Final Score: Sharks 3 – Blue Jackets 2
Game Summary
With the way the Jackets started this game, it felt like it was going to be over in a hurry. The Sharks scored two first period goals, while the Jackets had two first period shots. The Sharks showed why they are one of the best teams in the NHL and why they went to the Stanley Cup finals.
If this had of been last season this game would have been over right there. This team though rallied, and didn’t allow another goal until an empty net goal late in the third period. Sergei Bobrovsky was excellent, and as Jacket fans have become accustomed too, he was a big reason why this game was even close. Bobrovsky stopped 35 of 37 shots good for a .946 save percentage and earned him the first star of the game. He made some big saves, including stopping all 11 shots the Sharks had on the power play.
The Jackets did everything they could to comeback and tie the game in the third period. They dominated the period at 5 on 5 recording a 73.33% Corsi. They outshot the Sharks 14-9 and scored two goals, but the comeback came up just short. It was a really exciting game, and even though they lost, it was fun. Last season the losses piled up but the hockey wasn’t exciting. This year the team looks to be much faster, at least through two games.
Zach Werenski continues to impress in the NHL. He is a fantastic offensive defencemen. It’s so fun watching him in the offensive zone whether it be on the power play or 5 on 5. He has that ability to get his shot through traffic and if the lane isn’t there he can thread the needle and find the open player to pass to. He had all of that on display, scoring his first NHL goal.
He has his head up the entire way, surveying where he wants to shoot. It’s not a hard shot but it’s accurate, placed in the perfect spot where no one could stop it. He still has plenty to work on in the defensive zone, he needs to be better with the puck in his end, but he is going to be a fantastic offensive defensemen.
Josh Anderson was the Blue Jackets other goal scorer. He scored really late in the third to keep the score close late in the third. Just like Werenski, Anderson was doing what he does best, and that is using his big frame to get into the slot and create chances.
This is what you like to see from Anderson and Boone Jenner. Hartnell gets the puck down low and both Boone and Anderson and crashing the net. Hartnell just throws into the slot and hopes one of those players can bang it in.
Ryan Murray missed the game as he was injured in the first game blocking a shot. Dalton Prout took his spot in the line-up and played on the third pair alongside Markus Nutivaara. They played 9:22 together at 5 on 5 and had a very strong 57.14% Corsi. They played well but had one really costly mistake which clouds their overall performance. They are obviously new to playing as a pair and their miscommunication lead to the Sharks first goal. Prout had the puck behind the net and he whipped a pass up the boards to Nutivaara who was completely caught off guard by the pass. The puck then found a Sharks player who passed it to the slot where Mikkel Boedker was all alone.
Stat of the Night
Stats courtesy of
Natural Stat Trick and
Hockey-Reference.
You can follow me on Twitter
@PaulBerthelot
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»