The Blue Jackets took down the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in a shootout in the wee hours of the morning. Well maybe not the wee hours. I might just be getting old. Also, I’ve used “wee” in three consecutive sentences now. Clearly I am tired and punchy. Anyway, the Jackets and Oilers at least put on an entertaining show, combining for 67 shots (47-20 in favor of Edmonton), a few highlight reel goals in regulation, and nice shootout markers from Ryan Johansen and Alexander Wennberg to finish it off.
3rd Star: Ryan Nugent Hopkins
Sure. Scored his 20th of the season, marking the first time he’s done that. Good on the kid. He still looks like a stick in skates out there though.
2nd Star: Curtis McElhinney
Made a number of nice stops, as one usually does when stopping 44 pucks (plus a couple more in overtime). He’s been a pleasant surprise for much of the year. CMac’s stop on Rob Klinkhammer right after stopping Boyd Gordon to close out the second period was fantastic.
1st Star: Nail Yakupov
He’s been a disappointment in the NHL so far (only 28 points in 70 games this year, and 83 points in 181 games for his career), but look how quickly the former 1st overall pick got the shot of for his goal. Yes, it was on an empty net, but his quick release it what allowed it to still be empty.
Going to go with a slightly different flavor for the stud and dud for this game. Instead of naming two good/bad players/plays, I’m going to quickly run through a number of things I liked or didn’t like in last nights game (or the season in general).
Duds (in no particular order): Late night games going even later, games late in lost seasons, games between bottom-feeding teams, teams running out the clock on the season, giving up 40 shots practically every game, Rene Bourque‘s hit (was more or less “legal” but is that kind of hit really necessary), turnovers in the defensive zone, lazy penalties, leaving guys unattended on the backdoor, injuries, dead crowds (it was so silent early in the game), Todd Richards lines, Todd Richards general roster management.
Studs (in no particular order): Going bar down (or post and in), smart plays, the the totally solid player of Curtis McElhinney, watching Ryan Murray play hockey, Mitch Marner (would love to see the CBJ pick him in the 2015 draft), getting some decent run for Marko Dano and Alexander Wennberg, the RJ Umberger-Scott Hartnell trade, two out of it teams not particularly caring for defense (makes for some fun hockey), dominant overtime puck possession, beautiful dangles, David Savard‘s beautiful game opening goal.
Well that’s it for tonight’s game, the 70th of this ill-begotten season. The Jackets are back on the ice tomorrow night for another late one, this time in Vancouver against the Canucks.
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