Game 78 Recap: The Good Fight
by Mike MacLean on Apr 1, 2011 9:53 PM EDT
in Game Recaps
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PrintThe Jackets were down early to a team desperate to keep their hold on the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. The showed some real character by clawing back to tie, and then take the lead from Chicago, but a soft goal against deflated the team. Here's how it all happpened...
The first period started with both teams skating hard, moving the puck well. About two and a half minutes in, Antoine Vermette received the puck on a turnover at the Chicago blueline. He fed the puck to linemate Matt Calvert, who threw the puck back in front of the net where Vermette had a great chance, but was stopped by Corey Crawford. The Hawks immediately went the other way, with Patrick Kane cruising down the off wing with the puck, and wiring home a wrister.
1-0 Chicago.
At the 14:27 mark of the first, Jared Boll went to the box for roughing. The Hawks wasted no time-they moved the puck around the offensive zone, and blueliner Brent Seabrook crept in from the point and wired a shot past Garon.
2-0 Chicago.
Scott Arniel was interviewed on the bench after the tv timeout following Seabrook's goal. He was clearly unimpressed, owing the goals against to an "ill-advised pinch" on the first, and a "ban-bang play" on the second. I love his passion.
The teams traded chances, until a few minutes later when the Jackets got on the board. Anton Stralman took a feed at the point and put a shot on net, which was tipped in by Maksim Mayorov, for his first NHL goal. The goal was reviewed, but it was deemed a good goal. Another rookie making a fantastic impression for the Jackets this season. One thing is certain- training camp 2011 will be a fierce battle.
The Jackets had a powerplay shortly after the midway point of the first, but continued their run of futility with the man advantage. The Jackets managed two shots.
With about three minutes left in the first, the Hawks went on a powerplay of their own, but weren't able to capitalize themselves. The Jackets did a good job of clogging the lanes and forcing the Hawks away from taking shots.
Assistant coach Bob Boughner was wired for sound as part of the Jackets All Access, and one thing is clear- he is a great coach and the guys must love to play for him. He's a great compliment to coach Arniel.
End of the First Period: 2-1 Chicago
Early in the second the teams traded penalties, with no change in scoring. With four seconds to go in 4-on-4 play, Patrick Kane got his stick up in Marc Methot's face as he tried to skate around him for a puck in the corner. The high stick drew blood and the Jackets went up a man for four minutes. No shock though- the Jackets were unable to score.
Midway through the second things started to get chippy. Scrums were developing every time a goalie made a save. The Jackets also failed to score on another powerplay.
With 6 and half to go, Niclas Hjalmarsson was whistled for delay of game when he flipped puck over the glass. That put the Jackets up by two men, and with Derick Brassard quarterbacking the powerplay, he took the puck from between the slot and point and slapped home the puck to end the Jackets' atrocious run on the powerplay.
2-2.
The play was very wide open to end the second period, with both teams having great chances, but the scored remained tied.
End of the Second Period: 2-2
The third period started well for the Jackets, they carried the play for the first few minutes. Jake Voracek and Derek MacKenzie had a two-on-one chance, but Corey Crawford came up with a beautiful save. To be honest, and it pains me to say this- it was the first time I really noticed Jake all game.
Tomas Kubalik was very noticeable in the game, and in the third period he was showing some feistiness, and was winning board battles on a consistent basis. On one occasion, he beat Marian Hossa in a corner battle, carrying the puck to the offensive zone for a scoring chance.
With about twelve minutes left, Fedor Tyutin blocked a shot with his chops, but was good to go on his next shift. Toots is the unquestioned leader of this blueline.
With a little over six minutes left in the game, Anton Stralman, who had a whale of a game, blasted the puck on net, and en-route Sammy Pahlsson placed his stick in the perfect spot for a tip-in. The puck went up over Crawford for a goal.
3-2 Jackets.
About one minute later, Bryan Bickell threw a floaer on net that Mathieu Garon absolutely needs to stop. Instead the puck beat Garon for a deflating tying goal. Uggghh.
3-3.
Observation: Sami Lepisto is a great passer.
Late in the third, there was a clear hold on R.J. Umberger, but no call from the officials. Big miss.
End of regulation: 3-3
A minute into OT Matty Garon came up huge with a save on Marian Hossa.
The Hawks carried play for the first few minutes, but the level of play evened out for the last couple of minutes. The Jackets had a three-on-one opportunity, but the puck jumped over Vermmy's stick.
End of OT: 3-3.
Shootout participants:
Columbus: Mayorov- SAVE
Columbus: Kubalik- SAVE
Columbus: Voracek- SAVE
Chicago: Toews- MISS
Chicago: Kane- SAVE (A huge save!)
Chicago: Stalberg- GOAL
Final Score: 4-3 Blackhawks
Standard Bearers:
- Line of Calvert-Vermette-Kubalik: The best line in the game against the Caps, the "second" line was again fantastic against the 'Hawks. Kubalik looks so comfortable out there.
