Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Second Period Sinks Jackets In Pittsburgh

November 2, 2013, 1:36 PM ET [5 Comments]
Glen Miller
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
For one period at least the Columbus Blue Jackets were the better team in the first match-up with new Metro Division rival and perennial Stanley Cup contender Pittsburgh. After one period of play the Jackets boasted a 16 - 9 advantage in shots on goal, held a distinct territorial advantage and gave the Penguins and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury everything they could handle. Yet Pittsburgh capitalized on a first period man-advantage opportunity and led 1 - 0 after one. Then the second period happened.

Pittsburgh would tally three second period goals while chasing reigning Vezina winner Sergei Bobrovsky from the Columbus net. Bobrovsky would allow three goals on 13 shots before giving way to his backup Curtis McElhinney.

Brandon Sutter got it going for Pittsburgh 1:10 into the second. After accepting a pass from Tanner Glass, Sutter skated into the zone along the RW boards. Jack Johnson had a chance to chip the puck off Sutter's stick but missed and was caught flat-footed and unable to retreat into the defensive zone. That allowed Sutter to skate in on a 2-on-1. He fired a shot that beat Bob five-hole. It was definitely one that Bob should have stopped.

Less than two minutes later while on the man advantage, Pittsburgh's Kris Letang extended the lead to 3 - 0. Letang fired a shot from the left faceoff circle that Bob seemed to have in his sights. He was in perfect position, square to the shooter but the puck managed to sneak through the Blue Jackets net minder anyway. Again, Bob needed to make that save.

Enter McElhinney who allowed a tally on the first shot he faced. Rookie Jayson Megna scored his second career NHL goal off a goal-mouth scramble. With the puck loose and McElhinney out of position, Jussi Jokinen back-handed the puck right onto the stick of Megna who had a wide-open net to deposit the biscuit into.

For his part McElhinney was good and draws the assignment tonight based on his performance. He finished with 13 saves while allowing just the one goal.

Derek MacKenzie would get the Jackets on the board midway through the second period, tallying his first goal of the campaign.

Ryan Johansen would score late for Columbus but it was too little, too late.

Fleury stole the show in the first period stopping all 16 shots he faced and stoning Johansen on a point-blank PP chance. He finished with 37 stops on the evening.

The Jackets penalty-killing was also a problem for Columbus as they allowed two man-advantage tallies on four chances. Chris Kunitz netted the first in period one on a beautiful deflection of a Paul Martin point shot. Kunitz got the shaft of his stick on the Martin shot which was nearly chest level in an excellent display of hand-eye coordination.

Columbus would nearly allow a third PP goal but Evgeni Malkin's apparent marker was waved off by the officials in Toronto when it was determined the puck hit the crossbar and landed on the goal line without ever crossing it before bouncing out.

The Jackets need to bounce back tonight if they want to get the win. They did a lot of things right last night and still came up short. Columbus outshot Pittsburgh on the evening 39 - 27 and limited their turnovers finishing with just three on the game. Bob allowed two soft goals, Fleury was unbeatable in period one and the Jackets PK unit couldn't keep Pittsburgh off the board on their first two attempts. That was the difference last night. Better goaltending and penalty-killing and Columbus can come away with a win.
Join the Discussion: » 5 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Glen Miller
» Murray to Miss 4 - 6 Following Knee Surgery
» Columbus Deadline Rundown
» Blue Jackets Deadline Plans
» Tyutin to Miss Two to Three Weeks with Ankle Injury
» Blue Jackets Playing Contingent Out in Sochi