Final Score: Blues 4 – Blue Jackets 1
Game Summary
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, the Blue Jackets got off to a slow start. For whatever reason, they have been consistently getting outplayed at the start of games. They never seem to have their legs and it takes them half a period or so to get going. They were playing on a back to back but so too were the Blues making that point moot. The Jackets were unable to rebound from their slow start and found themselves on the wrong end of this one.
The Jackets had a 46.73% Corsi this game, only the second time all season they have been below 50%. They didn’t have the puck a ton but still managed to get some really good scoring chances. They tied the Blues with 33 scoring chances and had an 11-7 edge in high danger chances. Jake Allen make a couple huge saves, robbing the Jackets of any chance to swing momentum back their way.
An early chance for the Blue Jackets, but Jake Allen slides across to rob Josh Anderson. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/LrBAy8GwFp
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) October 29, 2017
The Blue Jackets' best chance...wasted. Cam Atkinson, with an open cage, rings the post. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/Nr5MMfpwOe
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) October 29, 2017
Sometimes it’s just not your night.
This game exposed some of the problems the Blue Jackets have and an area they really need to look to improve upon is their depth. The fourth line barely played last night.
A short night for the fourth line. Milano with just 3:17 of ice time. Dalpe 5:39 and Dubois 7:20.
— Alison (@AlisonL) October 29, 2017
On the second half of a back to back this should not be happening. John Tortorella clearly does not trust this line, this is the second game in a row that their ice time has been cut. I understand that line with two rookies and a fringe NHL player is not going to be the most trusted line, but they need to be playing. Milano and Dubois have a ton of offensive upside, but it’s difficult for them to show that when they are barely playing.
Team depth may have also taken another hit, as Cam Atkinson left the game with a lower body injury.
#CBJ Atkinson likely done for the night. Lower body. Has been replaced by Pierre-Luc Dubois on a line w Boone Jenner and Brandon Dubinsky.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) October 29, 2017
This is a huge loss if he has to miss any length of time. Atkinson is one of the best scorers on a team that doesn’t have many snipers. If Cam does have to miss some time, I would like to see someone like Oliver Bjorkstrand in a bigger role. He’s been playing very well with points in three of his last four games. He set up the lone goal against the Blues.
The pass...it was good. Very good, in fact. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/qvrFhj9UzQ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) October 29, 2017
The Jackets do not practice today so we won’t have an official update on Atkinson until Monday.
Stat of the Night
#CBJ on the board as Matt Calvert makes it 3-1 with his 3rd of the season. Has 3-2-5 in the past 7 games.
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) October 29, 2017
Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.
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