Final Score: Blue Jackets 5 – Maple Leafs 2
Game Summary
This game was just what the Jackets needed to get themselves going and back on track. The Leafs are very fast, high paced team that likes to exchange chances back and forth. This was a good match-up for the Jackets as they have the players who can skate up and down the ice, but also if they want to slow it they have the players who can get the puck in deep and get the cycle going. The Jackets did this and jumped out to 4-0 lead mid-way through the second period. The Jackets sat back after that which is not something you want to do against the Leafs. Nazem Kadri scored twice to make it a 4-2 game, but Matt Calvert iced it with an empty-netter to give the Jackets the 5-2 win.
Curtis McElhinney got the start in net for the Leafs against his former team. The Jackets were not kind to him in his return, Boone Jenner took a goalie interference penalty, and Josh Anderson scored the first goal of the game on a play that many thought could have been goalie interference.
Anderson does get a couple whacks in at McElhinney, but as they talked about during the intermission, he is allowed to do that because the puck was loose and he was making a play on the puck. The third line with Anderson, William Karlsson and Matt Calvert has been one of the weakest lines this year. With Scott Hartnell out some line shuffling was done and Nick Folingo was bumped down to the third line alongside Anderson and Karlsson. That line didn’t have a strong game from a possession standpoint, but I felt they were much better, and more impactful on the game.
Foligno also scored though it was not at 5 on 5 but rather on the power play.
Zach Werenski’s point shot hits Foligno and re-directs in. That was the Blue Jackets first power play goal in their last nine games, breaking an 0-for-14 slump entering the game.
The first line, now without Foligno did not miss a beat, they were the one Jackets line to crush the Corsi and Foligno’s replacement on the line, Oliver Bjorkstrand even scored.
This is such a fantastic goal, with each forward making an incredible play to make it happen. First you have Brandon Saad, stripping the Kadri in the neutral zone. Saad gets the puck to Alexander Wennberg, who with two guys barrelling down on him, is able to get a clean pass through to Bjorkstrand. Bjorkstrand the finishes the play, as Jeff says, with a beauty snipe. If Hartnell is out long term, Bjorkstrand looks like he could be fine replacement. Granted it was only one game, but if these lines continue to work as well as they did tonight John Tortorella is going to have a lot of options when Hartnell does come back.
Also scoring for the Jackets was Boone Jenner.
Boone is doing what he does best here. He cycles the puck back around the boards, and then heads right to the front of the net. He puts himself in the perfect spot to get Werenski rebound and score.
The Jackets are off today. They take on the Penguins Friday in what should be another fantastic game.
Stat of the Night
Stats courtesy of
Natural Stat Trick and
Hockey-Reference.
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