Nearing the end of the Blue Jackets season, fellow fans. Heading into tonight’s game against the New York Islanders, the Blue Jackets searched for consistency and something strong to build on going forward into next season.
Called up from Lake Erie, Sonny Milano would make his debut for the Blue Jackets tonight. Fedor Tyutin missed the game, Dean Kukan and Justin Falk were recalled to the club (Falk on an emergency basis).
To the highlights!!
FIRST PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Your CBJ starters: Brandon Dubinsky, Boone Jenner, Cam Atkinson, Ryan Murray, Seth Jones, Sergei Bobrovsky
Ryan Murray, despite being sick, was good to play tonight. Falk was reassigned to Lake Erie.
Early chance for the Islanders as Bobrovsky was forced to deny Frans Nielson on the short side in the first minute.
End to end action for the first fire minutes, but the Islanders were the team generating shots on goal.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL. Brandon Dubinsky scored on a wrist shot from the slot at 4:14 to give the Jackets a 1-0 lead. Assist to Boone Jenner.
Big hits from Matt Martin on Alexander Wennberg on the next shift.
Islanders goal. John Tavares equalized for the hometown team at 7:25 following a 2 on 1 rush with Ryan Strome.
This was certainly a more wide open start than Columbus has seen in recent games. Both teams came to skate.
The islanders, through 12 minutes, had ten shots on goal. Columbus had just one.
Scrum at 13:00 between Jenner, Dubinsky, and Cal Clutterbuck.
It had been a relatively equal period possession wise, Columbus was just struggling to get pucks through on the net. They had 2 shots through 14 minutes.
The Islanders had mostly taken control of the game through the latter stages of the period. Columbus seemed forced into clearing the puck, changing, and going right back on defense.
Islanders goal. Thomas Hickey, trailing entering the zone, let fire with a one time shot from just inside the blue line that beat Bobrovsky at 17:51. Assists to Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielson.
Islanders goal. Tavares with his second of the period. A shot went wide, Bobrovsky gave up a rebound, and Tavares buried it at 18:32. 3-1 just like that.
Islanders power play. Dalton Prout went off for high sticking.
At the end of the first period, New York led Columbus 3-1. New York had more goals than Columbus did shots on goal (14-2 were the totals).
That … That could have gone better.
SECOND PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
The Blue Jackets killed the Prout penalty. Positives.
My cable cut out until the ten minute mark. Soooo pretend this space covers those minutes.
Fight at 14:20. Scott Hartnell, Dalton Prout, Casey Cizikas, Mike Martin. This followed a hit from Martin on Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Jackets power play at 14:20. Hartnell for roughing, Martin for interference and roughing.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL. Brandon Saad on the power play! A soft goal given up by Thomas Griess at 15:48, but they all count. It was an innocent looking wrist shot that beat Griess between the legs.
At the end of the second period, the Islanders led 3-2. They outshot the Jackets 21-13.
Sonny Milano looks like he absolutely belongs out there. Kid is very offensively gifted.
THIRD PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
BLUE JACKETS GOAL. Boone Jenner ties the game! 37 seconds into period on a feed from Cam Atkinson.
Outside of a bad stretch to end the first period, this has been a close game. Columbus absolutely deserves to be in it.
To be fair, also, Griess has been… Not great.
Penalty for Columbus. David Savard went off for tripping John Tavares at 4:14.
Islanders goal. Anders Lee gives the Isles the lead at 5:23. The Blue Jackets challenged for goaltender interference but it was allowed to stand. While Lee did get Bob with his stick, Bob wasn’t really playing the puck.
Columbus pushed hard after the Isles goal. Through the 12 minute mark, they had controlled possession but were unable to generate shots on net.
Brandon Saad with an excellent chance on a one man rush turned aside at 13:30. My word, he is so fast.
Jackets power play. Thomas Hickey went off for hauling down Nick Foligno with 2:46 to go.
Seth Jones leaped and kept the puck in the zone on a clearing attempt. That was impressive.
The jackets couldn’t find the equalizer, despite having Bobrovsky pulled for the final 2:30.
FINAL
New York Islanders 4 Columbus Blue Jackets 3
The kids played well. Milano looked like he belonged.