After a demolition on the scoreboard (though not in the advanced stats) on Tuesday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets would take the ice against a team far less formidable than the Washington Capitals. The Calgary Flames limped into town just 5 points ahead of Columbus on the season on the heels of a loss in New Jersey on Tuesday night. Prior to the game, Coach Tortorella announced that Scott Hartnell and Fedor Tyutin would return to the lineup, replacing Justin Falk and Jared Boll. Sergei Bobrovsky remained in the net. To the highlights!
FIRST PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Your CBJ starters: Sergei Bobrovsky, Scott Hartnell, Alexander Wennberg, Brandon Saad, Jack Johnson, Cody Goloubef
Several chances early for Columbus. Kerby Rychel had a backhand denied, and Gregory Campbell saw his shot turned aside at 2:00 after stealing the puck behind the net.
Johnny Gaudreau fed the puck to Markus Granlund, but Bobrovsky was equal to the task.
Columbus carried the run of play for the first 5 minutes, maintaining the majority of possession and generating more chances than Calgary.
Chance for Calgary. After a Dalton Prout turnover in the offensive zone, Calgary saw their effort broken up.
Slow start to the game- there were only 8 shots on goal combined in the first 10 minutes.
Chance for Calgary at 12:40, as Sam Bennett deflected a shot just wide of Bobrovsky.
Calgary appeared to have found their legs in the middle part of the period, as Columbus was now struggling to enter the Calgary zone.
CHANCE!! Scott Hartnell passed to Cam Atkinson on the edge of the goal crease, but Karri Ramo was able to deny him at 14:15.
CHANCE! Brandon Dubinsky saw his effort go just wide at 17:45.
CHANCE! With Ramo sprawled on the ice, Saad found Hartnell, who was unable to get a shot off.
Flames goal. Following a hard forecheck from Calgary, Dougie Hamilton took a hard shot on net, resulting in a large rebound. Michael Frolik was able to bury it at 19:53. Assist to Dougie Hamilton.
The first period ended with Columbus trailing Calgary 1-0, and shots tied at 7-7.
SECOND PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Columbus came out pressuring the Flames to start the second period.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL!!! Following a shot from Seth Jones (and some smooth skating from the new defenseman), Scott Hartnell was able to bury the rebound off the glass at 3:37. Assists to Seth Jones and Brandon Saad.
Flames goal. For the second straight game, the Blue Jackets gave up a goal as their own was being announced over the PA system. Sam Bennett buried one at 4:15 from Mikael Backlund and Mark Giordano.
Columbus was very much on their heels following the Calgary goal.
Jackets on the power play! Mark Giordano hauled down Brandon Dubinsky at 8:52.
CHANCES GALORE! Boone Jenner, Alexander Wennberg, and Cam Atkinson all had chances at the puck, but could not slot it home.
Ryan Murray was injured and skated off gingerly following a shot by Dennis Wideman while blocking a shot.
After the penalty, Mikael Backlund tried to find Frolik, but the pass was just wide on a 3-on-1.
Oh, boy. Sergei Bobrovsky went off at 11:30 during a TV timeout and was replaced by Joonas Korpisalo. Bobrovsky went straight to the locker room after leaving the game. Neither trainer left the bench after Bobrovsky though.
Calgary, suffice it to say, carried the play through the second period. Columbus never serious threatened the Calgary net after their goal through the 15:00 mark.
In positive news, Ryan Murray seemed to be okay and continued playing after taking a shot high on the power play.
CHANCE!! Ryan Murray saw his wrist shot from just inside the blue line saved at 17:51.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL! Brandon Dubinsky ties it! Following a faceoff win and a shot on net, Dubinsky buried the rebound at 17:56. Assists to Ryan Murray and Cam Atkinson.
At the end of two periods, Columbus and Calgary were tied 2-2, with the Blue Jackets outshooting the Flames 22-19.
At the second intermission, it was announced that Sergei Bobrovsky had a lower body injury, and would not return.
THIRD PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Flames goal. Johnny Gaudreau buried a shot from an incredibly sharp angle to give the Flames the lead at 1:28. Assist to Mark Giordano and TJ Brodie. It was a very excellent shot by Gaudreau, and Korpisalo had no chance to make the save.
Columbus’ 4th line of Markus Hannikainen, Josh Anderson, and Gregory Campbell led an excellent shift to follow up the goal.
Chance for Calgary. Joe Colborne saw his backhand denied at 6:20.
CHANCE FOR COLUMBUS! William Karlsson beat Ramo cleanly, but the shot went off the crossbar.
CHANCE AGAIN! Cam Atkinson had a glorious chance ring off of Ramo’s post at 7:30.
End to end chances for both teams through the middle of the period, but neither team mustered a solid shot on goal through the 12:00 mark.
SAVE! Colborne saw his shot denied at 13:30.
Flames goal. Sam Bennett scored on a wraparound from behind the net with under 6 to play. Assists to Mikael Backlund and Kris Russell.
Coincidental minors at 15:40. Matt Stajan went off for goaltender interference, Cody Goloubef went off for roughing.
The Jackets pulled Korpisalo at 17:00.
CHANCE!! Seth Jones was denied at 17:39.
FINAL: Columbus Blue Jackets 4 Calgary Flames 2
THREE STARS
*** Ryan Murray
** Johnny Gaudreau
* Sam Bennett
QUICK THOUGHTS
Congratulations to Seth Jones on his 4 game point scoring streak, one shy of his career high.
All eyes on Bobrovsky. Here’s hoping he’s okay.
This was a sloppy, slow game featuring a lot of turnovers, poor play in the neutral zone, and poor defense. Not much more to say about this one.
UP NEXT
Columbus returns to the ice on Saturday night as the Blue Jackets travel to take on the Boston Bruins. Faceoff is at 7:00 EST.