The new season is upon us, and the Jackets kicked things off in a big way with a thrashing of the Islanders 5-0. Let’s hit the high points:
Lines
Panarin – Wennberg – Atkinson
Milano – Foligno – Bjorkstrand
Dubois – Dubinsky – Calvert
Hannikainen – Sedlak – Dalpe
Werenski – Jones
Johnson – Savard
Carlsson – Murray
Bobrovsky with the start opposite Thomas Greiss.
1-0 Jackets: Sonny Milano scores his first NHL goal off a sweet pass from Oliver Bjorkstrand, who was stationed behind the Islanders net.
2-0 Jackets: Welcome to Columbus, Bread Man! Artemi Panarin goes cross-crease to Cam Atkinson, who scored off his skate. The goal was reviewed and was approved as a good hockey goal.
This team is FAST
3-0 Jackets: While on a delayed penalty, Ryan Murray either cemented himself as a member of the Jackets or increased his trade value with a good off a pass from behind the net from Panarin.
4-0 Jackets: On their first real powerplay of the game, Zach Werenski was the beneficiary of a big rebound up between the hash marks, wiring a shot past Greiss.
5-0 Jackets: After a terrific hand-eye keep-in by Seth Jones at the blueline, the puck landed near Pierre-Luc Dubois (are we calling him just Luc now??) who fired it on-net, beating Greiss and chasing him from the game. Brandon Dubinsky was quick to pick up the celebratory puck for his first NHL goal in his first NHL game.
The teams went four-on-four after Cal Clutterbuck gave Lukas Sedlak a cheap shot while the latter was kneeled on the ice. Zac Dalpe engaged Clutterbuck but the Islander wouldn’t reciprocate. The pair would receive minors.
John Tavares went to the box for slashing whilst four-on-four but no damage was done by either club on the scoresheet.
Matt Calvert obliged Johnny Boychuk’s request for a scrap. Let’s call it a draw.
The Jackets owned the game to the end whistle, with the result being a 5-0 score and a clean sheet for Sergei Bobrovsky. It was his 20th with the Jackets, a new franchise record.
Tomorrow it’s the Blackhawks – a real litmus test.