A dangerous back end of a back to back faced the Jackets tonight and, second period aside (woof!) the team showed up with what ended up as a decisive 4-2 win in front of a very healthy Tuesday night home crowd (If you win – they will come).
The trade deadline looms tomorrow and noone knows if we’ll see this same roster in Union Blue ever again, so let’s mark the moment and appreciate that the team definitely gave us some things to remember from tonight’s game. So let’s get on to the three stars…and, if you read the whole thing, enjoy a mini rant at the end of this recap.
Third Star: Boone Jenner
The resident CBJ man-child had a stellar game today. His no-nonsense style of play continues to get under the skin of opponents and the 8-19-38 is really singing. Talk about size. Boone started off the CBJ scoring early with a strong shot from the top of the circle and it jump started the 3 goal blitz that would later bring the Jackets the win.
Second Star: Sergei Bobrovsky
Many had wondered if the back to back start against a non-conference opponent was a waste of time Bob could use to rest up. Well apparently they need not worry. Without Bob in net, that game does not end up going the Jackets way tonight. A lackluster second period from everyone who was not in net, meant Bob had to come up time after time with the save. His calm on the ice was obvious, and his composure during a late flurry of shots from the Stars kept the Jackets in this game when the rest of the team wasn’t. Now, don’t get me wrong, he wants that second goal back…badly. But it was evident tonight why Bob is one of-if not the-linchpins of this team.
First Star: Artem Anisimov
Tonight marks the fourth straight game when Arty scored a goal and the third straight game that Arty notched the game winning goal (HT to Aaron Portzline). His performance post Olympics was something we predicted here at Union Blue and it’s nice to see that coming to fruition. That dangerous backhand that CBJ fans came to love so much last year is back in full effect in recent games, and that can only feed Arty’s confidence down the stretch. He’s not only shooting pretty shots, he’s making plays (like last night and tonight) and for that Arty most assuredly gets tonight’s first star…but, I’d be remiss if I didn’t comment that part of what makes a playmaker is the player have room to make a play – and I don’t think that space exists without the presence of Marian Gaborik on the same line. But more on that later.
Game in One Picture
Stud: Nikita Nikitin. Remember when good old #6 came to us from the Blues? He had a great year. Then last year…not as great. The beginning of this season had Nikki up and down on the performance scale but tonight was just one more example of the Olympics actually being a benefit to our Russian players. Tyutin is the solid elder statesman of the Jackets Blue Line and with him out, Nikitin seems to be stepping up to do the team a solid at every turn. Nikki put up a strong 21 minutes of play, was +1 on the night and blocked 4 shots. Keep it up Mr. Nikitin.
Dud: A dismissal of Marian Gaborik. Look, there are one hundred reasons why I’m not a General Manager of a hockey team at any level. And there are valid concerns about the amount of money Gaby makes, particularly in relation to the TOI the Jackets have gotten from him this year. But, whether or not #10 is here come tomorrow night, fans owe themselves the courtesy to realize that Gaborik has contributed in many ways to this team. As alluded to earlier, Anisimov doesn’t get the time and space he’s getting right now if there isn’t an elite athlete out on the ice at the same time that the opposing defense must consider. That’s one of the reasons why players like Nathan Horton and Gaborik matter – you have to respect talent. And that benefits everyone who’s on the ice – even if it doesn’t come directly in the form of goals from said “elite” player. So yeah, Gaborik didn’t score but Arty did…a lot (much like Horton’s line is putting up points as well), and that feeds Arty’s confidence and builds into better and better performances from him – there’s a direct benefit to a player like Gaborik (points) and then there’s a trickle down effect. Again – we all know Gaborik is a free agent come this summer, and we all know he’s expensive (perhaps too much so) and from an asset management perspective, Jarmo owes the organization to get the best possible return for the big forward – so maybe he’s not here come Thursday’s game – but don’t say #10 was a bust. You’re selling the situation short.
Thursday night has the Jackets in Chicago to face the defending Stanley Cup champions and then we’re off to Nashvegas for a game against a perennial Jacket foe…the Jackets are riding a 3 game win streak – let’s hope it continues and that the points keep rolling in.
Carry the Flag!
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