There were several roster updates before the game got underway. Justin Falk and Kerby Rychel were sent back to Lake Erie. Scott Hartnell and Fedor Tyutin drew in, returning from Torts’ doghouse and injury, respectively. Dalton Prout drew in as well, for Kevin Connauton. The Blue Jackets were playing their second game in as many nights, following a “disrespectful” approach to the Panthers in a 2-1 shootout loss at home.
FIRST PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
– Early pressure from the Blue Jackets. Several shots, and a healthy offensive zone presence from the line of Nick Foligno, Scott Hartnell, and Alexander Wennberg.
– Brandon Saad had a breakaway sprung by a long pass at the 3:40 mark, but the puck was poke checked away by Steve Mason before he could get a shot off.
– The Jackets wanted to start quickly tonight, and they did. They outshot Philadelphia 4-1 through the first six minutes, and had the majority of possession.
– GOAL! Following ten minutes of solid hockey, and another faceoff win, Nick Foligno scores his third goal of the year, assisted by Wennberg and Hartnell. A one timer off a very slick pass from Wennberg, and the Jackets grabbed the early lead at 9:02
– GOAL! Jack Johnson at 13:33! After some end to end action, the Blue Jackets were on the board again. The puck may have been deflected by a Philadelphia Flyer, but they all count the same on the scoreboard.
– The Blue Jackets had several chances to close the period, but credit to Steve Mason and the Flyers defense for holding the Jackets off the scoreboard and preventing the damage from getting worse. The Blue Jackets outshot the Flyers 13-4 in the first period.
– The Flyers fans booed the home team off the ice to end the period.
– The Blue Jackets were clearly the aggressors this period. They held the Flyers without a shot on goal for the final ten minutes of the first period. Tonight’s first period was a glimpse of how Coach Tortorella wants the team to start. It was excellent to see- free flowing, crisp passes, puck movement- all were present. This period was the opposite of anything we saw last night out of the team.
SECOND PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
– BIG SAVE! Early in the period, following a defensive lapse where Andrew Bodnarchuk had pinched in to the zone, Michael Raffl took a long pass, and was stoned by Bobrovsky.
– Flyers goal. Following an excellent offensive zone shift, the Blue Jackets were caught in transition. Michael Raffl made amends for his breakaway miss minutes prior, and buried a cross-ice pass to make it a 2-1 game. Assists to Brayden Schenn and Shayne Gostisbehere.
– As noted by the broadcast team, Coach Tortorella went to talk to Scott Hartnell following the goal, as Hartnell appeared to lose Raffl in transition and failed to mark him on the backcheck.
– Following the goal, the Blue Jackets made a concerted effort to push back against the Flyers, even forcing the Flyers to use their timeout after an icing call to get some rest.
– GOAL! Following a line change, Scott Hartnell hit a streaking Nick Foligno, who banked a shot in off the cross bar for his second of the night (4th of the season) at 8:46 of the second period. It may be too early to call it a slump buster, but tonight has been a good night for the captain. Assists go to Scott Hartnell for his second assist of the night and Sergei Bobrovsky.
– It took almost 30 minutes, but there was finally a penalty called. Luke Schenn held Boone Jenner, and the Blue Jackets went to the power play at 9:43. While the team did not score, they did muster 4 shots.
– Brandon Saad takes a high stick from Nick Schultz, and the Blue Jackets went back to the power play at 14:25. I honestly feel bad for the man at this point; he’s done nothing but get hit in the face with things since he joined the team.
– POWER PLAY GOAL! Scott Hartnell buried a slick feed from Alexander Wennberg, who pots one in a gaping net. Scott Hartnell’s 10th goal of the season at 15:47. It was the team’s first power play goal since November 14.
– Bobrovsky made a save on a shot with 2 minutes to go in the period, and Laughton managed to get behind Bob, but pushed his effort just wide of the post.
– The Blue Jackets again carried the play, earning more boos for the hometown Flyers. The Jackets lead in the shot count 28-17 at this point in the game.
THIRD PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
– The Flyers opened the third period pushing hard. The Blue Jackets, however, were able to keep them at bay.
– WHAT. A. SAVE. SEQUENCE. Bobrovsky made 2 incredible saves to keep the Flyers at one goal at the 5:30 mark of the third period. It was an incredible sequence, one that you will see the rest of the season. Highway robbery.
– At the 10:19 mark, Cam Atkinson was whistled for a tripping penalty in the offensive zone. Philadelphia went to their first power play of the night. The Blue Jackets’ stellar penalty kill continued, and it remained 4-1 as boos rained down.
– Almost immediately following the power play, David Savard took a 2 minute minor for roughing. In a post whistle scrum, Claude Giroux goaded Savard into the penalty. 2 straight penalties, and the Blue Jackets allowed no shots on either power play.
– Power play for the Blue Jackets. At the 16:18 mark, Brandon Manning took a penalty for roughing Michael Chaput. There was little sustained pressure on the power play from Columbus.
– Brayden Schenn and Michael Chaput fought at the 18:35 mark. Schenn initiated it, and Chaput took Schenn down.
– Matt Calvert had a chance to put a cherry on the sundae, but missed the mark with a minute to go.
THREE STARS
*** Scott Hartnell
** Sergei Bobrovsky
* Nick Foligno
QUICK THOUGHTS
– The message about starting fast was heard loud and clear. I’m sure there is some wallpaper peeling off in the bowels of Nationwide Arena following the Florida game, but the Jackets played with an urgency to start that they did not show last night, and they were rewarded with a Nick Foligno goal.
-Keeping up the pressure after the opening goal was key. Too many times this season, we’ve seen the team let up after scoring, only to give up a goal or two. Tonight, after the first goal, the team continued pressing. They were rewarded with a second goal and a healthy lead early in the game.
-The first power play featured little puck movement, and few shots. The second featured much more puck movement, more passing, and the team was rewarded with a goal. It has been a point of emphasis for Tortorella to move the puck more with the man advantage, and hopefully tonight was the start of that.
-A complete team effort tonight. No other words for it. Each line contributed, worked hard, and the team was rewarded with a dominant performance on the road.
-It was great to see Wennberg contribute offensively tonight. He’s struggled a lot this season, and it was nice to see him get on the scoresheet.
-As Jeff Rimer noted, tonight has to be considered the team’s most complete effort of the season. 4 lines, defensive support, offensive movement, even a power play goal- total team effort for the win.
-Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed 2 goals or fewer in 12 of his last 14 appearances.
–Next Up: Tuesday at home vs. the LA Kings, 7 PM EST faceoff.