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Post Battle #55 vs. the New York Rangers

February 14, 2017, 11:56 AM ET [11 Comments]
Paul Berthelot
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Final Score: Rangers 3 – Blue Jackets 2

Game Summary


That was another frustrating game for the Jacket but not in the same vain as the Vancouver or New Jersey game. The Jackets played well and would have at least got a point out of the game if not for the strong play of Antti Raanta and a nice goal from Jimmy Vesey.
The Jackets started well and controlled most of the game. They outshot the Rangers 32-23 and had a 57.5% Corsi at 5 on 5. They had 23 chances vs. 19 for the Rangers. The team played a strong game, but it was a couple defensive miscues that lead to goals and left the Jackets empty-handed.

The Vesey goal you tip your hat to. He made a very subtle but very good move to beat Sergei Bobrovsky. The Kevin Hayes goal came off a turnover by David Savard in the neutral zone. Savard really had no chance since Hayes was all over him the second he got the puck. Jack Johnson who made the pass needed to be a little more aware of the situation. The first goal may have been the worst one. It was a short-handed goal by Dan Girardi. It comes right off the opening face-off, but Girardi is alone at the point and is able to have the space to get a good shot off. The shot does bounce around but he never should have that space to begin with, especially with the Jackets on the power play.

As far as positives went the Brandon Dubinsky, Boone Jenner, Cam Atkinson line had another solid performance. Each player was over a 50% Corsi with Dubinsky all the way up at 62.5%. Dubinsky also got on the score sheet, scoring the first goal of the game.




This goal came right as a Blue Jackets power play expired, explaining why Brandon Saad was out their making that feed to Dubinsky. As the tweet says that is six points in the last four games for Dubinsky. His overall line doesn’t look as strong as years past, but Dubinsky like many players has taken a reduced role on the power play and has hurt his point totals. His even strength scoring is down at 1.7 points per 60, but is close to what he did last year when he was at 1.9 points per 60.

Nick Foligno scored the Jackets other goal, banking his shot off of JT Miller.




It was thought Alexander Wennberg got a piece of that but the goal was award to Folingo and it was his 19th of the season. That goal ended a five game goal and point less drought. His line with Wennberg and Saad was fantastic again, all up over a 65% Corsi.

Other notes from the game, Scott Hartnell was hurt in the first period when he crashed into the boards. He had to leave the game, he briefly returned but ultimately missed the rest of the game. No word yet on the severity of the injury. Oliver Bjorkstrand was recalled on an emergency basis in case Hartnell is unable to go play Wednesday against the Leafs.

Stat of the Night



Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.

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