Quite frankly, this recap need not contain any more analysis than the following:
Ugh.
It was ugly, from start to finish. The Jackets were the more dominant team, yet they ended up on the negative end of a 3-1 score. The Hurricanes only mustered one shot on-net in the third, among just twenty in the game.
The Jackets had an opportunity to strike early when they were handed an early powerplay, but they were unable to convert. The reunited line of Ryan Johansen, Boone Jenner and Nathan Horton looked prime to do some damage, but unfortunately on a rush in the first, the three forwards were caught up, and Fedor Tyutin misread the play at the Carolina blueline, allowing Nathan Gerbe to lead a two-on-one into the Columbus zone. Gerbe kept, Gerbe scored.
1-0 Hurricanes: Gerbe -Dwyer
The Jackets didn’t let the goal against slow their assault, and led by Artem Anisimov, the Jackets had chance after chance, but were stymied by the Carolina defense or shut down by Carolina starter Anton Khudobin.
While up a man in the final minutes of the first, R.J. Umberger took a penalty, which was the first of five minors on the night for the Jackets. This lack of discipline prevented the Jackets from establishing themselves offensively, even with such a tilted shot advantage.
Seconds into the second period, Jenner was given a delay-of-game penalty for closing his hand on the puck. While on the powerplay, Carolina’s Jay Harrison fired a shot on Sergei Bobrovsky, who made the initial save. The puck dropped to Bob’s side, sitting in the blue paint, unbeknownst to Bob. Andrei Loktionov was there to poke the rebound in.
2-0 Hurricanes: Loktionov – Harrison, Nash
The Jackets went on to take two more minors in the middle period, which was more or less the story. While they didn’t give up any additional powerplay goals-against, the flow was just not there. A Pat Dwyer slapper from the right wing was the nail in the coffin for the Jackets.
3-0 Hurricanes: Dwyer – Loktionov, Harrison
Down by three goals to start the final period, the Jackets put Curtis McElhinney in to give Bob a rest. The Jackets poured on the shots, but Khudobin really started to shine. He was slamming the door shut, with a Ryan Johansen crossbar being the closest the Jackets would get until the final minute of the game.
McElhinney was pulled with more than three minutes left, and Khudobin made save, after save, after save. At that point I was almost hoping that the Jackets wouldn’t score, ruining his shutout bid.
Sure enough though, the Jackets snuck one past him with seconds remaining.
3-1 Hurricanes: Jenner – Johansen, Horton
Final Score: 3-1 Hurricanes
Standard Bearers:
- Anton Khudobin was excellent, stopping 46 of 47 shots. It’s a shame he couldn’t get the clean sheet.
- Derek MacKenzie’s hustle is well-publicized. He’s a treat to watch. /
Bottom of the Barrel:
The Jackets were undisciplined, and though they threw a lot of rubber on the Carolina net, the play was sloppy and disjointed.
I’m getting worried about all of these Atkinson scratches.
Advanced Stats from Extra Skater
The Jackets are back in action on Thursday against the Canadiens.