Wow. What started as a bit of a snooze-fest on the front end of the game sure turned into an exciting conclusion for an all-important two points that the CBJ need to try to create some breathing room between them and others hunting down one of the wildcard spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Early in the game, the 4th line created some great energy and a gorgeous scoring opportunity that started with a gorgeous saucer pass from Letestu to Comeau’s stick and ended with Khudobin making an impressive save. Coming away with a win in a game where the Jackets never had a lead in regulation is huge and speaks to a trait that they’ll need to have if they expect to make the playoffs and be productive once there. Let’s take a peak at the stars of the game:
3rd Star: Artem Anisimov
I won’t argue this with the exception of maybe bumping him up above 3rd. While Joey’s OT game-winner was a great shot, Artem’s feed on that was the real work of art on that play. Couple that with his game tying goal in the 3rd and Anisimov simply came up big when it mattered most tonight. Love seeing that and can hope he can carry the momentum from tonight’s game into the rest of the season.
2nd Star: Andrei Loktionov
Loktionov got a great PP goal on horrendous questionable call on Corey Tropp. Good for him but I’d have pencilled in Khudobin here. He shut the CBJ down in the first 38 minutes and both goals allowed in regulation were solid. While I’m sure he’d have loved to have stopped Johansen’s OT game winner, he was left in a tough place by the short-handed skaters in front of him.
1st Star: Ryan Johansen
See my notes about Anisimov. Johansen had a great game but only managed to put 2 shots on goal. I’d loved to have seen him generate a little more rubber on net traffic but like Anisimov, he came up big when it mattered. Sadly, his efficiency in the face-off dot dipped below 50% for the first time in many games tonight. Swap his and Anisimov’s positions in the rankings and I’m happy.
Stud: Matt Calvert
Calvert’s goal to open the CBJ scoring was the type of goal that we’ve all come to love from him, one generated by plain out-working the opponent and getting in passing lanes. The fact it was such an immediate response to the the Canes goal just minutes prior made the statement “I don’t think so, guys”.
Dud: Officiating
Some of tonight’s calls were so bad that where I’d normally rage, I legitimately just laughed out loud. Luckily none of the calls cost either team the game as the the call on Jiri Tlusty for closing his hand on the puck in OT was about as black and white as they come.
We can go to bed knowing that at worst, we still have the 1st wild card position for the moment and that nobody is going to knock us out of that spot for at least tonight. I was confused to see the Umberger scratch as I think he’s stepped up his game since his last visit to the press box but I won’t argue with the results tonight. That’s definitely something I’ll be keeping an eye on for the duration of the season.
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