- Maksim Mayorov: Congrats to Mayorov on his first NHL goal!
- Anton Stralman: Where was this Stralman all year? Awesome game for Strals. Three helpers.
- Viktor Stalberg: Had a great game, almost deserved to get the winner in the shootout.
Bottom Of The Barrel:
- Jakub Voracek: Where are you Jake?
- Patrick Kane: I have my reasons.
- Mathieu Garon: The game tying goal was a killer man, a real softie.
The Jackets don't really have much to play for, but they played a desperate 'Hawks team tough, coming back from two goals down to take a 3-2 lead. A soft goal allowed by Garon gave Chicago the chance to win it in the shootout, and they made no mistake.
The play of the rookies in this game, along with Anton Stralman, are reasons to be happy however.
Go Jackets.
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It was a pretty good game and it was nice to see us battle back. There were way too many Hawks fans there and I was irritated by the ignorance of some of them. I don’t know if it’s a new thing to do or what but I heard when the Pens were in town the fans cheered during the national anthem and the Hawks fans did the same. Whenever the camera panned over to the Hawks side the jackasses cheered. I am all for cheering for your team but during our national anthem it is not appropriate. The crazy thing is that my 17 year old son gets it but “grown ups” don’t. It might be time for our camera operators to learn a lesson and not show the visiting team during the anthem. It’s too bad that people are so ignorant.
Can’t wait until the game on Sunday though, Go Jackets!!
Its because they clap during the national anthem in Chicago. I dont like that they do it in other arenas not because its ignorant or anything (which it can be), but because i think of it more as a “chicago thing” that happens in Chicago and stays in Chicago.
I still think it is classless, it is our national anthem and they should respect that. If I recall correctly, it’s just an organist playing the anthem in Chicago. We have a damn fine anthem singer here in Columbus who deserves to be heard. Call me old fashioned but I believe you should stand, hand over heart and SING along to the anthem. Just my two cents.
I dont like it in other stadiums because it is not everyone doing it. Check out this video of it in Chicago. Fastforwardto 1:40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_nQ-GNdo3E
Okay, I watched and I still don’t like it. Most of them cheered only when a Hawks player was shown on the screen. I know it’s a personal thing but I still feel like too many men and women have died for this country and I take the anthem very seriously and sort of as a tribute to them. I’ll shut up about it but I don’t like it at all.
They didn’t call anything in the third period at all, despite several muggings, It’s almost as if Toronto told them to swallow their whistles and swallow them they did. I liked Mayorov’s play, and I liked a lot. But Chicago’s the last team I’d want to face in a shoot-out.
Ya, how bout that ten second hook with about a minutes left on Umby. Kane was riding him for ten good second and the ref was staring right at it.
Anyone else think that penalty on Stralman for the hipcheck was crap? He got him wasit to waist. Not a trip
Soft Goals
It seems that it has happened fairly regularly recently that the jackets have given up goals that should be routine saves. From what I saw of the NHL replay, the first goal Mason gave up last night looked like he should have had it. It looks like it hit off his glove which led to the rebound and the goal.
I also noticed that you said Lepisto looks like a good passer out there. That is good, because he didn’t look that good on last nights first goal. I think he looked out of position. Is he someone that the Jackets should keep next year?
I think someone wrote a post earlier that the jackets defensemen had the second most points of any teams in the NHL. But it also seems like the defense has given up more goals of late. I am too lazy to look it up though and don’t know when the time frame is for that stat.
BTW
I like the in-depth write-ups of the games. Many Jackets games I can’t see although I have NHL package now. I don’t live in Columbus.
It’s very obvious that top priority for Howson is to get a legitimate #1 goalie. We would have 8-10 more wins this year with solid goaltending & that puts us in the playoffs. Get a #1 & a top 4 D & we’ll be in good shape. Forget a #1 center because there’s only about 8-10 in the league & they won’t be available to the Jackets. I believe we can be successful with 2 balanced top lines & #3 line with scoring punch. The way this team is playing without Nash I hope Arniel will change his approach of all about Nash to all about THE TEAM. That would probably help Nash because it would take a lot of pressure off him.
I hope Arniel will change his approach of all about Nash to all about THE TEAM
WTF? After games check how much ice time our team had. Very rarely does Nash play 3 minutes or two minutes more than anyone off the first line. Thats not all about Nash. If it was all about Nash he would be playing 25 minutes a game. Unless i took that the wrong way, which is completely possible, its not all about Nash. All teams have to rely on their stars to be the best player. Especially the Jackets who have only one star player. Its not all about Nash, but its more about Nash than say Dorsett, as it should be
I think a goalie is helpful, but i think our defense need the biggest change. Mason could use more help from his defense. If we get a good defense we can make our goalie look that much better. This is a good year for a defensive overhaul too. Lets do it.
Ice time has nothing to do with it it’s all about the quality of your ice time. Right now he’s a 30-35 goal scorer & 65-70 pts player. In my book that makes him a very good hockey player not superstar. There’s other players on this team that can score & Arniel has to start looking at the big picture. You know the other players are not stupid & eventually that causes dissension on the team.
