Three Stars and Game in One Picture CBJ @ MIN

Well that was a game. This competing for a place in the ‘dance’ is fun, eh? The Jackets fought hard against a good team, took the game to overtime and then defied the odds in the shoot out to take two points from a Minnesota team. Still processing the impact and energy of that game and the fact the boys did it yet again so let’s just get on with it and look at the 3 stars according to NHL.com tonight…

3rd Star: Darcy Kuemper

This guy is technically the third line guy, but with Backstrom and Harding out, he’s been called into action and he played well. In a game that seemingly went back and forth, a battle of the goaltenders if you will, no question Kuemper gets the star.

2nd Star: Zach Parise

The guy earned his paycheck again. Solid assist on the Minnesota goal on 20 minutes of play. He also scored on the first shot of the shootout so extra praise there. BUT – for that very reason, I’ll contest the hometown bias and say Ryan Johansen equally earned consideration here. I mean, really, when have you seen a team come back from 2 down in the shootout to tie it up and then win it on the first bonus round? I’m sure we’ll see the stats on that soon, but I would say if we’re going to award a goal scorer tonight, Johansen earned just as much consideration as Parise. The stars nomination form is often submitted before a shootout, but there’s always consideration for something amazing…that should have applied here.

1st Star: Sergei Bobrovsky

Without Bob, the Jackets don’t stay in this game. There were multiple times tonight I double checked the stat sheet because I couldn’t believe that the shot count stayed as close as it did. In multiple occasions, Bob came up huge in regulation, but, as Rob Mixer noted, there was perhaps no bigger save than his ability to stand up against Pominville and Moulson in the shoot out to preserve the chance for the CBJ to stay in it. 33 saves, calm under pressure and keeping his team in it. That’s a first star in enemy territory indeed.

Game in One Picture

Stud: The Fourth Line. First of all, let’s discuss the ability to confidently roll 4 lines. Second of all, let’s discuss that Richards has started his fourth line 3 out of the last four games.55-24-26 has been a monster line, and this game in particular in the first they drove hard every second they were on the ice. It’s hard to believe the value that Corey Tropp has brought to the team, and don’t forget that Letestu continues to be a go-to in the shootout. He hasn’t converted on these last two attempts but it’s a valid call for #55 to be considered.

Dud. Nathan Horton. I’m not in the group of “omg why isn’t Horton scoring all the time everytime club” but I am in the club of “please make strong passes and play a physical game.” I have no doubt that coming back from such a significant injury takes far long than it takes to get cleared to be on the ice, but I really hope we see Horton return to form sooner rather than later. The guy almost had an own goal tonight and some of his clearing passes the past few games have been…suspect. Let’s hope to see Horton find full health, full strength, and full confidence soon. I know he can do it, and I believe he will.

Prior to tonight’s game, sportsclubstats.com had the Blue Jackets at a 76.8% chance to make the playoffs. That will undoubtedly go up after the results of tonight’s game. The Jackets return to the ice after a well earned two days off when they face Carolina at home on Tuesday. Let’s keep up the winning ways.

UPDATE: Post game, Saturday, the percentage chance is 83.7% (ST Chris Predieri)

Carry the Flag.