Post Battle #32 vs. the Montreal Canadiens (Blue Jackets)

Blue Jackets

Post Battle #32 vs. the Montreal Canadiens

By Paul Berthelot

Dec 24, 2016 • 10:13 am

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Final Score: Blue Jackets 2 – Canadiens 1

Game Summary

The Jackets didn’t quite score 10 but they did manage to beat Al Montoya twice and picked up their 12th straight win. The Jackets continue to pile up the wins but they have not been playing well. L.A. outplayed them as did Montreal in this game. They outshot the Jackets a whopping 37-24, including 12-5 in the third period. At 5 on 5 Montreal had a 64.62% Corsi and controlled 67.35% of the scoring chances and an insane 80% of the high danger chances.

Sergei Bobrovsky, playing in the second half of a back to back, was simply fantastic. The Jackets had no business even being in that game let alone winning it. Bobrovsky allowed just one goal on 37 shots, a .973 save percentage. Many of 36 saves were of the highlight reel variety including this one on Paul Byron.

And this one on Brendan Gallager.

Bobrovsky has simply been fantastic this season and is playing like he did in his Veznia winning season. His .935 save percentage is the best mark of his career, and ranks second in the NHL behind Deven Dubnyk. Bobrovsky has been a workhorse this season playing the fourth most minutes among goalies. He's done a tremendous job this season and has masked plenty of the Blue Jackets issues when they have played poorly.

With the Jackets failing to get anything going at 5 on 5, they turned to their league leading power play. This time it was not Cam Atkinson but Sam Gagner scoring the goal. Atkinson started the play by faking a big slap shot. He passed it down to Folingo who sent it across crease to Gagner who put it in.

That is Gagner’s 14th of the season and sixth on the power play. He is second on the team in goal behind Atkinson. That assist gives Atkinson 200 career NHL points. He becomes just the fourth player in Blue Jackets history to reach that milestone.

Brandon Saad scored the Jackets second goal. Again on a great pass by Foligno. Folingo had everyone thinking shot before make a quick pass to Saad.

That is Saad’s 13th of the season and gives him goals in back to back games.

The Jackets are now off for a few days for Christmas. They next play on Tuesday when they take on the Boston Bruins.

Stat of the Night

Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.

You can follow me on Twitter @PaulBerthelot

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