After getting goalie’d against the San Jose Sharks, could a well-rested Blue Jackets get back to their winning ways?
1st Period
A lot of skating early and not a lot of production for either side. The Jackets struggled to maintain possession through the neutral zone against the Kings structure, and the Kings struggled to connect in the o zone. Best early opportunity for the CBJ is a pass from Jiricek into the slot that ZAR couldn’t redirect on net. Kings got a PP opportunity after a Pyyhtia penalty nine minutes in but the PK prevailed without issue. Thirteen minutes in Danforth intercepts a puck, carries it in deep, and shows nice patience to wait and find Voronkov in front of the net who gets it past Rittich.
CBJ Goal 1-0: Voronkov (Danforth) 13:26
Kings back to the PP fifteen minutes in after Monahan interfered with Kempe. Better looking PP from the Kings until Kempe got called for interference himself halfway through. Nothing much in the minute of 4v4, same for the minute of 5v4 for the Jackets. ZAR generated a breakaway chance after a nice steal in the neutral zone but the period ended 1-0 Columbus. I was a little surprised to see a combined shot total over 10, to be honest.
2nd Period
The Kings started the 2nd with a lot of jump, the first 2 minutes of the period were spent in the CBJ zone. Former Blue Jacket Gavrikov got a phone call 4 minutes in as he wired a shot past Elvis to tie it up.
LAK Goal 1-1: Gavrikov (Kempe, Kopitar) 04:16
Kuraly bumped into an official at center ice and lost the puck, Jiricek got caught up ice, and a quick sequence resulted in a rush chance for the Kings that beat Elvis. Helenius picked up his first NHL point in his debut.
LAK Goal 1-2: Foegele (Thomas, Helenius) 06:12
Sillinger got sprung on a breakaway shortly after but could not get it past Rittich. The first CBJ fight of the season was between Olivier and Englund, but was over quickly when Englund lost his balance. Fantilli went to the box with 4 minutes remaining after flipping the puck over the glass. Another decent PK with Sillinger getting a shorthanded rush chance that was saved by the Kings goalie. The Jackets ended the period on the man advantage after a late Kings infraction.
Los Angeles definitely had more jump this period and the Jackets continued to struggle to consistently string plays together. Jody frequently commented on weird bounces off the boards. Shots 18-16 for the CBJ.
3rd Period
CBJ began the third with 1:40 remaining on the man advantage. Sillinger fanned on a pass early and the Kings pounced on the chance to score the first shorthanded goal against the Jackets this season.
LAK Goal 1-3: Moore SHG (Danault) 00:30
Evason put the 2nd PP unit out afterwards and they were quick to respond with Provorov cleaning up a rebound in front of the net for his first of the year.
CBJ Goal 2-3: Provorov PPG (Danforth, Fantilli) 00:49
Jackets back to the power play 3 minutes in when LA tried to play hockey with more than 5 guys on the ice. The second unit got the first crack, but the first unit had the best chance later on. Rittich made a few nice saves late in the PP. The Kings restored their two goal lead after Laferriere redirected an Edmundson point shot past Elvis. This goal was a bit against the run of play as the Jackets had opened up their shot advantage to 25-19 at this point.
LAK Goal 2-4: Laferriere (Edmundson, Foegele) 7:05
CBJ continued to get pressure but were unable to get anything on net. Elvis was pulled with two and half remaining and Evason iced Z and 5 forwards until Monahan tripped Gavrikov exiting the zone. Good effort from the Jackets to try and get something while shorthanded but Brandt Clarke iced the game with an empty net goal.
LAK Goal 2-5: Clarke PPG ENG (Unassisted) 19:29
Final Thoughts
Credit the Kings for making life difficult for the Jackets all night, but it would’ve been fair to expect a sharper game from a well rested team. They didn’t really seem to bring it until the 3rd. After a lackluster opening frame, the Kings brought noticeably more energy in the second and got 2 goals when the CBJ couldn’t match their effort. The Kings’ 2nd and 3rd goals were good chances on rush plays, but Elvis needs to find a save on those for the Jackets to win. Rittich is not a starting goalie in this league and he found a way to make some nice saves.
The top line did a nice job against the Kopitar line and I generally thought the bottom 6 looked good. Danault did his usual thing and won the matchup against the second line, Fantilli will learn from games like this. Sillinger comfortably lead all forwards in ice time with nearly 3 minutes more than the next closest. While Cole’s linemates were quiet, Sillinger did look good and Evason rewarded the hot hand.
Werenski had some of his usual rock star moments, and Provorov and Severson had their moments too. Jiricek, outside of getting caught out on the 2nd goal, I thought was more noticeable than he had been recently. Used his long reach several times to break up plays, a few clean breakouts, and a couple good moments in the o zone. He also lost his stick twice in the first period but I think it’s difficult to really grade the guy when he plays less than 9 minutes. Jiricek’s draft mate Simon Nimec is also having a hard time cracking the NHL lineup in Jersey, he was recently assigned to the AHL.
The CBJ won the expected goal battle again tonight but they need to find some more finish, or some more saves, if they want to snap this losing streak.
Up Next
Right back in action tomorrow night at the Pond in Anaheim at 8 PM.