Final Score: Predators 4 – Blue Jackets 3
Game Summary
The Jackets up and down January continued with a loss to Nashville. They have gone 6-7-0 in the month with one game remaining. They have been very inconsistent and have been just terrible in the second period, a trend which continued in this game. The Jackets outshot Nashville in the first and third period but were crushed 15-8 in the second. The possession stats were just as bad; despite a 1-0 first period lead the Jackets had just a 42.42% Corsi in the first and an even worse 38.46% in the second. They did better in the third but Nashville sat back as they protected the lead.
Brandon Saad got the Jackets on the board mid-way through the first. His seeing-eye shot went through traffic and beat Pekka Rinne.
Here is an overhead angle of the Saad goal. Get to see more of how the play developed. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/hPptwbhIYz
— Buckeye State Hockey (@BuckeyeStHockey) January 27, 2017
Saad’s 16th of the season would give the Jackets their only lead of the game. That goal ended a scoring drought of seven games. Saad hasn’t been producing much offensively in the New Year; he has just two goals and one assist in 13 games in January. His possession numbers have continued to be excellent but his PDO has dropped to 91.76 due to a 4.26% shooting percentage at 5 on 5. Saad’s in a slump right now but those numbers should rebound and he will start putting up points again soon.
The Jackets fell behind 2-1 in the second and could not recover. Nashville went ahead 3-1 in the third but a pair of goals by defencemen kept the game close for Columbus.
Zach Werenski made it 3-2 on his eighth goal of the season.
Here's Werenski's goal – his 8th of the season – to cut Nashville's lead to one. pic.twitter.com/8J5EpPyN7w
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 27, 2017
Werenski had a two point game, and appears to have broken out of the funk he was in, with three points in his last three games. On this goal it was great to see him take charge and be aggressive. He has the talent to take over games and showed that here.
Ryan Murray scored his first of the season, giving the Jackets life late in the third.
that was conclusive pic.twitter.com/HBbpQg2bHc
— ColumbusBlueJackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) January 27, 2017
Murray hasn’t provided much offense at all this year, but he's been a calming presence on the blue line and his ability to play up and down the line-up in any situation has really given the Jackets flexibility.
I said this at the end of the last Post Battle but it’s worth saying again. The All-Star break is coming at the perfect time. They have lost first place in the league and the division and have the opportunity here with a few days off to regroup. They have a tough stretch out of the break with games against the Rangers and Penguins. They cannot afford to play poorly against these teams. With the how tight and competitive the Metro division is every game is extremely important. The Jackets need to be ready to face the challenge.
Stat of the Night
Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.
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