Finishing up the 801st back to back of the season, the Blue Jackets traveled to Detroit to take on the Red Wings fewer than 24 hours after the 6-4 win in Boston. This game would mark the Blue Jackets’ only appearance on national television of the season (thanks for that, NHL), and the hope was that the team could put together a similar performance and down the Wings so as to leave a positive taste in the casual fan’s mouth and maybe quell some of the ridicule leaguewide.
In team news, Curtis McElhinney would finally break Joonas Korpisalo’s 12 game starting streak. Torts also mentioned that Korpisalo has made a “pretty damn good case” for himself to be the fulltime backup to Sergei Bobrovsky next season. No other lineup changes otherwise.
It was Nicklas Lidstrom night in Detroit. Stick taps to one of the best blue liners to ever play the game.
To the highlights!!
FIRST PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Your CBJ starters: Brandon Dubinsky, Cam Atkinson, Boone Jenner, Ryan Murray, Seth Jones, Curtis McElhinney
End to end action to open the game, with Columbus clearly look to establish a physical forecheck in the Detroit zone.
After a defensive zone turnover to Gustav Nyquist, the Blue Jackets managed to break up the play at 3:00.
After the initial push from Columbus, the Red Wings began to take control and forced several defensive zone faceoffs for the Blue Jackets.
Blue Jackets on the power play! The Red Wings were whistled for delay of game at 5:28. Darren Helm would serve it.
Brandon Saad ripped a shot wide at 6:30.
The Red Wings killed the penalty.
Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk matched up on the ice against Dalton Prout and Fedor Tyutin. Dear God, I never wanna see that again.
Dalton Prout received some attention after his eye was cut open at 8:45.
Shots on goal were 2-1 Detroit at the 9:45 mark. Thrilling stuff here.
Nick Foligno blocked a shot and went immediately to the bench at 10:30.
Brendan Smith went to the locker room following a massive hit from Kerby Rychel at 12:00.
CHANCE! Matt Calvert saw a shot saved at 12:50.
The 3rd line of Calvert, Foligno, and William Karlsson has been solid thus far.
Niklas Kronwall sent a shot just wide at 14:00 that had McElhinney beat.
Blue Jackets on the power play! Justin Abdelkader went off for interference at 14:22.
Scott Hartnell just missed a tip in feed from Cam Atkinson at 14:50.
CHANCE Brandon Dubinsky just missed at 16:00. Excellent individual effort.
The Wings killed the penalty.
Rene Bourque absolutely LEVELED Mike Green in open ice at 16:45.
McElhinney denied Dylan Larkin at 17:40.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL!! WHAT A MOVE BY BOONE JENNER!!!! He outhustled Alexey Marchenko and Jenner beat Petr Mrazek short side at 18:18. Absolutely stellar individual effort to just outskate Marchenko. Assists to Brandon Dubinsky and David Savard.
At the end of the first period, Columbus led Detroit 1-0. Columbus outshot Detroit 6-4.
SECOND PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Boone Jenner had a drop pass to Brandon Dubinsky that just missed wide at 0:30.
Larkin missed just wide twice at 1:00.
Jack Johnson blocked a Justin Abdelkader shot at 2:00.
Mrazek made a nice glove save on Saad at 4:05.
Detroit missed a wide open net at 6:00.
Detroit power play. Dalton Prout destroyed Andreas Athanasiou and went off for cross-checking at 6:37.
Pavel Datsyuk just missed at 7:00.
Brandon Saad was denied shorthanded at 7:30.
The Blue Jackets killed the penalty.
Columbus failed on a 3 on 1 as the penalty ended. Karlsson fanned on the shot. That hurts, the net was absolutely gaping.
For all the end to end play, there hasn’t been much happen this period.
SAAD MISSED THE OPEN NET AT 12:00
Blue Jackets on the power play! Niklas Kronwall went off for hooking Jack Johnson at 13:02.
SETH JONES HAD A GAPING NET AND WAS BLOCKED by Kyle Quincey at 13:30.
Red Wings goal. The Blue Jackets, ever the slump buster, give the Red Wings their first shorthanded goal of the season as Riley Sheahan beat McElhinney at 13:59. Assist to Alexey Marchenko.
The Red Wings killed the penalty.
Matt Calvert tipped a 2 on 1 pass just wide at 16:00.
Saad saw a shot gloved aside at 18:30.
At the end of the second period, Columbus and Detroit were tied 1-1. Detroit outshot Columbus 11-5 in the second period.
THIRD PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Henrik Zetterberg saw a shot deflected high at 0:24.
Nick Foligno just missed a tip in at 2:00.
McElhinney denied Brenden Smith at 2:15 on a semi-breakaway!
Abdelkader denied at 3:30.
End to end action through the middle part of the third period. The Red Wings had taken control of the ice, generating the majority of chances.
Scrum after the whistle at 10:48 after a McElhinney save.
This is a boring third period. Not gonna lie.
Nyquist sent one over McElhinney’s gaping net at 12:00.
Wennberg’s shot was saved at 12:05.
Andreas Athanasiou saw a breakaway saved by McElhinney at 12:15.
JENNER CROSSBAR AT 13:45.
Quincey managed to break up a Saad chance at 14:15.
Mrazek save on Jones at 2:00.
CALVERT ONE TIMER saved at 19:00.
With the teams tied at one, we went to overtime.
BONUS HOCKEY HIGHLIGHTS
Dubinsky, Atkinson, Jones were your starters.
Kronwall had a shot blocked for Detroit at 1:00.
Wennberg had a shot saved at 1:40.
McElhinney robbed Larkin at 1:50!
Ryan Murray was ROBBED at 2:00.
A quick whistle stole a breakaway chance from Pavel Datsyuk. Tough break for the Wings.
MCELHINNEY SAVE AT 3:20.
This whole OT was end to end. My word was it fun.
DUBINSKY DENIED AT 4:45
No goals in OT. A shootout would decide it.
Detroit: Datsyuk denied, Sheahan scores, Athanasiou scores
Columbus: Atkinson denied, Wennberg fans on the puck,
FINAL: Columbus Blue Jackets 1 Detroit Red Wings 2
QUICK THOUGHTS
I really like Brandon Saad, penalty killer.
This team has looked so much more organized the last few games. It’s been fun to see.
Going 0-3 and giving up a shorthanded goal with the man advantage is pretty poor.
Columbus won 60% of faceoffs in regulation. That was good to see.
Seth Jones makes so much look so easy.
McElhinney played a solid game in his first real action in almost a month.
UP NEXT
Columbus returns home Thursday night to take on the New Jersey Devils. Faceoff is at 7:00 EST.