Two thirds of the way through this game my mind was full of hockey thoughts…I had things all worked out in my head – yay Ryan Murray (please don’t get hurt), look at the team battling with 7 D and 11 F (please don’t get hurt), hey Letestu nice goal – we might do this (please don’t get hurt). And then Nick Foligno was injured in a freak accident where, while battling for the puck with Jeff Carter, his head collided with the hind shank of the linesman. After lying motionless on the ice, Foligno was stretchered off and was seen waving to the crowd. Later it was a relief to hear that per the Blue Jackets twitter, and via Jeff Rimer relating an update from President of Hockey Operations, John Davidson, that Foligno was not taken to a hospital and was having x-rays at the Staples Center. JD said that Foligno will be fine.
We’ll get to the three stars in a second but let’s make a few things clear first. (1) The injury to Foligno was not. Jeff. Carter’s. Fault. I’m a lot more ticked off he scored a goal against the Jackets then for what he did on that play. (2) Look at the linesman – his position (completely coincidental) is what causes the injury (3) We do not know if/when word of Foligno’s health update got to the team on the bench…and / or if it ever got to Bob who sits in net (obviously). Nick is a beloved member of this team – you have to believe seeing your teammate go down like that surely will rattle you. Before that injury, I was really invested on the outcome of the game, after the injury – honestly – not so much. Did it impact the team? Look at that long flatline in the third…and the impact on shooting rate after. You have to believe it did.
And sometimes, we need to remember hockey is just a game…ok, rant over. Let’s get on to the three stars…
3rd Star: Tanner Pearson. Ok this is going to be a bit repetitive tonight. As “The 70’s line” as the Kings like to call it, swept the star rating tonight. So let’s get on with it. Pearson had two goals on three shots. That’s a pretty good day. And he was second in even-strength Corsi for the Kings tonight at +14 second only to….
2nd Star: Jeff Carter. Jackets fans don’t like Jeff Carter. But you can’t deny he is good at hockey. He led the team in Corsi at +15, and was quite frankly ridiculous with 1 goal, 3 assists for 4 points total. And, yes I’m going to repeat myself, if you’re going to be mad at Jeff Carter be mad he seemingly didn’t fit in Columbus, be mad he has two Cups, be mad he scored against the Jackets tonight – but you cannot be mad at him for Foligno’s injury.
1st Star: Tyler Toffoli. Gosh I wonder what would happen if you put these guys on a line together? <snark> Toffoli had your game-winner tonight in his matching scoreset to his buddy Carts going 1-3-4 on the night. Oh and he was +10 in Corsi. This line, man.
Game in One Picture – Coming soon
Stud: Scott Hartnell. I really like this guy. To watch what he brings both in play and attitude is a real asset to the team. Hartnell notched his 9th assist tonight – which ties him for the league lead by the way. He might have even had his tenth had Joey been able to crack the Jonathan Quick code on his breakaway – launched by Hartnell’s pass. And, while we’re not an advocate of fighting over here, there was some worry how the Jackets would go in to today’s game with all the injuries against the defending Stanley Cup champions. Scott Hartnell will not be deterred. Oh. And he will not take your s**t apparently either. While not something we want to see a lot, I think this helped set the tone for the Jackets going out into play. (Honorable mention goes to Tim Erixon for his first NHL goal).
Dud: BLOOD. Let’s recap this west coast swing – thank god it was only three games right? Game 1 – Matty Calvert loses half his mouth due to a stick check. Game 2 – in a freak accident, Cam Atkinson gets half his face sliced open with a skate. Game 3 – juuuust when you thought that Savvy’s split lip would be the extent of the injuries the team would face today, Foligno is stretchered off the ice. By the end of the game tonight, the Jackets were without (in no particular order): Nathan Horton, Brandon Dubinsky, Boone Jenner, Cam Atkinson, Matt Calvert and Nick Foligno. If Curtis McElhinney hadn’t rejoined the club, and Ryan Murray hadn’t played tonight you could add their names to the list. Think about THAT.
The Jackets return home tonight and Nick Foligno will be with them (per Aaron Portzline). This week has the team comfortably back home for a game against Ottawa Tuesday and the Maple Leafs Friday. The club is at .500 – which seemed to be the acceptable threshhold to be ok prior to the return of 17, 38, etc. Let’s see if the Jackets can’t start to earn some more points and get some more players back healthy and on ice.
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