Matinee hockey in Columbus!! The Blue Jackets, on the heels of a very meh performance against the Pittsburgh Penguins would play Sunday afternoon and take on the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have absolutely owned the Union and Blue this season.
In team news, Ryan Murray and Seth Jones would be split up today. Jones did not play well against Pittsburgh (though neither did Murray, and both made some head scratching plays). Sergei Bobrovsky would start in net. David Clarkson was scratched with another injury- poor guy just can’t stay healthy.
To the highlights!
FIRST PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Your CBJ starters: Nick Foligno, William Karlsson, Scott Hartnell, Ryan Murray, Dalton Prout, Sergei Bobrovsky
Murray and Prout. Dear lord.
Lightning power play. Scott Hartnell went off for tripping Andrej Sustr at 0:21.
Despite giving up 3 shots on goal, the Jackets killed the penalty.
7 shots to zero for Tampa through 5 minutes. Good start, Columbus.
A 2 on 1 for Columbus leads to a save by Ben Bishop on a Hartnell effort.
Correction, that was not credited as a save for Bishop. So, through 7 minutes, no shots for Columbus to 9 for Tampa Bay.
A SHOT ON GOAL. Foligno, a backhander 8 minutes in, that was easily saved.
Saad had a half breakaway and sent a backhand wide at 10:00.
Save Bobrovsky on Nikita Kucherov at 11:30.
Scrum at 14:00 as William Karlsson and Alex Killorn had words.
Save Bobrovsky after Victor Hedman walked through the entire defense at 14:30.
Jackets power play. Vladislav Namestnikov went off for holding (basically tackling) Nick Foligno at 16:01.
Chances for Alexander Wennberg and Ryan Murray on the power play.
Wennberg put the puck in the net at 17:10, but the goal was waved off for goaltender interference on Boone Jenner. Jenner was pushed into the paint against Ben Bishop by Anton Strahlman, but the call was made.
The Lightning killed the penalty.
At the end of one, the game was tied 0-0. Tampa outshot Columbus 14-5. The crowd was mighty unhappy with a perceived flop by Bishop.
Fireworks as the period ended with Vladislav Namestnikov and Brandon Dubinsky. Both received penalties for roughing, and we would start the second period 4 on 4.
SECOND PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
End to end action to open the second period as both teams had chances down a man.
The penalties expired with no goals scored.
A linesman went off in considerable pain at 3:05 with some knee trouble.
The Blue Jackets pushed hard to open the period, generating 5 shots in 5 minutes.
Still boos for Bishop. Gotta love the Nationwide Crowd.
Lighting goal. 30th of the season for Steven Stamkos, who drilled one past Bobrovsky at 5:29. Tyutin blew a tire enterting the zone, and Stamkos slotted home. Nikita Kucherov with the assist.
SCRUM. Ben Bishop was hit by Nick Foligno at 7:38, and it was a mess behind the net.
Lightning power play. Foligno went off for tripping Bishop at 7:38. I’m not even mad. Bishop’s been whining and flopping all over the place. Make him earn his seat on the ice. Kucherov went off for roughing, and Dalton Prout went off for roughing and a ten minute misconduct.
The Jackets killed the penalty.
Nick Foligno had a shot saved at 10:07, and drew a penalty.
Jackets on the power play. Stamkos went off for interference at 10:07.
The Jackets saw the power play killed. They had solid chances, but nothing got through to Bishop.
Save by Bishop on Cody Goloubef, boos for Bishop.
Tyler Johnson had a great chance for Tampa, but sent it high.
A scrum at 14:02 saw Bobrovsky dumped to the ice.
Boone Jenner had a chance broken up by Hedman at 14:30.
This has been a physical second period, to say the least.
At the end of 2, Tampa Bay led Columbus 1-0, and outshot the Jackets 25-22.
THIRD PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Cam Atkinson was denied on a wrap-around at 1:00.
Bobrovsky made a shoulder save on Stamkos at 2:30.
Bishop save on Rene Bourque at 4:00.
Hard push for the Jackets to open the third period, but Tampa was equal to the task.
Lighting goal. Vladislav Namestnikov scored far post after Dalton Prout had an AWFUL turnover in the defensive zone as he tried to pass the puck across the ice in front of Bobrovsky at 8:45. Tyler Johnson with the assist, as he broke up the pass. It was mystifying play to say the least from Prout.
Jackets power play. Alex Killorn went off for hooking Brandon Dubinsky at 9:17.
Lightning goal. After a turnover from Ryan Murray, Ondrej Palat fed Stamkos, who buried it at 10:54. Shortie.
Jackets power play. A double minor was assessed to Ryan Callahan for high sticking and cutting Dalton Prout at 12:56.
One shot through the first two minutes for Columbus. Stellar power play. Absolutely stellar.
LIGHTNING SHORTHANDED GOAL. 2 on 1 rush and Stamkos feeds Palat, who buries it at 14:39. Whatever.
The Lightning killed all 4 minutes.
The Lightning had power play for the last 38 seconds because of course they did. David Savard went off for slashing. Rene Bourque drew a 10 minute misconduct.
Goon hockey. That’s so Jackets.
FINAL: Tampa Bay Lightning 4 Columbus Blue Jackets 0
THREE STARS
*** Vladislav Namestnikov
** Steven Stamkos
* Ben Bishop
QUICK THOUGHTS
It is impossible not to notice how slow Columbus is. I realize Tampa Bay is one of the faster teams in the league, but it seems like most teams just skate rings around Columbus.
It also appears that teams have figured out that if you can keep the puck on the edges when facing Columbus, the Jackets have no ability to adjust and get the puck in scoring areas, resulting in a dump and a clearance and forcing Columbus back into the defensive zone. Tampa did a great job of that in the first period.
Solid game from Nick Foligno.
Where’s Wennberg been lately?
Tons of shots from the edge for Columbus.
What a joke of a power play.
I hate that this team plays goon hockey when things go south. Play with some class, Columbus.
UP NEXT
The Blue Jackets play again on Thursday against the Red Wings. Faceoff is at 7:00 at Nationwide Arena. They’ll probably lose. Only 13 games to go before this season can mercifully end.