Another late night game, but with a different result. This game was a textbook example of a well-coached, structurally sound team playing its antithesis. It was close early on, but the Kings ended up dominating the majority of the game and skated to an easy victory.
1st Period
The game was tight early, without many opportunities on either side. The Jackets held the advantage before the first TV timeout, forcing multiple LA icings.
Poor Johnny Hockey. The guy can’t buy a goal. Halfway through the Period, Gaudreau skated the puck from the corner to the slot and found the back of the net for what seemed like the first goal of the game. The goal ended up being reviewed and reversed, however, because Jenner pushed the Kings defenseman into Talbot right before the goal. That’s the second game in a row Johnny had a goal called back.
As we’ve seen many times recently, a quick start by the Jackets got countered in the second half of the first period. After a push by the Kings, Byfield took it upon himself to get his team the lead. The young center deked Werenski out of position, took the puck off his skate, and scored a wicked diving backhand on Elvis.
LAK Goal 1-0: Byfield (unassisted) 18:22
The Jackets came out swinging but found themselves on their heels by the end of the period. The Kings won the unblocked shot attempt battle 14-8 and led in expected goals 1 to 0.44. Gudbranson and Bean, who have been better this season, got pummeled in the first period. Let’s not do that again, boys.
2nd Period
The Kings went to the power play only a minute into the second period – Sillinger for hooking. It only took 20 seconds for them to score. Clarke made a perfect stretch pass off the end boards and onto a streaking Dubois’ stick. Dubois one-timed the puck past Elvis from point-blank range.
LAK PP Goal 2-0: Dubois (Clarke, Talbot) 1:27
LA nearly scored again, but Elvis made a great save that led to possession the other way. A quick cycle by Gaudreau, Roslovic, and Jenner ended with Boqvist behind the net. The Swede banked the puck off of Talbot for his first goal of the season.
CBJ Goal 2-1: Boqvist (Jenner, Roslovic) 4:41
Dubois got his second of the night after the Kings had a prolonged cycle drill in the Jackets’ zone. He was handed the puck in the slot uncontested and had all the time in the world to get the puck past Elvis.
LAK Goal 3-1: Dubois (Byfield, Turcotte) 11:49
Marchenko was able to spring Voronkov for a breakaway, but the big Russian wasn’t able to tuck it home.
Late in the period, a beautiful breakout and transition through the neutral zone by the Kings led to another goal. Byfield threw the puck towards the net and it ping-ponged off of Doughty and Gudbranson and into the net. But wait! Doughty was caught plowing into Elvis’ pad, and the goal was called back after review.
Then the Jackets went to the power play when Roy went to the box for high-sticking. The cycling was good, but the first unit wasn’t able to get a quality shot on net. All but 39 seconds of the man advantage expired along with the period.
The Kings dominated the game through 40 minutes. Vincent started to shuffle the defensive pairs about halfway through the second period, most likely to break up the Bean-Gudbranson train wreck. He should have just sat them on the bench because the other two pairs were playing decent hockey.
3rd Period
The Columbus power play has only scored once in its last 15 tries.
A little bit of back and forth led to another Columbus power play after an LA slash. Not much going for the Jackets before Lewis went off for delay of game with five seconds left in the first penalty. Again, nothing.
The Columbus power play has only scored once in its last 15 17 tries.
Bean tripped Dubois with five minutes left to give LA another power play. Roslovic immediately got a short-handed breakaway, but completely missed the net. Some quick passing and a deceptive shot made it 4-1.
LAK PP Goal 4-1: Fiala (Doughty, Kempe) 15:56
The Blue Jackets have given up 7 goals on 14 opponent power plays in the month of February.
Doughty scored in garbage time to pour salt on the wound.
LAK Goal 5-1: Doughty (Moore, Danault) 19:37
Final Thoughts
Outplayed, out-skilled, out-coached.
I’m going to bed.
Up Next
The Blue Jackets are right back at it on Wednesday night against the Ducks at 10:00 PM ET.