Following a tough loss at home to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Blue Jackets traveled to Dallas to take on the Stars. Joonas Korpisalo got his second start of his NHL career, following a solid outing at home on Monday night. Dalton Prout drew in for Kevin Connauton, who would sit in the press box against his former team. Columbus, struggling for wins, looked to steal one on the road against the league leading Stars. On to the highlights!
FIRST PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Your starters for the Columbus Blue Jackets: Matt Calvert, Brandon Dubinsky, Nick Foligno, Ryan Murray, Jack Johnson, and Joonas Korpisalo.
Jody Shelley mentioned at the onset that Torts thought David Savard struggled with the speed of Steven Stamkos, hence the change-up of the defensive pairings.
The Stars’ speed was evident early. The Jackets’ game plan was going to be to ugly up the game and get bodies to the net, while the Stars hoped to use their speed to make the Jackets pay.
CHANCE!! Brandon Saad had Kari Lehtonen beaten, but hit the goalpost at 4:00 following a turnover in the neutral zone.
The Blue Jackets came out energized to start this game. With 13:44 to go in the first period at the media timeout, the team had come out unafraid of Dallas. There had been several good cycles, puck support, and a few good chances.
Jack Johnson was hit with a check from Antoine Roussel with 5 minutes gone in the first period, and was in difficulty while on the bench. He received some attention from one of the trainers, but made it out for his next shift.
CHANCE! With Scott Hartnell near the crease, Alexander Wennberg threw a puck at the net, but Lehtonen was able to cover it at the 7:30 mark.
Through the first 11 minutes, the Blue Jackets carried the run of play, and were outshooting the Stars. The CBJ were forcing turnovers from Dallas, and getting looks at the net. Nick Foligno had passed up a look at the net from the slot in favor of the pass, but that was the biggest criticism of the team thus far.
CHANCE! Brandon Dubinsky stole the puck in the offensive zone at the 11:15 mark and threw it at net, where Matt Calvert’s redirection was denied.
The Stars had a long, extended shift in the Blue Jackets zone around the 15 minute mark of the period, but Columbus was able to keep them off the board.
David Savard took a knock at the 16:00 mark, and appeared to be limping as he made his way to the bench at the media timeout. He made it out for his next shift, but according to the broadcast, he spent the TV timeout testing his ability to skate.
Dallas goal. Following a Johnny Oduya shot from the point that caught Korpisalo off guard, Dallas took the lead at 17:53. Oduya was helped by a nice screen from Brandon Saad. It was one of those ‘throw it at the net and see what happens” shots, and it just happened to go in.
Dallas went into the room with a 1-0 lead. The Blue Jackets outshot the Stars 16-8 for the period.
SECOND PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Dallas came out pressuring to start the second. With the long change and an inability to get their guys off the ice, the Blue Jackets opened the period with a two minute shift from Jack Johnson and Ryan Murray.
The first three minutes were spent entirely in the Blue Jackets zone. Dallas was clearly looking to push to start the second period.
David Savard took his first shift at 3:28, following his potential injury at the end of the first period.
It was a slow start to the period. There were many whistles in the first few minutes, not allowing for much flow. Korpisalo covered a lot of loose pucks.
Blue Jackets on the power play! Patrik Nemeth had a high stick against Brandon Dubinsky at 4:06.
A terrible clear from Dallas led to the tying goal for Columbus.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL! Scott Hartnell buried a feed from Alexander Wennberg in front of the net for his team leading 13th of the season at 4:32. Assists went to Wennberg and Nick Foligno.
SAVE, KORPISALO! At 5:39, he fought off a tough shot and saw the rebound fly over the crossbar.
CHANCE! Lehtonen denies Saad at point blank range at the 7:00 mark. He may not be finding the net, but Saad has been everywhere the last two nights.
At 11:37, off a rush and some extended time in the defensive zone, Ryan Johansen ended up face first in the Dallas goal, knocking down Kari Lehtonen, but play continued.
Dallas pressed hard through the middle part of the period. There were several extended shifts in the defensive zones, but the Jackets were able to force the Stars away from the front of the net and keep the score at 1-1.
Dallas goal. As I was writing a comment that the long change was hurting the Jackets, Alex Goligoski buried a shot that had rebounded off of the end boards, assisted by Ales Hemsky at 13:02. There was nothing Korpisalo could do. The 4th line had been caught out for an extremely long shift, mistakes piled up, and the Blue Jackets paid for it.
CHANCE! Matt Calvert rang one off the crossbar and out of play at 14:28. Second piece of iron tonight for the team.
Dallas goal. Tyler Seguin caught the Blue Jackets up ice on a line change, and buried one past Korpisalo at 16:26. Assist to John Klingberg and Kari Lehtonen.
Dallas goal. Before the third goal can even be announced on the Stars’ PA system, Seguin buried another one thirty seconds later. Assists to Jamie Benn and Cody Eakin.
Dallas power play. Scott Hartnell took a cross checking penalty following a scrum at 18:02.
CHANCE! Calvert denied on a shorthanded breakaway at 19:10.
Welp. That could’ve gone better. After 40 minutes, the Stars led the Blue Jackets 4-1.
THIRD PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Curtis McElhinney came on at the start of the period to replace Joonas Korpisalo.
Dallas goal. David Savard turns the puck over in the slot, no one marks Mattias Janmark, who walks to the front of the net uncovered and puts it past McElhinney. The goal was unassisted at 2:45.
Following a faceoff scramble, Dallas nearly made it 6-1 at 4:10, but McElhinney was able to keep it out of the net.
Johansen yet to take the ice in the third, 5 minutes in. Clearly, Torts was unhappy with #19’s play tonight. He was on the bench, but had not seen the ice.
Dallas power play. Brandon Dubinsky took a penalty for hooking at 4:43. The Jackets killed the penalty, allowing no shots. Positive comments!
I wish there were highlights to write about here. I really do. Dallas looked content to take this one to the end of the game, and Columbus had an inability to generate any offense whatsoever.
Fight! Boone Jenner and Antoine Roussel. Jenner took Roussel to the ice, and both would go to the box for fighting at 13:19.
Blue Jackets on the power play! Roussel was assessed at minor for roughing in addition to his fight at 13:19. Dallas killed the penalty successfully, allowing only one shot.
The Blue Jackets had 35 shots on goal, including a few off of the post tonight, but the inability to finish shots and put pucks in the back of the net continued. The Jackets failed to score more than one goal yet again.
FINAL: Dallas Stars 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 1
THREE STARS
*** Mattias Janmark
** Kari Lehtonen
* Tyler Seguin
QUICK THOUGHTS
I was glad to see Joonas Korpisalo get a second start with the team. He certainly earned one with his play Monday night, and he was rightfully rewarded by Coach Tortorella. It didn’t work out and he was replaced, but his play was encouraging, especially for a 21 year old rookie making his second start against the best team in the league.
Matt Calvert played well and had some chances. Easily the best forward tonight.
Johansen did not play a lick of the third period.
That sucked. Unlike last night, the team mentally folded. Mistakes, long shifts, poor defensive zone clearances- all of the above combined to show a terrible effort.
That was not a fun game. On to the next one.
UP NEXT
Columbus goes to Arizona to take on the Coyotes. Faceoff is Thursday at 9:00 EST.