After Tuesday’s disappointing loss to Philadelphia, the Columbus Blue Jackets called up goaltender Jet Greaves. It wasn’t due to injury to Elvis Merzlikins or Daniil Tarasov, but rather a chance to give another goalie an opportunity. It turns out that was exactly what was needed tonight.
Other lineup changes included Mikael Pyyhtia for the injured Justin Danforth and Jack Johnson in for the struggling Jordan Harris.
First Period
So, after a poor effort in the first 40 minutes against the Flyers, the Jackets would get off to a better start against the Capitals, right? WRONG. They were on their back foot for most of the first ten minutes.
Washington’s Trevor van Riemsdyk held Kirill Marchenko and while the power play wasn’t great (too much passing outside and not enough action inside), it did wake the Jackets up and they had more of a push in the back half of the period.
Second Period
It was a slow start to the period until HOLY COW, ALL OF THE PENALTIES.
Jakob Chychrun kicked it off with a trip of Cole Sillinger. This time the PP did a better job working the puck inside, with Kent Johnson skating around the net to get a shot off near the post. Along the way he drew a high sticking penalty on Nic Dowd. The Jackets had 55 seconds of 5 on 3 and while they didn’t convert, they got a number of shots on goal during a sustained stretch of offensive zone time.
The remainder of the Dowd penalty was spoiled by Zach Werenski taking a tripping penalty. Greaves made a big save on the breakaway during the delayed penalty, and again during the Capitals’ brief power play.
Chychrun trips Sillinger. PP works on the outside again but KJ works it behind the net and inside, and draaws a high sticking on Dowd. 55 seconds of 5v3. Lots of shots on goal. at 5v4 Wash gets clear and Z takes a tripping penalty. Greaves makes good save on the delayed penalty breakaway. Good kill, with Greaves stepping up again.
Three minutes later, Ivan Provorov drew another high sticking penalty from Dowd. Werenski got yet another power play goal on a beauty of a snipe, plus another Kent Johnson assist.
That is Werenski’s 100th career goal. It is also his 10th of the season, which moves him ahead of Cale Makar for the lead among defensemen.
There was one more power play after a Martin Fehervary tripping penalty, but Charlie Lindgren made some big saves, including one on a point-blank one-timer from Sean Monahan.
Third Period
Just 31 seconds in, our old frenemy Pierre-Luc Dubois skated through the defense with ease on a breakaway and set up Aliaksei Protas for the tying goal.
Greaves had saved 25 straight shots on goal before that one.
Marchenko had a golden opportunity in the crease, with the net wide open in front of him. Somehow Lindgren was able to reach behind and get enough of his stick on it.
The Capitals had a flurry of shots around the net at the 6:30 mark and again Greaves stepped up.
It was 1-1 after 60, and it’s fair to say that both teams earned a point. Specifically, both goalies.
Overtime
The overtime was all Jackets for the first few minutes. Sean Monahan won the opening faceoff and he, Werenski, and Marchenko cycled the puck well in the offensive zone. Z got a shot off and that earned an offensive zone faceoff. He remained on ice while Cole Sillinger and Kent Johnson joined him. Sillinger won the faceoff battle but the puck got loose and out of the zone. Z recovered and took it all the way down the ice for another shot on goal.
Sillinger won yet another faceoff, this time with Provorov and Adam Fantilli with him. Fantilli got a shot on goal this time, and Sillinger got another faceoff win. After regrouping out of the zone, Sillinger lost the puck as he got hit along the boards.
The Capitals finally had possession and they managed to pull off a line change while keeping 4/19/9 pinned on the ice for well over a minute. Dylan Strome left a drop pass for a fresh Protas, who then used Strome and Fantilli as a screen.
It was a disappointing finish after an overtime that the Jackets mostly dominated.
Final Thoughts
The story of the game is Greaves. The Jackets haven’t had a goalie steal a game in a while, and that’s what Greaves nearly did tonight. After the game, Dean Evason made it clear that Greaves had earned the right to remain with the team. Does this mean he’ll start again on Saturday? Stay tuned…
Finally, the streak of 14 games allowing a power play goal came to an end. Sure, it helps that the Jackets were only short-handed for a little over a minute. It also helps when your goalie is your best penalty killer.
Speaking of penalties, after taking way too many of them in recent weeks, the Jackets were penalized just once. They also did well to keep their feet moving to draw tripping, holding, and high sticking penalties.
As good as Greaves was, Lindgren was even better. Per Natural Stat Trick, Greaves saved 1.52 goals above expected, but Lindgren saved 3.21 above expected.
Up Next
The homestand wraps up on Saturday at 7 PM local, with the Jackets hosting the Anaheim Ducks.