A Halloween shootout had the Columbus Blue Jackets defeat the New Jersey Devils by the final score of 4-3. This improves the Blue Jackets record to 5-3-0 for the season.
The Blue Jackets were led by their top line carrying the offense through the power play and making highlight goals on the Devils’ third string goaltender.
The scoring was commenced by the Devils’ duo of Andres Johnson and Jesper Bratt, with a one time pass that came from behind the net and over Korpisalo’s shoulder for the ex-Leafs’ fourth goal of the season. PK Subban had the secondary assist.
With continuous passing on the power play, Jake Voracek and Patrik Laine found Oliver Bjorkstrand in the high slot, where he one timed the puck over Korpisalo for his fourth goal of the season.
Patty Laine and Voracek continued their efforts with a blue line to blue line. Voracek slowed the play down for Laine to open, and he roofed the puck over Wedgewood’s shoulder, and the puck went in and out toward the Devils bench.
Devils’ rookie Dawson Mercer completed a wrap-around off a setup play from the point to behind the net, and beat Korpisalo for his third of the year.
Dougie Hamilton slapped the puck over Korpisalo’s shoulder for his 2nd of the season. His shot was a one timer that came from Nico Hischer from behind the net.
Captain Boone Jenner recovered the puck from a turnover that was caused by the Devils defense, and beat Wedgewood over the shoulder for his leading 5th goal of the goal.
In the shootout, the lone goal came from Jakub Voracek, who beat Wedgewood off a backhand shot over his glove.
Joonas Korpisalo was on fire this game, stopping 36 of 39 shots faced in 65 minutes of game play, plus not allowing a goal in the shootout. He was rocking a 0.923 save percentage 92.3%.
Scott Wedgewood was in for the Devils to give Jonathan Bernier a break as Mackenzie Blackwood is out with an injury. Wedgewood stopped 23 of 26 shots faced for a 0.885 save percentage.
For the players to watch, Dougie Hamilton for the Devils was everywhere on the ice. The former Bruins first rounder skated 26:35 on the ice, while blocking 4 shots and allowing a giveaway. He had one goal on 10 shots toward Korpisalo, and was a +2.
With Columbus, my eyes were on Cole Sillinger as his deadline is nearing for the coaching staff to decide on his future for the 2021-2022 season, and if they burn his first year of entry level. Sillinger played just 10:29 and was a 37.5% in the faceoff dot. The youngest kid allowed a giveaway, but registered two shots on Wedgewood.
CBJ 3 Stars of the Game
1. Jakub Voracek— Shootout winner, 2 assists (6)
2. Joonas Korpisalo — SOW, 36 SV on 39SA; 92.3 SV%
3. Patrik Laine— goal (3), assist (5)
October was full of surprises within the hockey world, and one of them is the strong start in Columbus. Many expected this team to not compete with the new head coach, and the star power and transactions within the Metro Division, but they are remaining steady with the youngest roster in the NHL.
The leading goal scorer for Columbus has been their captain, Boone Jenner, with 5 goals in 8 games. 3 of the 5 are also on the power play.
Jakub Voracek leads the team in assists with 7 through the 8 games played; 5 of them are from the power play.
Leading in points is Oliver Bjorkstrand with 10 through the 8; 4 goals with 6 assists. 4 of the points came on the power play.
As for the defensemen, Zach Werenski leads with 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points in 8 games.
Both Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo have built the fortress in the crease for Columbus as both have over a 0.910 save percentage to start October strong. Korpisalo has been given only road games, where is 1-2-0 with a 0.913 save percentage. Elvis has played at home, and one road game which he lost. Merzlikins is 4-1-0 with an extremely solid 0.939 save percentage with a 1.98 GAA in his games so far.
The guy that has surprised the most, not only for his resilience and returns, has been forward Max Domi. Domi currently is out with his third a sense from the team due to COVID-19, but has been dealing with rib injuries since the summer. After coming over for Josh Anderson in the 2020 draft, he has had a strong to the season with 4 points in 3 games (1 goal, 3 assists). With his type one diabetes, my prayers for a speedy recovery are with him as he has becoming a middle six force to start the year. He can play up and down the lineup, and with the rumors all summer, it could pick up once again for him.
The one roster player that is the most concerning has been Gustav Nyqvist, who has only played in 8 games since November of 2019. Thus far, he has one goal. It’s been really quiet for him, and worry is if age and time away is catching up with the Swedish winger, even though he is being highly touted to join the Olympic roster come February. He’s been the steady veteran with the kids in Cole Sillinger and Yegor Chinakov and Alexandre Texier, but he’s more known to be a scorer, and maybe a change has to come for his offense.
This past weekend, I was one of the thousands who was in attendance in Hershey, PA for the Bears-Monsters game on Saturday night at the Giant Center. The final score the game was 2-1 in a shootout. The regulation goal for the Monsters came in the first period from center prospect Liam Foudy, earning his second goal of the year. Forwards Brendan Gaunce and Tyler Angle had the assists. As for Hershey, the goal came from a wicked slap shot from defenseman Cody Franson for his first as a Bear. The shootout winner came in the 8th round from winger Kevin Stenlund.
Justin Danforth and Kevin Stenlund didn’t look like they belonged with how noticeable and dominant they were with the game. Makes sense how they struggled with cracking the main roster how the depth of forwards Columbus has. Jean-Francois Berube was their top defender though, stopping 34 shots faced and all 8 in the shootout for a stellar night. The biggest worry on the Monsters game was how sloppy they were throughout, especially in the early parts of the periods. Could become a problem near the end of the season if it is not adjusted or improved.
In the prospect world:
After a highlight reel wrist shot from outside the faceoff dot, top prospect Kent Johnson has 4 goals and 6 helpers for 10 points in 8 games played with the Michigan Wolverine dream team there. Other fellow first rounder Carson Culeumans has only one point in 8 games with Wisconsin.
Kirill Marchenkov in the KHL has 14 points in 23 games so far, 9 goals and 15 assists. As I said in the summer, my only question for him was if he could jump over to the states and play on North American ice, which was why he was undervalued in the summer ranking done.
Eric Hjorth has 5 points in 10 games with his Finnish league affiliate team. Getting the competition against pros is a plus for his development, plus he has the experience from Sarina in the North American ice.
James Malatesta has 10 points in 12 games with the Quebec Ramparts, proving to be a late round gem from the draft. Though, feisty as he was this past summer, he is a finisher and could be a fast track player to the pro level.
Another draft find doing well in October has been Marcus Karlberg, coming from the 2018 draft. So far, the Swedish forward has 14 points in 10 games with a plus +7 rating.
Samuel Knazko, the 3rd rounder from 2020, is pointless with the men in Finland, but has 12 points in 15 games with the kids at or under 20. At his age, he is a standout back home, and he has the time to continue with the men.
Stanislav Svozil has 6 assists in 11 games with Conor Bedard and the Regina Pats. The defensive steal of the 2021, Kekalainen knows how to scout and find prospects.
With the Monsters, the leading point scorer is Tyler Angle with 8 assists in 8 games, Jake Christiansen is right behind, as a defenseman, with 7 points. JF Berube is 3-0-2 with a 0.949 save percentage and a crazy 1.68 GAA. His stats are out of this world impressive to start the year, and why this team is doing so well to start the season.
CBJ 3 Stars of October
1. Elvis Merzlikins: 4-1-0, 93.9 SV%, 1.98GAA
2. Boone Jenner— 5G in 8GO
3. Zach Werenski— 6P in 8GP, 26:24 Avg TOI, +1
Thoughts on last night game and their first month of the season?