With the Oscars getting handed out on Sunday night (congrats to the best film I saw from 2019, ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ for winning Best Supporting Actor), it feels fitting to hand out some awards to our local hockey team.
And the winners are …
Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role
Elvis Merzlikins
Who else?
The NHL’s leader in shutouts has been nothing short of outstanding since assuming the starting role in Joonas Korpisalo;s absence. He earned NHL First Star of the Week honors last week and held the Tampa Bay Lightning to just two goals last night despite missing Seth Jones, the best defender on the team, in front of him.
Elvis, after a slow start to the season, has taken ful command of the Blue Jackets net and the team and fans have responded to his infectious attitude and competitiveness. Korpisalo may have more experience in the NHL, but this appears to be Elvis’ town right now. We’re just living in it.
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role
Vladislav Gavrikov
Gavrikov has been nothing short of outstanding for the Blue Jackets this season. He wasn’t billed as a defensive forward that wasn’t likely to put up a lot of points, he has been one of the unsung heroes for this blue line group, playing positionally sound hockey and snuffing out opposing attacks. Gavrikov has been as good as advertised on the defensive end and the blue line would be suffering immensely without his presence this season.
Best Original Score
Sonny Milano
Duh.
Outstanding Production Design
The Columbus Blue Jackets defense
The Jackets lost some guys last summer. Despite that, the team has allowed the second fewest goal this season (137, just one more than the league leading Boston Bruins) and is also second in goals allowed per game this year (2.40, again second behind the Boston Bruins). The Blue Jackets are also sixth in the league on the penalty kill, at 83.2% this season. In addition, the Jackets are allowing the fifth fewest shots against per game (29.8).
The Jackets defense has done an outstanding job protecting their goaltenders, perhaps to the detriment of the offense thus far. Now, with Seth Jones likely done for the rest of the regular season, the blue line will be tested like it has not yet this season.
Best Original Makeup or Hairstyle
Nathan Gerbe
Gerbe is a sassy betch with that hair flip…
pic.twitter.com/RkH6ywsP0d— The CBJ Artillery (@TheCBJArtillery) January 19, 2020
Icon.
Author’s note: I had no idea that Mile High Hockey did a similar thing this week until I developed this entire article, but check their league wide awards post out