The Jackets kicked off the 2017-2018 season with a statement win over the visiting New York Islanders.
It was clear early that this iteration of the Jackets was going to play with speed. Lots of speed. It only took 1:07 for the home team to open the scoring, with Oliver Bjorkstrand and Nick Foligno passing back-and-forth behind the goal line, with Bjorkstrand finding Sonny Milano out front. Milano would wire a shot past Islanders starter Thomas Greiss for his first NHL goal.
1-0 Jackets: Sonny Milano (Oliver Bjorkstrand, Nick Foligno)
The home club would keep their foot on the accelerator and would add to their lead thanks to Cam Atkinson, scoring off a cross-crease pass from Artemi Panarin. The puck went off Atkinson’s skate and was reviewed, but it was deemed to be a good goal.
2-0 Jackets: Cam Atkinson (Artemi Panarin)
The top line of Panarin, Atkinson and Alexander Wennberg was good – scary good, and the plays they were making were silky smooth. The trio was an absolute treat to watch.
About seven minutes into the second period the ref put his arm up for the first time, and while on the delayed Islander penalty Panarin again found himself down-low, feeding the puck to a pinching Ryan Murray, whose shot beat Greiss.
3-0 Jackets: Ryan Murray (Artemi Panarin, Alexander Wennberg)
A few minutes later the Jackets would go on the first real powerplay of the game, and after a few seconds the team would go up by four. Wennberg took a shot from the right dot area, with Greiss kicking the rebound straight up between the hash marks to Zach Werenski. Werenski wired the puck past Greiss.
4-0 Jackets: Zach Werenski (Alexander Wennberg, Artemi Panarin)
About a minute and a half later, Pierre-Luc Dubois would complete the scoring with a sneaky shot that would chase Greiss from the net in favor of Jaroslav Halak.
5-0 Jackets: Pierre-Luc Dubois (Seth Jones)
After a relatively clean game, the penalty parade started at the 13:11 mark of the second, when Cal Clutterbuck gave Lukas Sedlak an ugly shot while the Jacket forward was in a kneeled, vulnerable position. Zac Dalpe came to the defense of his linemate, with he and Clutterbuck receiving minors.
While four-on-four John Tavares was whistled for hooking Werenski, giving the CBJ a 4-on-3 powerplay. Despite some good looks, there was no scoring change.
With 27.4 seconds left in the period, Johnny Boychuk allowed his frustration to boil over and he dropped the mitts with Matt Calvert- call it a draw, or whatever.
The Jackets would continue to dominate play throughout the final period, with the final score remaining 5-0 for Columbus.
Highlights:
- Artemi Panarin had three helpers in his Columbus debut
- Rookies Pierre-Luc Dubois and Sonny Milano scored their first NHL goals
- Sergei Bobrovsky pitched his 20th shutout with the Jackets, a franchise record passing Steve Mason.
- Though Zac Dalpe may be the lineup casualty when Josh Anderson returns from his conditioning stint, he looked very good tonight. He had some nice offensive plays, threw his body around and stuck up for Sedlak.
The Jackets are back in action tonight against the Blackhawks.