Following their 4-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets continued their homestand against the Boston Bruins. After a 6-1-1 stretch that has led to some, um, dissention among fans as to the merits of winning right now, the Blue Jackets looked to build on their recent success, starting with the man in the net, Joonas Korpisalo.
Korpisalo would start again on this night, and it was well deserved. He has carried the team of late, along with Cam Atkinson up front. No lineup changes tonight heading into the game (at least among the starters). Anton Forsberg was sent down to Lake Erie with the activation of Curtis McElhinney from injured reserve. Aaron Portzline reported that Brandon Dubinsky was under the weather, but he was expected to play.
To the highlights!
FIRST PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Your CBJ starters: Scott Hartnell, Alexander Wennberg, Brandon Saad, Jack Johnson, David Savard, Joonas Korpisalo
9-6-3 for Korpisalo this season. Pretty good for the rookie.
Columbus struggled to hang on to the puck in the first minute of the game, allowing Boston to control the puck.
Korpisalo, it was mentioned, has been working on playing the puck behind the net. He has markedly improved that skill since he’s been here, which is excellent to see.
Bruins on the power play. After controlling play early and forcing the Jackets to play on their heels, Ryan Murray took a holding penalty at 3:29.
Korpisalo made several excellent saves, denying Torey Krug and Loui Eriksson.
The Blue Jackets killed the power play, allowing 5 shots on goal and blocking several more.
This was the textbook definition of “failing to show up for the start of the game.”
At the first TV timeout at 6:31, Boston had outshot Columbus 6-0, with the Jackets blocking a whole lot more than that. Uh oh.
Seth Jones had a shot saved off the faceoff at 6:46. A shot on goal!
SCRUM. Matt Calvert and Adam McQuaid had words after Calvert bumped Tukka Rask at 7:52.
David Savard with a bad turnover in front of Korpisalo at 8:00, but it comes to nothing after Gregory Campbell blocked a pass to Tyler Randell.
PENALTY SHOT! Alexander Wennberg draws a shot after being hooked by Zach Trotman. He was sprung on a spectacular pass from Scott Hartnell.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL! Alexander Wennberg converts on the shot with a backhand that beats Rask over his glove at 9:54.
Bruins power play. Seth Jones went off for holding Brad Marchand at 11:07.
BRANDON SAAD DENIED ON A BREAKAWAY shorthanded at 12:30.
The Blue Jackets killed the penalty.
Of note, Columbus only has 2 shorthanded goals this season (both by Cam Atkinson).
Scott Hartnell and Kevan Miller had words at 13:43 post whistle.
Bruins goal. Patrice Bergeron, making his return to the Bruins lineup tonight, scores an unassisted goal after Seth Jones had a clearing pass knocked down 14:28. Bergeron went immediately down the hall to the locker room following his goal after getting hit in the face with a stick.
David Krejci was denied by Korpisalo (with some help from William Karlsson at 15:45.
Not the best period from Seth Jones tonight.
Saad sent a backhand wide at 17:30 after some extended pressure in the offensive zone.
Calvert had a clearing pass turned over, and David Pastrnak saw his ensuing shot denied.
Tukka Rask was down after a collision between Matt Beleskey and David Savard. It was a wild collision that happened to lead to a collision with the netminder. Rask, after a few minutes, was able to stay in the game.
At the end of one, the Bruins and Blue Jackets were tied at one. Boston outshot Columbus 14-9.
SECOND PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Scott Hartnell had a glorious chance to retake the lead but sent the puck high and wide at 1:00.
Korpisalo made a great save at 1:15.
Fedor Tyutin chased down Ryan Spooner on a breakaway to prevent a shot after Dalton Prout misplayed a puck at the offensive blue line.
Boston once again controlled play to start the second period, outshooting Columbus 4-1 in the first 4 minutes.
Nick Foligno put a shot high at 6:30.
Bruins power play. Brandon Dubinsky went off for holding at 6:51. It was kind of a soft call.
There was a lot of scrambling by the Blue Jackets in the defensive zone on this kill.
CALVERT DENIED ON A SHORTHANDED BREAKAWAY AT 8:15.
The Jackets killed the penalty.
Jackets on the power play! Tyler Randell went off for high sticking Fedor Tyutin at 9:31.
The Bruins killed the power play, allowing no shots on goal.
Jackets back on the power play! Adam McQuaid went off for tripping Brandon Saad at 11:56.
UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Scott Hartnell, jostling with Zdeno Chara, takes a penalty after being goaded into a high sticking penalty at 12:06. What a stupid penalty.
Korpisalo makes the save an odd man rush at 13:20.
Both teams returned to full strength at 14:06.
Korpisalo makes a save after a shot was tipped twice at 14:20.
Woof. Korpisalo fanned on a pass from behind the net, tossing it right to Brad Marchand, but nothing came of it at 15:40.
Saad had a shot deflect off his leg and nearly in, but it was saved by Rask.
At the end of two, Columbus and Boston remained knotted at one apiece. The Bruins outshot the Blue Jackets 22-19.
THIRD PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Columbus opened the third period strong, not getting completely outskated for the first time this game.
Cam Atkinson’s chance was blocked at 3:45 after a Brandon Dubinsky feed.
End to end action for the first third of the third period, but there was little in the way of chances for either team. It was a lot of herky jerky play, featuring a lot of icing calls.
Jackets on the power play! Foligno was hauled down on a half breakaway (maybe it should have been another penalty shot?), and Kevan Millar went to the box for tripping at 8:00.
Wennberg fed Atkinson, but the shot went wide.
Alexander Wennberg walked through the entire Bruins play at 8:45, but Rask turned him aside.
The Bruins killed the power play, allowing 2 shots.
This has been a slow third period. Wennberg’s play, a couple saves by Korpisalo, and that’s about it. And Brandon Saad had a chance or two. But there hasn’t been much else. Lots, lots of icing.
Foligno had a backhand denied at 14:15 following a solid shift by the 4th line.
Brad Marchand just missed a tip in at 14:45.
Wennberg fought through a check at 15:15 and carried the puck into the zone. That was great to see.
This has been a slooooooow period.
Timeout Columbus at 18:54.
The teams remained knotted at one after sixty minutes, and went to overtime.
BONUS HOCKEY HIGHLIGHTS
Jones was denied by Rask at 0:20.
Bruins goal. Loui Eriksson ends it at 0:33.
FINAL: Boston Bruins 2 Columbus Blue Jackets 1
THREE STARS
*** Joonas Korpisalo
** Loui Eriksson
QUICK THOUGHTS
3 game point scoring streak for Alexander Wennberg. Glad to see him continuing to develop into a stronger center. He was absolutely everywhere on the ice, making plays, finding guys, and generally making his presence felt.
Seth Jones really struggled tonight. I’m not sure if it was the physical nature of playing the Bruins or what, but he looked uncomfortable on the ice for much of the night. It was easily his worst night as a Jacket.
Korpisalo played well enough to win. Shame the boys couldn’t bring it home for him.
Ryan Murray played well, as did Fedor Tyutin.
Nick Foligno had a few chances, but still just can’t buy a goal.
UP NEXT
The Blue Jackets remain at home on Friday night to take on the Buffalo Sabres. Faceoff is at 7:00 EST.