in spades but seemingly dried up after the first period.
The Bad: Bottom Pairing
Andrew Bodnarchuk and Justin Falk aren’t on the Blue Jackets to reinvent the wheel. Both are past the ideal age of prospect defensemen and, at most, can fill in on a bottom pairing. Tonight they played together for the second time in two nights and the results weren’t pretty. Bodnarchuk was responsible for the second goal from Scottie Upshall who went unmolested into the slot.
Bodnarchuk and Falk played 11:04 and 12:06…numbers that are way too low for any bottom pairing in the league. Those two players need to have the ability to alleviate teammates like Savard and Johnson. Just to pile on, their possession numbers weren’t good either, Bodnarchuk posted a 28.5% CF and Falk posted a 36.3% CF both at even strength. They played most of their time in their own zone – not a winning formula for a team needing its best every night.
The Ugly: Injury to Markus Hannikainen
Not much to say here. You hate to see a player playing in their first NHL game get injured, especially a player with promise like Hannikainen. The 22-year-old got crunched against the boards by Scottie Upshall and almost immediately left the ice to be seen by trainers. I can confidently say that this won’t be the last time we see Hannikainen. Heal quickly young man!
Tweet of the Game:
https://twitter.com/RockmanHalo/status/670790397157879808
Quote of the Game:
#CBJ coach John Tortorella, on missing Dubinsky: "We're not going to whine here. Pittsburgh can whine. Pittsburgh whines enough for the …"
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) November 29, 2015
"… whole league, so there's no room for any other team to whine. We just go about our business."
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) November 29, 2015
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