Final Score: Blue Jackets 3 – Panthers 2
Game Summary
No need for defenders in this game. Each team seemed pretty content to just trade shot after shot, chance after chance. The Jackets put up 48 shots, Florida 44. This was the highest total the Jackets have got in a game and one off of the highest they have allowed. Each team was throwing everything they had on net. Sergei Bobrovsky and James Reimer deserve a ton of praise, they were both spectacular and turned what could have easily been a 6-5 game into a tight goaltending battle.
Bob, just showing off at this point. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/rNndovPQ0w
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 7, 2018
With the way these goalies were playing at 5 on 5 it was up to the power play to put the puck in the net. The Jackets got the first power play goal, scored by Nick Foligno.
Right place, right time for Foligno.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 7, 2018
First goal in 11 games for the captain. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/vT1J6J7S3X
As the tweet says this was the first goal in 11 games for Foligno. It was also just his second power play goal. Foligno has seen his power play time decrease significantly this season. Last season he average 2:41 on the PP a game, the most among forwards. This season he's down to 2:24 a game, and the fourth used forward. In Foligno’s two big seasons with the Jackets he was big time power play producer. Last season he had 21 power play points and in 2014-15 he had 26. Foligno is one of many veterans not performing up to expectations this season and the dreadful Blue Jackets power play is one of the reasons why.
The power play was good in this game though. They got that power play goal from Foligno, and added a second one in the second period, this time from Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Leaving PLD wide open on the doorstep = not wise.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/sUjtY0sZ4j
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 7, 2018
Dubois has to be the team’s unsung hero. He hasn’t put up big offensive numbers but he's chipped in nine goals and 21 points. He’s stepped up as the number one centre and been a two-way force at 5 on 5.
Florida answered in the second period with a power play goal of their own. Down a goal in the third, Florida starting throwing everything on net. They had 21 shots through two periods and then put up 18 in the third. Bobrovsky was strong in net, but Florida was able to tie it, with the goalie pulled. It was a fortunate bounce for the Panthers. The puck deflected on of Foligno’s skate and right to Alexander Barkov. It was a lucky break, but you create those breaks for yourselves when you put that many shots on net.
The goalies were solid in overtime and the game had to be settled in the shootout. In the shootout it was Josh Anderson on his first career attempt winning it for the Jackets in the eighth round.
Josh Anderson, folks.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 8, 2018
Absolutely filthy. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/ZmanTmoWUW
Stat of the Night
The #CBJ fourth line had a good night, led the team in shot attempts +/-. Jordan Schroeder (+9) in particular drew my notice tonight. pic.twitter.com/p8k2BDW65H
— Alison (@AlisonL) January 8, 2018
Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.
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