Well that is a frustrating loss. The final shots were 33-30, but that was one of the stronger efforts the Blue Jackets have put forth this season. It also brings an end to Todd Richards winning streak while leading heading into the third. Which I am happy to never hear about again. Not saying it’s meaningless, but I feel like lately the team has been “trying not to lose” in the third period when leading, when they are a MUCH better team when actually, you know, trying to win. Anyway, on to the stars.
3rd Star: Ryan Johansen
Johansen was the best skater on the ice tonight. He managed five shots on goal, scored a nice powerplay tally, won 64% of his faceoffs, and did just about everything you would want out of a top line center playing almost 21 minutes in a game. His entire play on the goal was fantastic. Wins the draw, ties up the center long enough to give the dmen time, slides over to the weakside, finds space, and then the shot. Oh, the shot. It doesn’t look perfect, but rewatch it again. He catches it flush enough to go post and in, with good meat on it, out of the air. The puck never settles and he still makes no mistake about it. Not an easy finish, even for a talented NHLer (just ask Umberger, who muffed a similar chance later in the game, on a feed from Johansen no less).
2nd Star: David Backes
I get that he scored the game winner. I get that is was a beauty of a goal, one that he created singlehandedly. But other than that, Backes was brutal tonight. Through regulation, Backes had one measly shot on goal, and got plain crushed on faceoffs (37% won). He did manage six hits, although that probably has more to do with his line never having the puck when he was on the ice. Before the game winner, Backes most noticeable play was taking a dumb penalty on Johansen, although it was great work by Joey on that one to turn the other cheek and grab the free powerplay.
1st Star: Vladimir Tarasenko
At least Tarasenko is a better choice than Backes, although he was CLEARLY not St. Louis’ best player. This really looks like the stars were just picked off the box score. Tarasenko was fine this game, but wasn’t even close to playing at the level of Jaroslav Halak. He put in some good work on his first goal, and his second goal was a snipe, but other than those two plays, he never really stood out at all. He can be very dangerous in space with the puck, but the Jackets never allowed that to happen. He’s just not the kind of physical presence who stands out in a game like tonight’s. I’d have no problem slotting him in as the second star, but Halak was clearly the best player on the ice tonight for either team.
Dud
I could say the powerplay going one for seven here, but that really was not the case. The powerplay was fantastic. But the I’m sure whoever picked the stars would look at the scoresheet, see the 1, and see the 7 and think it was terrible. Instead, my dud goes to Mike McKenna. He’s just…not good. I was scared every single time the Blues even looked like they might get a shot on goal. He’s hyper aggressive, which doubles down on the fright factor. I’m not even entirely blaming him for the goals against either. The first was a bad rebound, but someone has to have Tarasenko. The second just plain beat him, but someone needs to move Morrow so McKenna can see it the whole way. Put the third in the same category as the first one. The final goal was a great move by Backes. When I look at the goalies role in a goal against, I categorize it one of three ways: he should have had it, he could have had it, or he had no chance at it. I would put all four of the goals in the “could have had it” category. Just one extra save and this goes down as a Jackets win (well probably, unless the extra save was on Backes, then yada yada still more OT).
Stud
Seriously, did whoever pick the stars actually watch the game? The shots were close, but the actual quality of those shots wasn’t even in the same ballpark. Jaroslav Halak was incredible. He flat out stole that game from the Blue Jackets. He held them in the game time and time again, singlehandedly shut down the CBJ powerplay, and even threw in a last second game saver for good measure. Halak is one of those goalies that when he is on, he is ON. Tonight was one of those nights. While this very easily could have been a Jackets win, I’m pretty happy to see them grab a point from Halak when he’s in the zone.
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