Final Score: Blue Jackets 2 – Devils 0
Game Summary
That game had to be one of the least exciting games of the season; there is no other way to put it. There were plenty of shots with the Devils outshooting the Jackets 33-25 but half of those shots came in the first period when the Devils put up 16. After that there were long stretches where neither team were getting shots including about six minutes in the third period. On top of that when the teams were getting shots, they were low probability shots from long range. Each team had only 11 high danger chances at 5 on 5.
The star of the game was once again Sergei Bobrovsky. Bobrovsky picked up his third consecutive shutout and sixth on the season. Those six are a new career high for the netminder. He wasn’t busy outside of that first frame but right away you could tell he was in the zone.
Hardly a member’s bounce, but Sergei Bobrovsky is there to deny Adam Henrique. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/Z1GyYG4BaD
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 8, 2017
This puck takes a crazy bounce and ends up right in the slot on Adam Henrique’s stick. Bob reacts quickly and makes a great save.
16 saves for Bob in a “meh… first period for the Blue Jackets - two pretty good ones right here. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/8ClU7ciYU7
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 8, 2017
The Devils having just seen what Bobrovsky can do first hand last game, did everything they could to try and throw him off his game. They were bumping into him, jabbing at him after the whistle, and even putting shots up high around his mask.
Bob’s got his head in the game. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/yxs0e4vP19
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 8, 2017
None of it was able to rattle Bobrovsky, who was perfect once again.
Bobrovsky needed to be perfect as there was no goal scoring through two periods. In the third the Jackets finally managed to get one past Keith Kinkiad and it came from whom else but Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Oliver Bjorkstrand doesn't miss from there. Absolute game changing player. 1-0 Jackets. pic.twitter.com/W8j9m6xBl2
— Buckeye State Hockey (@BuckeyeStHockey) March 8, 2017
Seems like every game this is a common theme. Bjorkstrand is right in the middle of the offense making things happen. This is just another great example of him seeing a soft spot in coverage and getting an excellent opportunity out of it. He seems to have developed some good chemistry with Sam Gagner who makes an incredible pass here to make this whole thing happen.
This shows how well Gagner did below the goal line. Takes patience and vision to threat the needle here. They make it look damn easy. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/GaK5Q6dEos
— SB (@Sam_Blazer) March 8, 2017
Cam Atkinson scored an empty netter to seal the game. It was his 30th goal of the season, the first time in his career he has reached that milestone. He becomes the 7th player in franchise history to score 30 in a season.
T.J. Tynan made his NHL debut for the Jackets in the game. He’s been the best player on the Monsters this season and was an integral part to them winning the Calder Cup last season. He’s a small player at 5’8 but he didn’t look out of place in his 7:39 minutes of ice time. He played alongside Lauri Korpikoski and William Karlsson. Tynan made some good plays including a great pass in the first to set up Korpikoski for what should have been a tap it, but he just missed it. Tynan was up due to the injury to Josh Anderson, and since the Jackets are off now until Friday, Tynan has been sent back down to the Monsters.
Stat of the Night
#CBJ win 2-0. 3rd-straight shutout for Sergei Bobrovsky. Ties club record with 3rd-straight shutout by a player (Mason: Dec. 27-31, 2008).
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) March 8, 2017
Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.
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