Post Battle #80: Comeback kids (Blue Jackets)

Blue Jackets

Post Battle #80: Comeback kids

By Paul Berthelot

Apr 4, 2018 • 9:03 am

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Final Score: Blue Jackets 5 – Red Wings 4

Game Summary

On one hand it’s really not great to be falling behind all these poor teams early. On the other hand it makes for really exciting hockey. With many of the Jackets players battling an illness they fell behind Detroit 3-1 after one and 4-1 early in the second. The team wasn’t playing poorly by any means they had a 62.96% Corsi in the opening frame; they just could not get a save. Sergei Bobrovsky was one of those players who were sick and he was not his usual self.

The Jackets got themselves on the board early with a power play goal from Cam Atkinson.

The Jackets had some really good puck movement and it results in Atkinson alone at the side of the net. Picking up the assists on this goal was Seth Jones and Artemi Panarin. Panarin with the assist tied Ray Whitney for the most assists in franchise history with 52.

Atkinson was not done there he got the Jackets comeback started in the second period. His second goal of the game.

It was also the Jackets second power play goal of the game. The Jackets PP has been much better of late and that bodes well for them going forward. Atkinson now has 10 goals in his last 10 games, he has been incredible for the Jackets down the stretch. Getting another assist on that goal was Panarin, passing Whitney, and tying Rick Nash for most points in a season.

For a while there it felt like two goals were all the Jackets were going to get. They hit four posts in this game, each one becoming more and more frustrating. There was also a scary moment in the period in which Zach Werenski blocked a shot with his back. He left the bench, but did return to the game. It was a good thing he did as he was a critical part of the Jackets third goal.

Werenski takes the initial shot and squeaks through the goalie into the crease, Sonny Milano is right there and bangs it home, pulling the Jackets within one. The Jackets were doing everything they could to tie it and caught a break getting a late power play with 2:37 left to play. On that power play, it was Panarin once again scoring a big goal, tying the game and surpassing Nash for the most points in a season in franchise history.

Panarin has been everything the Jackets could have wanted and more. He’s the most skilled player this franchise has ever had. We’ve seen him score goals like this so many times, the way he just carves through the opposition like it’s nothing. Game after game Panarin comes through and is the offensive catalyst for this team. He’s had a remarkable season and still has two games to go.

If that goal wasn’t exciting enough, how about this OT winner from Pierre-Luc Dubois, just to cap off the whole night.

What a game is right. The resiliency this team is showing is remarkable. Down early they keep pressing and come away with another massive two points. The team has 96 points, tied with Pittsburgh but because of tie breakers they have not officially clinched a spot yet. The Jackets need just a single point in one of their next two games to officially clinch a spot. They have a chance to do it on Thursday against those Pittsburgh Penguins.

Stat of the Night

Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.

You can follow me on Twitter @PaulBerthelot

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