Final Score: Blue Jackets 4 – Coyotes 1
Game Summary
The second half of this home and home with Arizona went very much the same as the first half. The Jackets dominated the game, Arizona did not get the same goal-tending performance from Louis Domingue as they did from Mike Smith, and the Jackets skated to a 4-1 win.
This was much tighter game than the one on Saturday. I don’t think either team was happy with the shots they allowed. Each team cut the shots against in half, which still meant the Jackets were able to double up in shots. The Jackets outshot the Coyotes 34-18 and had a 59.46% Corsi at 5 on 5. Arizona is not a good team and the Jackets took advantage picking up four points. They outplayed Arizona in every area of the game, unlike in years past where they would sink down to their competition.
That consistency game to game has been refreshing. It doesn’t matter who the Jackets are playing, they play the same way, regardless of it’s a top team, bottom team or middle of the pack team. It’s also been nice to watch this team not let up in the third. Far too many times last season the Jackets had a lead after two only to sit back and let the other team back in it. They would turtle and rely on Sergei Bobrovsky to stop are barrage of shots. This season though, the team taking matters into their own hands, and just taking over games in the third. It hasn’t mattered if they were winning or losing they have kept piling it on in the third period, which has been great to see.
The Jackets scored twice in the third period in the game, extending their 2-1 lead into a 4-1 lead. Sam Gagner had the hot stick scoring and picking up an assist in the third giving him a two goal, four point night. His first goal was a redirect that Domingue kicked into his own net, and the second one came off a big scramble in front of the net, and Brandon Saad sending a perfect pass into the slot for Gagner.
That goal gives Gagner 10 on the season and a share of the team lead with Nick Foligno. Last season Gagner had all of eight goals and 16 points. In 23 games this season he has already surpassed both of those totals. Saad with that assist give him 200 points for his career, 126 with the Blackhawks and 74 with the Blue Jackets. Saad has 21 points in 24 games, on pace to surpass his career high of 53 points set last season.
Zach Werenski scored his sixth goal of the season, this one not his typical point shot, but one from almost below the goal line.
Werenski needed that one. He had been going through a scoring drought, having not got one past a goalie since November 15th, a span of nine games. It was also his first point in four games. He’s no longer at a point a game pace any more but he’s still getting shots on net and driving play.
Stat of the Night
Stats courtesy of
Natural Stat Trick and
Hockey-Reference.
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