The Columbus Blue Jackets won in their 81st game of the 2014-15 season, the 41st and final match of the year at Nationwide Arena. They beat the last-placed Buffalo Sabres 4-2, a score that doesn’t tell just how dominant the Jackets were. Save for a few shifts here and there, this was all Columbus, and the Jackets now hold a 12 game point streak. The final game is tomorrow at Nassau Coliseum.
Highlights
The Bad, The Good, The Best
The Bad (?): The Buffalo Sabres
If you’re a Sabres fan, maybe read this as “good?” For the second game in a row, the Blue Jackets faced a pretty bad opponent and controlled the overwhelming amount of the game. This time, the Columbus victory came to cement the Sabres’ status in last place for the year. Tim Murray deserves a ton of credit for the (purposeful) roster construction and McEichel is in their future. The turnaround will be the hard job.
This is shinny.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) April 11, 2015
The Good: A Bunch of Jackets
Where do we start? The fourth line was wonderful again (4th straight game one of Calvert-Letestu-Morin got a point). Dubinsky continued a point streak (now at 7 games). Ryan Murray is now at two straight games without injury. Cam Atkinson added his 21st goal of the year (tonight’s game-winner), and Boone Jenner added an empty netter.
Overall, the team finished ahead in the Fenwick battle 48-29 (or 62.3%), and 9 different players had a CF% over 65% (thanks Natural Stat Trick). Yeah, it’s the Sabres so it’s not quite so meaningful. It’s still better than the alternative.
The Best: Nick Foligno
CONGRATS & thank you Nick Foligno, this year's #CBJ Community MVP: [READ] http://t.co/lhikbfFq8L pic.twitter.com/TKJGafvn7p
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 10, 2015
Yes, Foligno added another goal to his career-best year on-ice. His season in Columbus was far more valuable than that. In a nationally visible role, Foligno was a great ambassador and leader during the All Star festivities. In an even more important way? Foligno gave his heart to Central Ohio. He volunteered, he raised money, he advocated for many causes (pediatric cancers, breast cancer, mental health, low income families) and was honored for his work before this game. Tonight the Blue Jackets named Foligno the team’s Community MVP. Well done, Mr. Foligno.
Also The Best: CBJ Fans
I'm letting the video say it all. #CBJ #WeAreThe5thLine https://t.co/FQuxQ6OVPE
— Running on caffiene and spite (@bzarcher) April 11, 2015
It was fan appreciation night, the last home game of the year. Columbus fans who stuck around for this uneven and frustrating season were rewarded with some fun play to close the campaign. It’s a shame this version of the team didn’t come around until it was too late. And even tonight, they managed to chant, “C-B-J, C-B-J” right to the end.
Next year, Jackets fans! Next year…
Tweet of the Game:
The Sabres are turning it over like a rotisserie chicken and somehow only down a goal
— Rob Mixer (@RobMixer) April 11, 2015
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