Final Score: Blue Jackets 5 – Flames 1
Game Summary
This was one of the Jackets best efforts, but they found a way to win. Calgary controlled the game with a 63.81% at 5 on 5. They held the Jackets to 28 shots, including just a five shot second period. The Jackets though were able to come away with the win thanks to some stellar goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky and some timely scoring from Pierre-Luc Dubois. Dubois had himself a night. He scored his first career hat-trick, and in the process surpassed Rick Nash for most goals by a rookie in franchise history.
ðŸž ðŸ‘±â™‚ï¸ 9ï¸âƒ£ to PLD. Artistry on ice.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/ZU2aO73W9i
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 30, 2018
Dubois via Panarin and Atkinson. They can't be stopped right now.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/SE0XmusUY6
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 30, 2018
🎩🎩🎩#CBJ pic.twitter.com/dRiduAWRHs
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 30, 2018
A really underrated part of Dubois’ game is how well he shoots the puck. I think we forget the goal scoring ability he has. He scored 42 in the QMJHL his draft season. He might not be the elite sniper that Rick Nash was, but this is player that looks like he could be a 25-30 goal scorer at his peak.
Around those goals it was the Jackets Finnish players making noise. First it was Markus Hannikainen. He was inserted onto the fourth line for this road trip and is making the most of the opportunity. His third goal of the season opened the scoring.
Markus Hannikainen with a great goal but the seeing-eye pass from Matt Calvert deserves a mention as well. Fantastic start.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/g094NBmKoV
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 30, 2018
The fourth line played really well in this one. In a game which the Jackets didn’t have the puck much, the fourth line did and were rewarded with that goal. They played so well John Tortorella sent them out at the end of the game on the power play. I thought that was a nice gesture by the head coach.
Fresh off of signing a new four year deal Markus Nutivaara made his presence felt immediately. He scored the Jackets fourth goal. Set up by a very nice pass by Thomas Vanek.
The Finnish Fortress solidifies the Blue Jackets lead. Vanek is masterful with his passing here.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/mB7LheHtw8
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 30, 2018
Nutivaara is blossoming into a very solid defencemen for the Blue Jackets. He’s much more aggressive offensively and is growing into another rover. Teams have such a problem defending the Jackets as any one of the five players on the ice could jump up join the rush. Nutivaara has the speed and the offensive instincts to make these type of plays like we’ve seen here.
Stat of the Night
#CBJ have recorded 4 hat tricks in the past 5 road games. They are the 1st team to accomplish that feat since the Penguins who had four in four road games from Nov. 18 to Dec. 5, 1991. (Stat courtesy @EliasSports).
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) March 30, 2018
Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.
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