Final Score: Blue Jackets 3 – Rangers 1
Game Summary
There is just something about the Jackets and playing on Friday the 13th. They came out and just crushed the Rangers. They put up 43 shots, and a 61.62% Corsi at 5 on 5. They held a ridiculous 37-19 edge in scoring chances and a 15-10 advantage in high danger chances including 10 in the third period alone.
Despite the huge territorial advantage this was a very close game. Henrik Lundqvist was in peak King Henrik form stopping 40 of 42 shots. He is the type of goalie who regularly steals games for his and he almost stole this one away from the Jackets. Thankfully for the Jackets their goalie can also steal games and Sergei Bobrovsky continued his torrid start to the season. The Rangers were able to put up 38 shots, but Bob was strong allowing just the one goal. You can’t even fault Bobrovsky on the goal, as Seth Jones turned the puck over at centre ice and allowed Kevin Hayes to walk in uncontested.
Hayes goal. #NYR pic.twitter.com/yQKKI8aPaX
— Dave Shapiro (@BlueSeatBlogs) October 13, 2017
In the first period it looked like it was not going to be the Jackets night. On top of that Jones error they had a goal disallowed for goalie interference. They weren’t getting a ton of great chances in the early part of the game and with the way Lundqvist was playing that one goal looked like it might hold up.
The Jackets though were resilient; they kept their foot on the gas and pumping shots and chances at Lundqvist. Eventually they were rewarded with a fortunate bounce.
Seth Jones ties things up, 1-1, late in the second period on this shot from the point. Setting up for a good third. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/1lx5WnZJ1H
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) October 14, 2017
Jones makes up for his earlier error by getting the goal. His shot hits the defender in front and deflects past Lundqvist. It wasn’t the prettiest goal but when you’re playing a hot goalie like that, you need to get lucky to beat him and the Jackets did.
That goal seemed to spark the team and they went out and just owned the third period. They had a 72.73% Corsi, a 19-3 edge in scoring chances and an incredible 10-0 edge in high danger chances. The Jackets has as many chances and high danger chances in the third that the Rangers had the entire game. They were coming in waves, line after line and the Rangers had no answers outside of Lundqvist.
The Jackets were finally able to get a nice goal past Lundqvist mid-way through the third and it came courtesy of none other than Artemi Panarin.
BREADMAN! #CBJ pic.twitter.com/RjlUo7NktM
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) October 14, 2017
This is what Panarin was brought here to do. He dances through the Rangers defence gets right into the slot and rips one past Lundqvist. He is one of the most fun, exciting, skilled players the Jackets have had in a long time. Last season this team lacked that dynamic scorer, someone who could do just that, singlehandedly go through everyone and score. Panarin’s first as Jacket held up as the game-winner, as the season goes on I expect we will many more just like that.
The Jackets added an empty-netter to take this game 3-1. They don’t have much time to enjoy the win, as they have to fly to Minnesota to get ready for their game tonight against the Wild.
Stat of the Night
Nick Foligno skating in his 700th career NHL game tonight #CBJ
— Alison (@AlisonL) October 13, 2017
Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.
You can follow me on Twitter @PaulBerthelot