Final Score: Blue Jackets 5 – Jets 3
Game Summary
The Jackets continued to pile up the wins, winning their 14th straight game, this one against the Winnipeg Jets. The Jackets played well recording a 56.41% Corsi at 5 on 5, but were out chanced by the Jets 17-16. Sergei Bobrovsky had to be sharp making 31 saves. Brandon Saad got things started with his 14th goal of the season. This goal was a great individual effort by Saad. He steals the pass behind the net, throws it quickly on goal and then follows up and gets his own rebound.
Good things happen when you put pucks on the net. Brandon Saad knows that. Don't believe him? #JustWatch 1-1 #CBJ pic.twitter.com/JwxbcgL5pt
— Buckeye State Hockey (@BuckeyeStHockey) December 30, 2016
Saad has been fantastic this season. He entered the game leading the NHL in 5 on 5 points per 60 at 3.31. He did nothing to lower that, picking up that goal. He leads the team in Corsi% with 55.62%, and makes everyone else around him better. He’s a star in this league.
Nick Foligno assisted on that goal and scored the teams second. It was a power play marker scored just four seconds into the man advantage. Sam Gagner won the draw back to Zach Werenski, Werenski put his shot through all the traffic and Foligo tipped it in.
Here is another angle on that Foligno goal on the power play. Great vantage point into what Werenski saw on the play. Still 2-1 after one. pic.twitter.com/TlLvevOFHU
— Buckeye State Hockey (@BuckeyeStHockey) December 30, 2016
That is Foligno’s 12th goal of the season, matching his total from all of last season. If that wasn’t enough Folingo was a big part of the third goal as well.
Here is another angle on the Wennberg goal, Foligno definitely gets pushed but isn't in a hurry to get out of the way. 3-1 #CBJ pic.twitter.com/hXmIdRUEFk
— Buckeye State Hockey (@BuckeyeStHockey) December 30, 2016
Foligno gets pushed into the net, so it was not considered goalie interference. Foligno was given the primary assist on the goal. The three point game is Foligno’s third multi-point game in his last four. He has two goals and six assists over that span. The three point game is his fourth this season putting him among some of the game’s best.
Wennberg was not finished there. He scored the Jackets fourth goal, also on the power play.
Here is another angle on the Wennberg goal. He has so much room he may end up setting up shop in Manitoba. 4-1. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/7x24PXpMkt
— Buckeye State Hockey (@BuckeyeStHockey) December 30, 2016
That was Wennberg’s first multi-goal game of his career. He now has eight goals on the season, pretty good for a guy who doesn’t shoot.
Stat of the Night
Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.
You can follow me on Twitter @PaulBerthelot