Final Score: Blues 2 – Blue Jackets 1
Game Summary
It finally happened for the first time in close to three weeks the Blue Jackets lost a game. They played really well and certainly did not deserve to lose this game. The outshot the Blues 34-28, and at 5 on 5 had a 56.99% Corsi.
Jake Allen stole this game for the Blues. He was incredible stopping 33 of 34 shots, including 3-for-3 on the power play and a shorthanded shot. His best save came early in the game when he absolutely robbed Markus Nutivaara of what looked like a sure goal.
MY GOODNESS!!!! #stlblues pic.twitter.com/GZcQSvMgjG
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) March 24, 2018
Nutivaara has been playing really well of late, but tonight was not his night. He finished as the Jackets worst defencemen in Corsi at 39.13%. He got robbed of a goal, and then was on the ice for the Blues first goal.
This whole game had a weird sort of vibe to it. The Blues scored three minutes in. The Jackets thought they tied it a few minutes later on a goal by Cam Atkinson, but upon review it was determined that the puck was kicked in. The game really seemed to lack that intensity and excitement we have to expect from a Blue Jackets game, during this streak. The Blues deserve a ton of credit for that, they were on the second half of a back-to-back and wanted to keep the pace of this game slow. Their defence group did a really good job at slowing down the Blue Jackets forwards.
The Jackets were only able to solve Allen once. Cam Atkinson made up for his earlier disallowed goal by scoring one that counts.
Allen never had a chance on this seeing eye shot. Sheesh.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/pyUIiDxmLO
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 25, 2018
It’s not the best shot but when a goalie is playing as well as Allen was, you need these breaks. There are a lot of bodies between Atkinson and Allen, Atkinson gets the shot through, Allen can’t see it and it’s in the net.
The loss ends the streak at 10. The Jackets need to regroup and get ready for their Western Canada road trip. They have moved up in the standings but until that playoff spot in clinched they need to keep winning. They take on the Oilers on Tuesday.
Stat of the Night
No goal earlier due to a distinct kicking motion, @CamAtkinson13 makes good on this one to cut the Blues lead to 2-1 with 5:28 left in the 2nd. It's his 19th of the campaign and stretches his point streak to 4 games (3-2-5). #CBJ
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) March 25, 2018
Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.
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