Man, the Jackets have been fun to watch lately. Coming off an OT win against the Hurricanes on Thursday, the Jackets traveled to Philadelphia to take on a Metro rival.
First period:
Both teams were off to a bit of a choppy start, each drawing penalties in the first ten minutes, resulting in two uneventful power plays. The Flyers found the back of the net first, on a shot by Jakub Voracek, assisted by James van Riemsdyk. Fortunately, Jackets are able to answer late in the first — Sonny Milano brought the puck up the ice and released it to Boone Jenner, who was able to defy physics and score from behind the goal line.
Boone Jenner ties the game for the #CBJ on a shot from behind the goal line: pic.twitter.com/KbQT9sKS7x
— The Cannon (@cbjcannon) October 26, 2019
Second period:
Pierre-Luc Dubois. That’s it, that’s the tweet. He found a lapse in the Flyers’ defense and took his time placing a top-shelf goal right in over Brian Elliot’s shoulder. It was his fifth goal in eight games and established a three-game point streak, which accurately reflects how well he’s been playing lately. Jackets take the lead, 2-1.
Alexandre Texier tangled with Chris Stewart and took a painful-looking fall on his knee, after which he skated off in evident pain and was checked out by a doctor in the locker room.
Voracek and van Riemsdyk do it again, taking advantage of a power play and putting an unstoppable shot past Joonas Korpisalo — tied 2-2. Korpi’s been playing his ass off, stopping a number of significant and difficult shots in the second period, including two breakaway opportunities by the Flyers.
Fortunately, Boone Jenner is on fire tonight, and he puts another one away — bringing the score back into the Jackets’ favor to end the second period. Sonny Milano on the assist there.
Two assists tonight for Mr. Milano. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/iWnXS1c71F
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) October 27, 2019
Third period:
CBJ PR reports that Texier is out with a lower-body injury, so that sucks.
In other news, Josh Anderson scores from a rebound off the back wall — Jackets widen the lead to 4-2. Vladislav Gavrikov got the assist; his first point for the Blue Jackets.
Ten minutes into the period it’s a 4 v. 4 situation, as the Flyers are penalized for too many men on the ice and Wennberg for hooking.
Claude Giroux collected the puck from Seth Jones and then passed it along to Shayne Gostisbehere, who puts it past Korpi — narrowing the lead to 4-3.
Not even two minutes later, van Riemsdyk ties it up 4-4 off a pass from Ivan Provorov. Honestly, this is my fault for feeling momentarily grateful that we weren’t going to be tied up in the end of the third period, for once. For as inconsistent as the Jackets tend to be in regards to so many other facets of their game, they’ve been freakishly repetitive about stressing everyone out in the last ten minutes of regulation.
Seven minutes left. Short-hand goal by Flyers, 5-4.
6-4.
7-4, empty-netter. And that’s game.
Parting thoughts.
God, that was painful to watch. Which is too bad, since the Jackets were really playing a good game until they began unraveling with 10 minutes left in the third. Frankly, something has got to give on this power play situation. Not only are the Jackets unable to capitalize on their power plays, but they struggle to kill them and give up goals then.
The numerical results of this game do not reflect kindly on Korpisalo, which is a shame, because he really played well and could only do so much when it came to bailing out the mistakes his teammates were making. He took 46 shots from a talented offense and six of those made it past him, since the seventh was on an empty net. Korpi was clearly and rightfully frustrated, slamming his stick against the ice and the post after the last couple pucks made it past him.
I felt like I was watching two different games tonight. It especially sucks for the players who had good games that are now overshadowed by an embarrassing loss, such as the aforementioned Korpi performance, plus Boone and PLD.
Okay. I’m tired of thinking about this game. And I need a fat glass of wine. Here’s to the Jackets figuring their $h!t out before they play Edmonton at home this upcoming Wednesday.