Please explain you “quality if your ice time” idea. I dont think i understand how that can have anything to do with the game being all about Nash or not.
Arniel used him strictly in offensive situations. Nash is a very solid 2 way player that could have contributed a lot in defensive situations.
Especially the PK. Defensive assignements in key faceoffs. Should ALWAYS be considered when closing periods. Be part of a shutdown line when playing with a slim lead in the last 10 min. of 3rd periods (ex: Nash, Vermy, RJ).
It is not Nash’s job to be a shutdown player. He needs to be responsible in his defensive zone but we pay him to score goals and be the best player on the ice.
I completely agree with you on the pk thing. I wonder how many more shorty’s we would have if Nash were playing on the pk.
The problem is although he’s being paid to score goals in close games he gives us a better chance to win if Arniel assigns him more defensive responsibilities. He’s that much better than some of the players assigned to do that. I think Nash would hit the 40 goal mark if he would’ve been used on the PK.
Arniel uses the mind set that if he is not out there for the PK, he will have more time at even strength to score. Its a different mindset but neither are necessarily wrong.
The other side of what your saying also is that maybe if Nash were on the PK, he would not have been ready to go for even strength where he scored. So maybe he would have less goals because he would have been too tired to score some of those goals. Hard to say.
I lean with Nash playing on the PK, but i dont think by not putting him on the PK that it is all about Nash. I dont get that sense at all about Arniel. He understands that it needs to be more about Nash than others simply because Nash is by far our best player.
Per Porty
#CBJ D Jan Hejda will be suspended two games by NHL for his elbow to the head of Chicago’s Marcus Kruger.
I thought April Fools was over?
The elbow was pretty deserving. Same kind of junk play that I’d want anybody suspended for.
Out of curiosity, has Hejda ever been suspended before? If not, is this the NHL doing the right thing with first-case headshots for once?
Clarkson Golden Knights and Columbus Blue Jackets Fan
Essential Listening
It was deserving of a penalty, not of a suspension. This hit has not been talked about around the league at all. On Nhl on the Fly last night they said it was deserving of a penalty, but nothing more should come of it as well.
Just think, Cooke hit Savard and probably ended his career. Hejda does this and gets two games. Rules have changed but the league is flawed. That is just rediculous. There have been worse hits by far this season. The Heatley hit was worse than this.
Its not like it matters that much because we are out and we can always have Savard or someone play, but it helps show that the league has issues that need help.
If the NHL sticks to what it says about no head shots, this hit deserved the suspension. Of course, I would also like to see Kane suspended for the stick to Methot’s face. Hejda isn’t dirty and the elbow was not intentional but it was a hit to the head. As soon as it happened I told my son Hejda would be suspended.
He isn’t but the mandate is NO head shots now. At least that’s what I heard after the GM meetings. It’s funny because they chose not to “ban” them but they said they will not be tolerated.
I understand, but if you are not a repeat offender it should not be a suspension unless it is a really bad it. This is just an elbow that didnt hit him that hard. No injury, nothing.
Also, i have no problem with the no headshot rule but it needs to be consistent. Which it is not
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te4cPelK7Zg
This is the Gaborik hit on Nielsen the other night. The affect of this is just as bad if not worse than the one Hejda did. But no suspension. Why? because hes Marian Gaborik and not Jan Hejda
Now you are on to a different topic, the NHL is most certainly NOT consistent with anything related to officiating. I’m not just saying this because we get screwed often times. I have stated many times(and I’m sure you remember) the NHL officials are horrible.
Its a topic that is related to the suspensions. The officiating is not consistent but neither is Colin Campbell and the decisions made by the league. On any given check, it is almost impossible to know exactly what the suspension is going to be. You can play games to guess what it could be because no one knows until it is made. I dont see a difference between the Gaborik hit and the Hejda hit other than one is a star and the other is an underrated defensive defensemen playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Both hits affecting the head of the opposing player and Nielsen missed the game tonight because of an injury that i would guess is related to that check. The scrub Hejda hit jumped right back up and was fine. Even the Chicago players did not take exception to the hit by only having a few words with Hejda and not going back after him later in the game.
The fact that the league takes injuries into hand and who hits the player is wrong. It should be player X on team P hit player Y on team H. Hand the suspension or non suspension taking in hand repeat offender and all that jazz on player X and move on.
I agree that the league needs to be more consistent. Both of the hits we have discussed here should have been suspensions. Hejda was not responsible and hit someone in the head and it is only by the grace of God that Kruger wasn’t injured. Obviously Hejda wasn’t going for the head but he did make contact and with the head injury/concussion issue the league has faced, he deserves to sit. The leagues discipline is a joke, Colin Campbell should be suspended for some of the crap he has turned a blind eye to. Gaborik should have been suspended and very well may have been, if his name wasn’t Marian Gaborik.
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