The Columbus Blue Jackets have played two games thus far, and they have been two strange ones. The Jackets got their doors blown off by the Philadelphia Flyers on opening night with numerous defensive mistakes and a poor fourth line contributing to the loss. The team then beat the New York Rangers in a game they had no business winning as Boone Jenner posted a hat trick, the goaltending tandem held up, and several forwards who swapped in played well. So, what to expect tonight? Who knows!
There will be lineup changes, though: firstly, Spencer Martin will make his regular season debut as Elvis Merzlikins is still out with a stomach bug. Jet Greaves will serve as backup after being emergency recalled. Jack Roslovic and Emil Bemstrom re-enter the lineup with Eric Robinson in Cleveland, Mathieu Olivier and Liam Foudy will be healthy scratches. Andrew Peeke remains a healthy scratch.
Here’s what happened.
First Period
The Jackets opened the game on the front foot, generating chances in front of James Reimer, but the Detroit netminder was equal to the early chances. The teams traded possession early, but combined for only five shots on net through the first seven minutes. Boone Jenner had the best Jackets chance early, left alone in front of Reimer, but could not handle the pass.
The Red Wings were first on the board – following a breakup in the offensive zone, the Red Wings in transition found Shayne Gostisbehere for the opener as he was trailing the play. Spencer Martin had no chance at it.
Detroit goal (0-1): Gostisbehere from Veleno and Maata, 8:51
The Jackets went to the power play at 9:33 as Austin Czarnik was penalized for hooking. The power play amounted to nothing, but there were chances to be had. A net front scramble in front of Reimer led to a tripping penalty assessed to Ivan Provorov with 4:09 remaining. The Jackets penalty kill was equal to the Wings’ counterpart and kept the deficit at one.
The first period ended with Detroit leading Columbus 1-0. Shots favored Columbus 9-5.
Second Period
The Red Wings opened the second period on the front foot, generating chances in front of Spencer Martin but the new netminder was equal to the task. With 12:15 to go, Damon Severson committed a terrible turnover exiting the defensive zone and Michael Rasmussen capitalized and beat Martin.
Detroit goal (0-2): Rasmussen from Compher, 7:45
With 9:09 remaining, Boone Jenner was boxed for cross-checking as the wheels started to come off for Columbus. It took Detroit just 20 seconds to capitalize as Dylan Larkin split three players to backhand one past Martin.
Detroit goal (0-3): Larkin from DeBrincat and Seider, 11:11
Adding insult to injury, Sean Kuraly took a slashing penalty before the goal, sending the Jackets back to the kill. Naturally, the Red Wings made the second CBJ leader pay for his mistake as Andrew Copp scored the second power play goal in 90 seconds.
Detroit goal (0-4): Copp, unassisted, 12:07
With 3:14 remaining, Justin Holl was sent to the box, giving the Blue Jackets their second power play of the period. Right off the bat, Spencer Martin was forced to save a breakaway chance, which he did. The Red Wings killed the penalty, and Jake Bean took a cross checking penalty with 42.7 seconds to go, sending the Wings back to the man advantage. The Jackets managed to make it to second intermission with the deficit at 4-0.
Third Period
The CBJ killed the Red Wings power play to open the third period before Sean Kuraly sent the Wings back to the power play with a terrible boarding penalty. The CBJ again killed it. Kim Kostin of the Wings laid out Cole Sillinger in open ice and Erik Gudbranson finally stepped to the support of a fallen teammate – a positive!
Andrew Copp drew a penalty shot for the Wings, but Spencer Martin made the save. The Jackets were unable to find a goal as this one wound down.
Final
Detroit Red Wings 4 Columbus Blue Jackets 0
Final Thoughts
The Fantilli/Laine/Texier line at 5v5 in the first period: outshot DET 6-0, xG of 0.57-0, 3-0 scoring chances, 2-0 high danger chances. Fantilli projects long term as a center, but getting acclimated on the wing of a dominant first line will ease his transition and hopefully shorten the rookie’s learning curve.
Sean Kuraly and Boone Jenner wear letters for this team, Jenner the captain. Jenner has to know better than to take a terrible cross checking penalty down 2-0 midway through the second, and Kuraly HAS to know better than to take a slashing already on the kill. Two players with letters made a 2-0 game 4-0 in less than 90 seconds with inexcusable penalties. They should know better if they’re going to be leaders on the team.
Spencer Martin ain’t it. He’s a stop gap Hail Mary since Daniil Tarasov is hurt, but he is not an NHL goalie. I would rather see Jet Greaves than Martin if Elvis Merzlikins has to miss more time.
The fourth line is terrible. Sean Kuraly is a net negative and took two horrific penalties tonight. Jack Roslovic had a 33.33 CF% and might the worst defensive forward I’ve seen since Nikita Filatov in Union Blue. Emil Bemstrom is once again going through his annual vanishing act against actual NHL talent, not just preseason teams. Those two shouldn’t play above Olivier and Foudy – they remain net negatives.
I have to criticize Pascal Vincent for putting Roslovic and Bemstrom back in the lineup when they were so abjectly terrible against Philadelphia and once again were terrible tonight. But to his credit, for whatever that’s worth, in the midst of that terrible lineup choice, he at least played his high CF% and xGF% players big minutes even in a loss. Adam Fantilli, Boone Jenner, and Johnny Gaudreau all had a better-than-50% xGF and led the forwards in 5v5 ice time. Give your hot hands the big minutes, but stop icing the guys who suck. Give and take.
Up Next
The Columbus Blue Jackets wrap up their opening homestand with a visit from the Calgary Flames. Faceoff is set for 7:00 PM ET on Friday, October 20 from Nationwide Arena.