Look at us. Hey, look at us. Who woulda thought? Not me.
Despite all the odds, the Columbus Blue Jackets remain alive in the playoff race thanks to back-to-back wins over the conference-leading Washington Capitals, coupled with back-to-back overtime losses by the Montreal Canadiens. The task: Two more wins in regulation to close out the season, starting with tonight in Philadelphia against the Flyers, coupled with another Canadiens loss, in regulation, against the Hurricanes on Wednesday. They completed part one of three tonight with a 3-0 win.
First Period
It was a rough and messy period for the Jackets, with a bit sloppier passing and bit looser defense then we’ve grown accustomed to during this four-game win streak. Columbus relied heavily on the dump-and-chase exits and heavy forechecking for most of the frame. Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli had a couple looks early, but were unable to convert.
At the first commercial break, shots were 4-1 Flyers, but by the midway point the Jackets had pulled even. But then Justin Danforth was called for tripping, preventing Garnett Hathaway from getting to a loose puck following a netfront scramble. Philadelphia’s powerplay looked dangerous, but was Jet Greaves and the penalty kill got out of it unscathed. After a Marchenko breakaway was denied, it was back to the kill, with Dmitri Voronkov nabbed for hooking. Again, the Flyers were unable to convert.
It was a fast period overall (the last commercial break was pushed back to just 1:46 remaining), and not the best from the Jackets, but it was still knotted at 0-0. Shots were tied at nine at the end, with Columbus getting eight of the last 13 despite the two Flyers’ powerplays.
Second Period
Unlike the First Period, the Jackets came out buzzing to start the middle frame. The second line combined with Ivan Provorov for a chance, with the former Flyer streaking through the middle before Sean Couturier broke it up. It wouldn’t take long for them to be rewarded, as Dante Fabbro got Columbus on the board with a point shot that hit both posts before going in. That goal also broke the franchise record for most goals in a season, with almost 100 minutes of hockey to go.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL – Dante Frabbro from Zach Werenski and Sean Monahan – 2:32 2nd Period
The Jackets had seven shots in the first 4:15 of the period. And right after I wrote that down, the Flyers started pushing back, culminating in a dangerous netfront scramble. Bobby Brink chipped a puck over Greaves and off the post, and well positioned defense was the only thing barely keeping Couturier from banking it in.
Columbus would earn a pair of powerplays in the last six minutes of the game. First, Tyson Foerster knicked Adam Fantilli for a high sticking call. No dice on the powerplay, and the Flyers had a dangerous shift right after their kill. It was finally broken up by Zach Aston-Reese, who got laid out after dumping the puck past Emil Andrae. That’s textbook interference. Sean Monahan would find Kent Johnson seconds in, and KJ’s shot pinballed in to make it 2-0.
BLUE JACKETS POWERPLAY GOAL – Kent Johnson from Sean Monahan and Zach Werenski – 17:01 2nd Period
The Flyers had a bit of zone time to end the period, made more dangerous by Fantilli breaking his stick on a clearing attempt, but the Jackets got to intermission unscathed.
Third Period
The name of the game for the third was low-event hockey. The Jackets didn’t generate much offense, but they also didn’t really let Philadelphia generate much of their own. However, when the Flyers did get chances, they were super high-danger. Jet Greaves continued to play out of his mind, denying the Flyers off turnovers, dangerous rebounds, and odd deflections with exemplary confidence. Greaves wasn’t alone, however, as Samuel Ersson denied Columbus’ best chance of the period, a 2-on-1 chance for ZAR and Sean Kuraly.
The Flyers looked to break the ice with nine minutes left, after Fantilli got everyone’s favorite penalty, delay of game for puck over glass! The penalty was killed off by the CBJ, and Mo’s first shift back out culminated in a goal, with a pass attempt from Marchenko deflecting off the toe of his skate and over Ersson. That’s Fantilli’s 30th goal of the season and fifth in the last three games.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL – Adam Fantilli from Kirill Marchenko and Ivan Provorov – 13:26 3rd Period
From there, it was a matter of playing out the string, and Greaves earning his shutout by denying more great Philadelphia chances. He is the goalie of the future, full-stop.
The formula remains the same: Canadiens regulation loss, Blue Jackets regulation win Thursday over the Islanders. See you then.