Final Score: Islanders 4 – Blue Jackets 3
Game Summary
If you didn’t jump off the bandwagon after last game, you are definitely jumping off after this game. It’s something different with this team every game but every time they find way to drive you crazy.
The Jackets came out guns a blazing, looking to put the Sharks game behind them. They put up a franchise record 26 shots in the first period, at 5 on 5 they had a 62.75% Corsi, had 19 scoring chances and 10 high danger chances, but somehow only managed to score one goal.
Josh Anderson adds to his team leading goal total with his 16th of his season. The power play was strong in this game. The Jackets had three opportunities on power play and had 13 shots. Just like the rest of the game they were getting pucks on the net, they just could not beat Jaroslav Halak. Halak was incredible he stopping 46 of 49 shots, every save just adding more and more frustration to the Jackets.
After one of the best first periods the team has played the game was somehow tied 1-1, with the nightmarish second period coming up. With the way the first period went you had the feeling it was going to unravel in the second.
Early on those feeling were right. Halfway through the period, the Isles scored to go up 2-1 and everyone had the here we go again feeling. The Jackets however did not crumble they actually managed to tie game shortly after on a goal by Cam Atkinson.
Atkinson has really stepped up since returning from his injury. He has four points in four games with 20 shots on goal. Not only is he scoring but he's scoring big goals. He had the game winner in Arizona and this goal at the time was a big one to tie it up.
The Jackets took the lead towards the end of the second with another veteran, this time Nick Foligno scoring to give the Jackets a one goal lead.
Foligno makes a really nice play here to get a step on the Islanders defencemen. He gets the puck on the breakaway and as the caption says uses absurdly quick hands to beat Halak. Foligno appears to have responded well to the benching he received last game.
With the way the Jackets were playing a one goal lead should have been enough. The Jackets though let up, and you have to wonder if their play in the first two periods caught up to them, if the back-to-back affected them or if they simply let up. Either way they didn’t play as well in the third and the Islanders were able to score twice to get the win and a big two points.
The Jackets are still in the first wild card spot with 58 points, but the loss has them on the brink of falling out of that position. The Islanders are now just a point back, Philadelphia in the second wild card spot is one point back, and Carolina is just two points back. Games like this where you play well are ones you have to win. The Jackets can’t afford to blow more games like this or they will not be playing playoff hockey this season.
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:
»