Searching for the panic button? A 2-4-0 start from Columbus starts another season in familiar, mediocre territory. Two straight games with only a single goal, injury and ‘scratched player’ problems, and a distinct sense that 100% is not applicable to this roster. Feel free to hit the reset button on NHL 11 and start the season over whenever you feel like it.
The trouble began last night just before the five minute mark (after a handful of whiffed shots on great scoring opportunities for Columbus). Despite being on the penalty kill, the Blue Jackets applied enough pressure to allow Subban to fire a pass through the middle to a wide open Bourque, who skated in alone on Bobrovsky and beat him for the 1-0 lead. Now, I can understand that sometimes breakaways happen, but this team is starting to make a really bad habit of giving them away on a nightly basis. To make matters worse, they allowed on when they were a man short, when their entire game plan is to protect their own net. As a fan watching that, it’s infuriating.
Agony was reached at the twelve minute mark, when sloppy play and a couple good passes gave Bournival a great look at Bobrovsky for his first NHL goal. Another two goal deficit, another mediocre effort leading to a goal against. At some point, this team is going to have to address the commitment to not only finding good positioning in the defensive zone, but being effective once achieving that position. It is not something that was so hard to achieve last year, and based on the system that Richards plays, there is great importance to only give an inch here and there, rather than giving wide open space on a regular basis.
Part way through the second period, Johnson made a pass in the general direction of two of his teammates in the defensive zone. As it was on the powerplay, he had plenty of time to adjust and move the puck safely, but instead try to force the issue. Rather than landing on a Columbus stick, it was intercepted (or I guess in this case received) by Markov who fired a beach ball through Bobrovsky on the short side. Everything about this goal should have never happened. It makes my blood boil just thinking back on it now.
Finally, Columbus found life. A great faceoff win by Johansen followed by a smart slapshot low to the far pad generated a solid rebound which Jenner pounced on. Rather than rush the chance and bury the puck back into Price’s pads, he calmly moved the puck to his forehand and scored his first NHL goal. The poise this kid shows is fantastic, not getting rock hands just because the chance in there, finding himself in the dirtier areas of the ice and getting rewarded in such a big way.
Ten minutes of hockey later, Johansen and Umberger went into the Montreal zone on a two on one with room to work with. Johansen seemed mostly committed to Johansen, and he never really looked for the pass. Instead, Ryan ripped a shot that beat Price on the far side, ringing off the post and bringing Columbus to a one goal deficit heading into the third period. It was a great shot, and a smart move to stop trying to be fancy and just take the shot. For Johansen, that seems to be a big step in his development.
Jenner struck again four minutes into the third period. Once again around the net on the powerplay, a Letestu shot left Price sprawled, and once again Jenner showed off his patience with the puck, carrying it around Price before depositing a backhand high off the bar. It was, for lack of a better word, disgusting. It capped off an incredible night for the young rookie, making much of the rest of the roster look like fourth line grinders (and I hope they felt it).
The rest is a story not worth telling. A soft goal from Plekanec that even Stinger would have wanted back, an empty netter after Wisniewski forgot how to skate, and a 5-3 loss in the books. Time for change six games into the season for Columbus? Give us your thoughts in the comments section!
Studs and Duds (trying something new here)
Jenner (stud): What a great performance. Talk about taking your name firmly out of the “bubble” list, Jenner took the team on his shoulders and showed them that even down three goals, tenacity and puck skill can keep any team in a game. Hopefully it’s contagious.
Johansen (stud): A sweet goal in the second period, along with a great shot to get the first Jenner goal opportunity were just a few of Joey’s highlights last night. 16 faceoff wins and 9 losses (64%) is a major improvement for him as well, leading me to believe that we witnessed his best game of the season last night
Wisniewski/Johnson (dud): A combined -5 on the net, laced with terrible passing, bad positioning, and questionable skating skills. For two players that make up nearly 10 million of the Columbus salary cap, at what point do I stop asking “is this all they have to offer?”
Umberger (dud): I am so bored of hearing that “RJ will be ready this year” or “He’s going to come out strong” from Umberger apologists. He’s been flat out awful in comparison to his cap hit, and at 31, I seriously doubt that a magical turnaround is going to happen. Bad puck possession, little to no breakout speed, and totally uninterested in going to the harder areas of the ice. Is this a baby Nash in the making? I’d rather not wait to find out.
Bobrovsky (dud): Not often in the hot seat, but last night’s effort was weak. Nothing too spectacular on the save meter, and and least a couple goals he’d love to have back. Sitting at .886 on the evening, it simply wasn’t good enough to keep his team in the game.
Carry the Flag.
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