Final Score: Blue Jackets 6 – Islanders 4

Game Summary

The Jackets rebound very nicely after a disastrous performance against the Oilers. They put up six goals on the Islanders and as per usual it was the top line getting it done. Artemi Panarin picked up two assists, giving him eight in his past four games. He set up Zach Werenski for the game’s first goal.

Zach Werenski with his league leading tenth goal for a defenseman. Fantastic pass from Panarin. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/1Xd467hRK9

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 15, 2017

He also picked up a helper on this Pierre-Luc Dubois goal.

3-0 Blue Jackets on this fantastic finish from Dubois.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/0yV8UPJvCq

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 15, 2017

Werenski also got an assist on that play giving him a two point night as well. Werenski isn’t putting up huge offensive numbers this season but he’s putting the puck in the net. As the above tweet says he leads all defencemen in goals with 10. He’s completely embraced this rover mentality and the Jackets are benefitting from it.

Markus Nutivaara is also embracing the rover role. He scored his second goal of the season, cleaning up an Alexander Wennberg rebound.

It all starts with Alexander Wennberg's strong forechecking. Nutivaara cleans it up to get the goal. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/YOJkvh4RVC

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 15, 2017

This goal does not happen last season. Nutivaara was much more passive and very rarely if ever jumped up into the play like this. It really shows how far he's come in such a short period of time. He's developed into a real nice defencemen for this team.

The Jackets scored all three of those goals in the first period and took that lead into the intermission. The started the second period by immediately blowing the lead giving up three unanswered goals. The good news though they were able to get momentum back on their side, scoring two goals of their own at the end of the second to re-take the lead.

Great movement up the ice. Bjorkstrand finds Atkinson then Atkinson sees that Jones is trailing the play all alone. Jones makes no mistake. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/rs9IsN3aE1

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 15, 2017

100th career goal as a Blue Jacket for Foligno. Bjorkstrand now has three points. Wennberg now has two.

Heck of a finish too. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/3k4TVvWp9s

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 15, 2017

Overall this was a much needed game from the Blue Jackets. Not just to recover from the Oilers game but to get some players who have been slumping out of their slumps. Wennberg, Cam Atkinson, and Foligno, players who were supposed to be leaned on, haven’t played well. It was good to see them get on the scoreboard.

Stat of the Night

With the #CBJ taking to the ice, Jack Johnson will play his 400th game tonight as a Blue Jacket.

— Alison (@AlisonL) December 15, 2017

Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.

You can follow me on Twitter @PaulBerthelot

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