On the heels of blowing a 3-0 third period lead before losing in overtime to the Los Angeles Kings, the Columbus Blue Jackets made the trip to New York to take on the New York Islanders. The Jackets made some lineup changes due to illness and injury:
These came about as Adam Boqvist was put on IR (shoulder, out 4 weeks), Elvis Merzlikins was put on IR (illness, expected to miss one week), and Cole Sillinger is day to day. Additionally, Erik Gudbranson and Patrik Laine did not make the trip due to illness.
Spencer Martin got the start in net. Here’s what happened.
First Period
The Jackets opened this game where they ended the last, giving up goals.
New York goal (0-1): Engvall from Dobson, 4:00
Seconds later, Mat Barzal took a shot on Spencer Martin that was reviewed as Martin was sliding backward, but the puck was deemed never to have crossed the line.
Ivan Provorov was denied on a 3 on 2 but the Jackets drew a penalty on the rush, but the Isles killed it. The Islanders had a chance late but Bo Horvat’s stick broke on the attempt. The first ended 1-0 Islanders though the Jackets outshot them 11-10.
Second Period
Emil Bemstrom got the Jackets on the board with his first of the season early in the second period.
Columbus goal (1-1): Bemstrom, unassisted, 5:54
The Jackets then took their first lead of the night five minutes later. A between the legs pass made its way to Kent Johnson, and Johnson found Fantilli for the go ahead goal.
Columbus goal (2-1): Fantilli from Johnson and Werenski, 10:08
The Isles then tied it up 5 minutes later.
New York goal (2-2): Clutterbuck from Fasching and Cizikas, 14:30
Late in the period, the Isles let a shot go that glanced off a skate past Spencer Martin – it was unfortunate, but it was the second goal allowed on two consecutive Isles shots.
New York goal (2-3): Barzal from Mayfield and Reilly, 18:51
Marchenko took a penalty with 56 seconds to go, and the Islanders forecheck forced a turnover by Ivan Provorov and Kyle Palmieri capitalized for their second goal in 29 seconds.
New York goal (2-4): Palmieri, unassisted, 19:19
The Blue Jackets and holding leads: name a less iconic duo.
Third Period
Adam Fantilli, following an extended shift with the puck where the Jackets effectively maintained possession, took multiple chances, and cycled the puck, grabbed a rebound and slammed it home.
Columbus goal (3-4): Fantilli from Bemstrom and Bean, 1:27
With 5:31 gone, Spencer Martin failed to control a rebound and the puck got loose as Martin failed to cover the puck and Jenner swatted the puck out of his goaltender’s reach right to Mat Barzal who put it into the gaping net. Terrible play from Jenner.
New York goal (3-5): Barzal from Boone Jenner, 5:31
The Islanders continued to own the majority of the puck after their fifth goal, a problem for the Jackets. After a poor control by Provorov, Bo Horvat scored on a wrap around that beat Martin to a wide open net.
New York goal: Horvat from Gauthier, 11:31
Seconds later, Jenner’s line gave up a rush and Horvat scored yet again.
New York goal: Horvat, wrist shot, unassisted, 7:18
Final
Columbus Blue Jackets 3 New York Islanders 7
Final Thoughts
I have watched Ohio State play tight, make one mistake, and crumble i under pressure for three straight years against Michigan. That’s frustrating, but it is a one game thing a year. The Jackets seemingly do it EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT. at the first sign of adversity. They are not mentally strong enough to overcome a mistake, and the veterans capitulate and play hot potato with the puck. It’s incredibly frustrating. This team doesn’t have the mentality to push through adversity. We’re 34.1% through the season. It’s no longer a sample size argument. This is who this team is. And they’re not good enough.
Adam Fantilli deserves to be 1C. I don’t care about age, veterans, seniority, any of it. He not only is the most talented center on the roster, but he is the most fearless. He makes plays others wouldn’t consider to start scoring chances. It’s not that Boone Jenner only cannot make the pass that led to Fantilli’s goal, he wouldn’t even conceive of making it. The more minutes Fantilli is on the ice, the better the team’s chance to win. Yeah, there will be mistakes. Better to make them now in a lost season and gain learning experiences and get something out of this season than going down with a bunch of lackluster veterans leading to losses anyway.
Stick taps to Fantilli for his first two goal game of his career.
The first power play unit tonight was the four Russians + Johnny Gaudreau. That’s a super intriguing setup! Voronkov/Chinakhov/Marchenko have had chemistry as a line, Provorov can move the puck effectively enough on the blue line, and Gaudreau is an effective playmaker. Putting that group together and letting them cook is an intriguing change up and I’d like to see more of it.
Boone Jenner tries, and that’s good for him, but man, he ain’t talented enough to earn the minutes he does. Every single minute Jenner is on the ice would be improved if it were Fantilli or Johnson instead. Move Jenner to the third line, play some combo of Fantilli/Johnson/Voronkov ahead of him, and let him settle in. The Isles’ fifth goal was directly on Jenner’s lack of hockey sense slapping the puck away from Spencer Martin who was trying to cover it. Not good enough from the captain.
Spencer Martin isn’t it. He had a few solid starts early, but there’s a reason he was on waivers this year. Sometimes a goalie needs to make a big save to keep his team in it, and Martin was constitutionally incapable of doing it tonight. Martin doesn’t have to win the Vezina, but he needs to control rebounds and not leave the net gaping on multiple occasions, and he couldn’t do it.
Adam Fantilli deserves better than this crap around him.
Up Next
The Columbus Blue Jackets return home to take on the St. Louis Blues tomorrow night, December 8, in Nationwide Arena. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET.