The Columbus Blue Jackets just completed a four game homestand. In 12 regulation periods, they were held to zero goals in 11 of them.
Let’s focus on the positives first: tonight was a fantastic defensive effort against a very good (albeit short-handed) Florida team, and the Jackets created 3.62 expected goals on offense. Florida dominated the first period, but the Jackets controlled the flow of play for most of the the second and third periods. This was a chippy game, but we saw plenty of fight as Jackets players stuck up for their teammates.
In the end, it came down to a delay of game call for puck over the glass with just 29.7 seconds remaining in regulation. Florida needed just 30 seconds of the 4v3 power play in overtime to set up Aleksander Barkov for the game-winning goal.
Let’s get to the negatives then, yeah?
Boone Jenner appeared to have his first goal of the season, before replay showed that he used the dreaded “distinct kicking motion” to direct the puck in. This franchise never seems to be on the right end of that call.
Why was Jack Johnson on the ice in overtime? Sure, he had good defensive game tonight, but you need skaters with speed in OT, even on the kill. JJ and Jenner are…not that.
The Barkov line got a steady dose of the Danforth line in the first period, and they feasted. The Columbus “identity line” was out-attempted 8-0 in that period. After that, Dean Evason spread the love a little more but it was still mostly the Danforth and Jenner lines getting those matchups, and they both suffered for it.
The Fantilli/Johnson/Marchenko line was the third line tonight, going by 5v5 ice time. They had a 79.75 xG%. Cool!
Let’s go back to ending on a happy note: congratulations to Elvis Merzlikins and his wife Aleksandra on the birth of their second child, a son named Jaxon John. Along with his older brother Knox Matiss, that’s two boys for Elvis that bear the middle name of one of his fallen teammates. That’s two too many for any player to deal with in his career, but it’s a lovely tribute by Elvis to keep their legacy alive. Elvis showed dad strength tonight with his performance in the crease. It’s good to have this Elvis back after missing the last two games.
Scoreboard Watching
The Senators, Rangers, and Devils all lost in regulation tonight, so that’s all good news to go along with the single point the Jackets earned in the standings. The Canadiens and Islanders are tied as of this writing, and neither result helps us much. An Islander regulation win is better, though, I guess?
Up Next
Back at it tomorrow night in Pittsburgh. Can they earn a second win in that barn this season?