Final Score: Lightning 5 – Blue Jackets 4
Game Summary
This game was one of the first real big tests the Blue Jackets have faced this season. On the road against the NHL’s top team is no easy task. The Jackets were outplayed, Tampa had a solid 52.04% Corsi, but Columbus hung around and managed to score twice in the third period to tie it and steal a point.
The Jackets jumped out to the an early lead thanks to a Seth Jones shot and a funny bounce.
Did Seth Jones call "bank" here? #CBJ pic.twitter.com/99IjHWN8R5
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 4, 2017
Werenski all alone in front makes quick work of the Dubois pass. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/tPCu9SzNAh
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 4, 2017
Werenski as he does is up in the play and finding soft spots in coverage. Teams are having difficulty defending this duo as it so uncommon to have two defencemen who jump up into the play like this. It will be interesting to see how teams adjust and game plan to stop them. Right now nothing seems to be working. Werenski leads all Blue Jackets players with a 59.75% Corsi, Jones is not far behind at 57.93. Among defencemen who have played at least 100 5 on 5 minutes those rank fifth and ninth in the league respectively. As a pair their numbers are even more staggering. Together they have a 59.57% Corsi, they have been on the ice for 14 goals for and just seven against, giving them a very strong 66.67% goals for percentage. Against Tampa they were up to their usual tricks.
Werenski's +16 Corsi differential tonight included being +12/-4 against the Stamkos line. That seems... hm... let's say... "good"? #CBJ
— Jeremy Crowe (@307x) November 5, 2017
Werenski’s goal came on a real nice setup by Pierre-Luc Dubois. Dubois has only played the two games at centre but he has two points and has looked comfortable there. The fourth line with Dubois down the middle is very good. It’s not a perfect line but it’s going to have its moments both good and bad. The bad moments are going to standout, like in this game where they were just atrocious on Tampa’s second goal. But if you keep running them out there they will reward you, as we saw in the third period. Markus Hannikainen made up for the lines failure earlier in the game, scoring his second goal of the season.
Hannikainen with some nifty work below the goal line. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/E2OLN6BdHd
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 5, 2017
The Jackets tied the game mid-way through the third period as Brandon Dubinksy got the monkey off his back with his first of the season.
Cleaning up the mess in front, Dubinsky hammers it home. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/dMQVoBtAyg
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 5, 2017
It’s remarkable what the Jackets have been able to do without contributions from what were supposed to be key players. Dubinsky has been a big part of this team for years and has yet to do much this year. Artemi Panarin and Alexander Wennberg are putting up points but have just two goals combined. It speaks to the rest of the team that they can still pile up the wins and points, when the team isn’t rolling on all cylinders.
Stat of the Night
With the point earned tonight, #CBJ with 19 points (9-4-1), the most points through the opening 14 games in a season in club history.
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) November 5, 2017
Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.
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