The narrative so far this season is that the Blue Jackets have the ability to lead in games but lack finish. Tonight, Joonas Korpisalo and the Ottawa Senators were in town, and the Jackets were able to flip the narrative. Here’s how it went down.
1st Period
The game did not start well for the home team.
Marchenko went to the box for tripping just two minutes into the game. The Senators peppered the Jackets with six shots on the man advantage, but Elvis played a big role in keeping the game at double zeros.
One minute after the first kill, Werenski broke Tkachuk’s stick and sent the Jackets right back to the kill.
If you were counting at home, the total power play shots for Ottawa to start the game was 10.
When it rains, it pours. Giroux scored the game’s first goal on a 2-on-1. This game may end up in a Hockey 101 book about how not to start a game.
OTT Goal 1-0: Giroux (Tkachuk, Zub) 8:43
Fantilli gave Ottawa their third power play when he took a slashing penalty. The Senators immediately scored on a Tkachuk one-timer from the right faceoff dot.
OTT PP Goal 2-0: Tkachuk (Chabot, Stutzle) 11:07
There was a break in the onslaught when Joseph gave the Jackets a power play by cross-checking Texier. After taking a large amount of heat from the fanbase over the last week, Laine fired a laser past Korpisalo. He gathered the puck from the point, skated in closer to the net, and let it rip.
CBJ PP Goal 2-1: Laine (Gaudreau, Werenski) 14:53
Moments later, the Russian line tied the game. Voronkov stole the puck in the slot and quickly fired it towards the net. It deflected off of an Ottawa defender and into the net.
CBJ Goal 2-2: Voronkov (unassisted) 15:36
If you had told me that the game would be tied after Ottawa scored their second goal, I wouldn’t have believed you. Elvis had to face 10 high-danger chances and 17 total shots in the first period, and he did about as well as you’d hope. The team deserves credit for sticking with it and keeping themselves in the game.
2nd Period
The second period started with Gaudreau making a play in the neutral zone that led to a semi-breakaway. He didn’t score, but it was the type of play that can set the tone for the rest of the period.
Fantilli got the Jackets their first lead when he deflected Provorov’s point shot. Laine provided a great screen to aid in the goal.
CBJ Goal 3-2: Fantilli (Provorov, Danforth) 5:16
Sustained offensive zone pressure by the Fantilli line led to another power play. It didn’t take long for them to cash in. Good puck movement led to a Werenski point shot that Jenner deflected past Korpisalo. That goal marked the Blue Jackets’ first multi-power play goal game since October 26th against Montreal.
CBJ PP Goal 4-2: Jenner (Werenski, Gaudreau) 8:52
Olivier got sent off for boarding with 3:35 left in the period. The penalty was killed off, but not without another four shots by Ottawa.
Through two periods, the Senators led the Jackets in xGF 3.45 to 0.99 in all situations. Most of the Senators chances came on the power play, however. The game was much more even at 5v5, but the Jackets were still getting outshot and out-chanced. Luckily, the score on the scoreboard is the only one that matters.
3rd Period
As expected, the Senators came out of the locker room pushing. The Russian line responded by starting a scrum. It ended with Voronkov and Marchenko tackling a pair of Sens and Chinakhov in the box for slashing. The home team took care of business while a down a man.
Around the halfway point of the period, it looked like the Blue Jackets were going to start turtling. They sat back in their own zone and let the Senators cycle the puck around. But then something changed. They started to push back. The fourth line, especially, was able to spend entire shifts inside the offensive zone. It was great to see them flip the narrative for at least one game.
With two minutes to go, Ottawa pulled Korpisalo for a sixth skater. They wouldn’t get any benefit. Jackets win 4-2.
Team Leaders
Points: Gaudreau, Werenski (both 0-2-2)
Goals: Voronkov, Laine Fantilli, Jenner (1)
Shot attempts: Fantilli (4)
Shots: Fantilli, Marchenko, Werenski (2)
xGF%: Olivier (78.93)
Final Thoughts
Elvis was outstanding in this game. He saved 2.06 goals above expected while facing 18 high-danger chances and 43 shots. He wasn’t able to give his team a chance to win in many games last season, but he’s done the opposite in the vast majority of his games this season. Stick taps.
The fourth line was very good. They were able to keep the puck in the offensive zone and drew the penalty that led to the Jackets’ first goal. We have been hopeful that Texier can develop into a top-nine winger, but the truth is that he’s an excellent fourth-liner. The Jackets are a better team when he is playing with Kuraly.
It wasn’t a perfect game. Goaltending was a big difference-maker, and the Jackets were able to capitalize on their chances. It is a good game to build on, however. Digging out of a two-to-nothing hole, scoring two goals on the power play, Gaudreau continuing to pick up the pace, Werenski returning to form – some positives are starting to emerge for this team.
Oh, and the Russian line is a lot of fun.
Up Next
The Blue Jackets head to Boston to take on the Bruins on Sunday at 7:00 PM ET.