Final Score: Blue Jackets 4 – Leafs 2
Game Summary
The Jackets needed a rebound game, and while they didn’t play the best, they picked up two points against a solid Maple Leafs team. The Leafs were missing Auston Matthews, and the Jackets were missing Zach Werenski, so each team was down their young star. The Jackets sorely missed their star, they only managed a 42.16% Corsi at 5 on 5, a second straight very poor performance. They managed to get two points, but you have to wonder if the team was looking past this game towards the Pittsburgh game tonight.
Joonas Korpisalo got the start in net, his first since December 1st. He played exceptionally well. He stopped 39 of 41 shots, for a .951 save percentage. The Jackets needed this performance from their net minder. Korpisalo gave the team a chance to win a game in which they didn’t play very well.
The Jackets got goals from up and down their line-up. The fourth line got things going in the first, with Lukas Sedlak scoring his fourth of the season.
Sedlak's fourth goal of the year is a great one. Just what the Blue Jackets needed.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/KqJn365cH5
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 21, 2017
Matt Calvert does a good job along the boards, and makes a real nice centring pass to Sedlak. Jake Gardiner seemed to forget about Sedlak and let him get behind him into the slot. Sedlak spins and fires, beating former Blue Jacket Curtis McElhinney.
Seth Jones, playing without his usual partner Werenski, got the Jackets second goal on a great individual effort.
Jones is a one man wrecking crew. This unassisted goal is an absolute screamer. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/GIUQaioOAk
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 21, 2017
The goal didn’t quite go down as a short-handed goal but it pretty much was. Jones is able to intercept a soft pass by the Leafs power play. He gathers the puck and even after being on the penalty kill he still has enough speed to get down the ice quickly. The 2 on 1 is set up and Jones catches McElhinney leaning and beats him glove side.
The Jackets got their third goal on the power play. Pierre-Luc Dubois was able to finish off the play set up by Cam Atkinson.
Dubois takes a pass from Atkinson as they catch McElhinney leaning the other way. Great power play goal.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/MArTvi3Y6Q
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 21, 2017
The power play was much much better in this game. They had two opportunities, scored on one and finished with nine shots. The puck movement was very good and they were actually getting really good chances. They had Artemi Panarin in the middle and he was getting some real good looks.
Finally Alexander Wennberg and the Jackets second line scored the fourth goal for Columbus. Boone Jenner made a strong play in the neutral zone and sends in Atkinson and Wennberg in on a partial break.
Good things happen when you shoot the puck. Wennberg is the beneficiary of this shot. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/TBkPNhQewj
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 21, 2017
Wennberg in rare fashion opts not to pass. He made the right decision and scored his fourth goal of the season. Wennberg has really picked up his game of late. He now has points in four straight games with two goals and three assists over that span. He may not have found chemistry with Panarin but he seems to have found a home alongside Atkinson on the second line.
Stat of the Night
.@18Dubois notched his first career GWG to help #CBJ improve to 8-2-0 in the last 10 games @NationwideArena. pic.twitter.com/hncZPjp5Om
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) December 21, 2017
Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.
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