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Jets 3 Blue Jackets 2 — Quick Thoughts

First Period

  • The Blue Jackets came out without zip, but played competently enough in their own zone. However, several minutes elapsed on the clock before they registered their first shot on goal.
  • A bad change six minutes in left Bryan Little all alone, and he snapped a laser far corner on Sergei Bobrovsky, for a 1 – 0 lead.

  • Things went from bad to worse just 53 seconds later, when the puck caromed hard off the end boards to Bobrovsky’s left, directly to the Jets‘ Andrew Copp, who was all alone directly in front of the net. 2 – 0 Winnipeg.
  • The Blue Jackets bounced back just as their first power play of the night ended, with a Kevin ConnautonRyan MurrayBrandon Dubinsky sequence ending with a perfect pass from Dubi to Saad’s stick blade. 2 – 1 Jets. (Dubinsky & Murray with the helpers)

  • Matt Calvert took his third bad penalty in 24 hours with a boarding infraction at 16:13. That led to Winnipeg’s third goal, this one a far post laser from Blake Wheeler that went directly under the glove of a clearly distressed Sergei Bobrovsky. 3 – 1 Winnipeg, which is how the first ended.
  • The Blue Jackets managed only four shots on goal in the period.

SECOND PERIOD

  • Curtis McElhinney took over the duties in goal for the Blue Jackets
  • Ryan Johansen’s stunningly lethargic play continued, emphasized by two ill-advised penalties (slashing 50 seconds in, cross-checking at the 8:17 mark)
  • Jared Boll attempted to put some life in the proceedings by dropping the gloves with Anthony Peluso. It didn’t work.
  • The Blue Jackets managed 10 shots on goal in the period, surrendering 12 to Winnipeg.
  • Not apparent on the scoresheet was the horribly ragged play by the Blue Jackets in all three zones. Poor passing, extended periods trapped in their own end. You know the drill.
  • No damage for either side in this frame. Still 3 – 1 Winnipeg.

THIRD PERIOD

  • The Blue Jackets came out harder, exerting pressure more consistently. The execution simply was not there, however.
  • The execution issues came to a head at the 10:10 mark, when the Blue Jackets were the beneficiaries of a 4:00 minute power play, after Mark Stuart was whistled for high sticking against Brandon Saad. Largely through their own ineptitude, they never sniffed a scoring opportunity.
  • After pulling McElhinney for the extra man, Scott Hartnell narrowed the gap to one with just 1:14 left (assists to Cam Atkinson and David Savard)

  • The Blue Jackets would pull no closer, making the final 3 – 2 Winnipeg. Shots in the final frame favored the home team 27 – 21./

FINAL THOUGHTS

  • Ryan Johansen needs to get his head straight. He’s playing in a pout, and did not make a play all night.
  • The Blue Jackets need to relax and keep playing as a unit. Much of their problem on this night was too much individual play.
  • The Prout/Connauton line is not a good idea.
  • John Tortorella gets another week on the road to get the guys to internalize the system. Don’t be surprised if some other faces end up as healthy scratches. /