It was the second night of a back to back and the Jackets were on the road tonight, this time facing the Wild. Given this team’s history, many were anxious to see how the team would respond given the high energy game of last night and the loss of home ice advantage. Well, let’s just say the game did not disappoint.
Things got going early when Charlie Coyle blatantly took his elbow and drove it in to Artem Anisimov‘s head. Arty would fall and Brandon Dubinsky would immediately answer the bell coming to his teammate’s defense. Coyle got a match penalty which kept him off the ice for the rest of the night in addition to the Wild’s next game; but, given the post-game news that Arty is out “indefinitely” I will be severely disappointed if more games aren’t dolled out in response to Coyle’s actions. Completely unacceptable. The other party to the scrum, Dubi, would get 17 total minutes of penalties and sit for basically the entire first period.
The first period basically revealed what the entire tone of the game would be: Sergei Bobrovsky made ridiculous save after ridiculous save – including an early 3-on-1 that had Jack Johnson trying to defend an entire Wild line. Additionally, play would be feisty, physical, and borderline over the top as far as hits go. The Jackets looked tired and somewhat out of their groove, which only seemed understandable (not acceptable) due to the fact that Arty’s injury, Dubi’s penalty and an additional penalty to Boll, after he punished Stoner in a fight, left the Jackets with only 9 forwards who could play. The game went back and forth until late in the first when Jack Johnson provided the first point of the game – sadly, it was for the other team. Working close to the net, Jack ended up directing the puck in, Pomminville would be credited with the goal.
The second period began, and it is truly becoming the period where the Blue Jackets seem to shine. Our boys got on the board first with a Vinny Prospal goal. Vinny received a perfect pass from Dubi who, after chasing down the puck behind the net, passed up to Vinny in the high slot. 1-1. Shortly thereafter, came a Fedor Tyutin bomb from just below the point. It initially looked like Dubi may have had a hand in that one as well – with a deflection – but later review showed it to be all #51. Right after the two goal crush from Columbus, the Blues called a timeout. Luckily for us, it didn’t seem to matter. Bob continued with a glorious series of saves including a mad stop on a Setoguchi breakaway. Ironically, immediately after this shot, James Wisniewski would be called for elbowing and our boys would be back on the penalty kill, yet a later elbow courtesy of Cal Clutterbuck would go uncalled. The second ended with the Jackets leading 2-1.
The final period continued to tone of the first two. The first 10 minutes were on pace with the rest of the game, and friends I was watching with seemed to oddly be comfortable with the game – what a change from previous years in Jackets’ fandom where we feared the last minute crumble. But we should have known. At first, the television broadcast showed 3 Jackets going on the rush towards the Wild goal – then we realized the reason that was at all possible is because a horrible line change left us with seven players on the ice. Too many men was called and back to the penalty kill we went. The team continued their stellar defense when man down and fought off those two minutes, but right after, Dalton Prout would be called for the softest call ever on a diving Setoguchi and headed to the box to sit for 2 minutes. Sadly, this was the window the Wild needed. A punishing series of shots from the Wild resulted in the tying goal on a screened Bob. There were about 4 minutes to go with the teams knotted up at 2, but no one could break the tie and we were headed to overtime.
The additional 5 minutes were stressful but uneventful. Back and forth play continued, there were a few chances but nothing exceptional by either team. We were headed to a shoot out, and the nerves broke out in earnest – because although we’d brought in one point, we desperately needed two and the absence of Arty and that dangerous backhand shot loomed ominously over Blue Jackets’ land.
To the skills competition we went. Bob versus Backstrom. The Wild chose to shoot first and sent Parise, but he couldn’t break Sergei who snapped up that shot with his glove. The Jackets responded with Mark Letestu. Mark took his shot top shelf and handily beat Backstrom (and even knocked the goalie’s water bottle for good measure). Next up – Koivu. The Wild were bringing the heat for sure. Koivu skated towards the net but couldn’t lift his shot at all and Bob was able to block it handily on ice. We just needed one more shot. Todd Richards sent out Cam Atkinson. What would we get? The sniper skills of #13 or too much fanciness that has marred some of the other SO attempts this year. Well Cam came out ready. He went to net and with a beautiful move that completely fooled the netminder, the puck was in and the Jackets win.
Tonight’s two points were so important for many reasons. The standings battle alone is going to be tough, but to hang in for an extremely physical game the night after another physical game and be on the road was a huge statement from this team. Bob stood on his head tonight and kept the team in it – stopping 39 of 41 shots compared to the meager 22 shots the CBJ was able to lobby. The loss of Arty is massive and we hope for him to return soon not only for the team but for his health and well being. One big positive, however, is having #17 back and showing us what he brings. Brandon sat out the majority of the first period and still managed to log 18:48 TOI, two assists, 17 PIM, and he was +2, and 53 percent in the faceoff circle. He also is the proud carrier of the CBJ “Champion Belt” tonight.
Next up the Jackets get a much needed day of rest before facing off against the Avalanche on Monday who seem to be unwilling to go quietly into the night. Let’s hope for some quality rest and recovery time for our boys so that we stay in the driver’s seat as far as things we can control in the playoff race.
Go Jackets!
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