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Post Battle ECQF #5: Best performance of the series result in loss

April 22, 2018, 11:08 AM ET [9 Comments]
Paul Berthelot
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Final Score: Capitals 4 – Blue Jackets 3

Game Summary


For the first time this series we saw the Blue Jackets from the regular season. They dominated this game at 5 on 5, with a 56% Corsi and a 34-22 shot advantage. In all situations the Jackets outshot Washington 42-29, and had a 17-15 edge in high danger chances.
The first two periods were back and forth. The Jackets got on the board first for the first time in this series. Matt Calvert got the Jackets on the board with a short-handed marker.




Outside of Artemi Panarin, Calvert has been the Blue Jackets best forward this series. He’s been a possession monster leading the team at 56.92%. He’s routinely getting chances and has been given a heavy dose of tough defensive assignments. He scored twice in this game, giving him a team leading three for the playoffs.

His second goal has be one of the wildest goals scored this season. Calvert comes in on a breakaway, somehow whiffs on the shot, stays with it, is able to do a spin-o-rama and get the puck past Braden Holtby.




The Jackets were playing much better in this game and a couple stretches where they were completely controlling the game. However they could never sustain their 5 on 5 play as they kept getting interrupted by penalties. The two teams combined for nine penalties in the first two periods. The refs were calling everything. Every little tap of the stick was called a slash. It’s happening for both sides and many of the calls were weak ones. It really interrupted the flow of the game.

In the third period as playoff games go, the refs put the whistles away and called nothing. This plays right into the Jackets hands and they just crushed it. They put up 16 shots in third, by far their most in a period in the playoffs. More impressive though was the fact that they did not let the Capitals have the puck at all. The Capitals attempted just 11 shots and just a single one got to the net. This is why everyone before the series started stressed the need to stay out of the box. When the game is 5 on 5 the Jackets are the far better team and for a single period showed it. They were able to tie the game in the third as Oliver Bjorkstrand tipped home the Ian Cole shot.




The Jackets had their chances to take the lead in the third but couldn’t do it. For the fourth time in five games, overtime was needed and it was Nicklas Backstrom scoring in OT to win it.
The Jackets head home for a do or die Game 6. Losing three in row stings but the Jackets if they can play like they did in that third period, will have a great chance at sending this series back to Washington for Game 7.

Stat of the Night




Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.

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