It’s Monday and no hockey in the Buckeye State capital today, as their next scheduled game is across the Canadian border. We will wrap up the weekend games in the nation’s capital and the return home prior to previewing the next tilt.
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CBJ P22– Russian Machine
The Blue Jackets were unable to withstand the Great 8, extending their losing streak to 4 games in a 3-1 defeat over their Metropolitan foes in the nation’s capital.
Aliaksei Protas opened the scoring with his second career goal. The hulking prospect has been a force in the games I’ve scoured with him in Hershey, and seeing the transition is coming as a quicker surprise than anticipated but the kid has got Russian friends in Orlov, Kuznetsov, Samsonov, and Ovechkin on the team to help the transition. On Protas’ goal, Justin Schultz got the lone assist.
Ovechkin extended the lead with his milestone 750th career goal, for his 20th of the season. John Carlsson got the assist,
The shutout ended when Justin Danforth received a two line pass from Zach Werenski, sped to the net, and found Eric Robinson in front to bury the biscuit for his third goal of the season.
The final goal came from Garnet Hathaway on an empty net for his 7th of the campaign.
Ilya Samsonov stopped 17 of 18 shots for a 0.944 save percentage; Daniil Tarasov stopped 29 of 31 for a 0.935 save percentage.
CBJ Three Stars of the Game
1. Eric Robinson— goal (3)
2. Daniil Tarasov— 2GA on 31SA, 0.935SV%
3. Justin Danforth— assist (1)
This puts the Caps up in the season series with a 2-0 lead, with the goal scoring at 7-4 for Washington. Their next matchup is on St. Patrick’s Day 2022 at Nationwide Arena.
Alex Ovechkin continues to score his milestones on the Union Blue, having 20 of his career goals against them.
This was Danforth’s first career assist in the NHL. He has been working in the pros from Europe and the Coast League, as well as a stint with Rochester in the AHL before making it to games with Columbus.
Zach Werenski is now at 16 points on 22 games, for a 0.727 points per game pace as a defenseman, and at his 205th career point in his 357th NHL game played for a 0.574 point per game ratio in his career.
Eric Robinson had his 18th career goal in 142 career games in the NHL, with it being his 3rd in 23 games. For a fourth liner, this is the type of production needed to help when the top guys aren’t scoring, but not when you’re the only one scoring.
In his toe emergency starts due to the sudden illness to Joonas Korpisalo, Russian rookie Daniil Tarasov has stopped 63 of 68 shots for a 0.926 save percentage (92.6%). The young Russian brings a 6 foot 6 inch frame to cover the net, and a calmness as the third goalie for the team going forward, and when it is time to move on from one of Korpi or Merzi.
P23– Clappers
The Columbus Blue Jackets ended their road trip with their losing streak back at home in a duel with the San Jose Sharks, by the final score of 6-4.
Adam Boqvist opened the scoring for the game and the Blue Jackets with a clap shot for his 5th of the season; Justin Danforth got his second assist in his second straight game.
The San Jose Sharks score two goals between the end of the first and beginning of the second periods. Nick Bonino evens the match with 3 seconds left off a tip shot for his 4th of the season, with help veteran line-mates Matt Nieto and Andrew Cogliano. Erik Karlsson netted his 6th marker of the season just 21 seconds into the frame with the assist from Alex Barbanov.
Sean Kuraly evened the game against the team that drafted him for his 4th of the season; Andrew Peeke and Alexandre Texier got the helpers.
Brent Burns clapped it for a 3-2 lead with only his 2nd of the year; Nieto and Timo Meier had the helpers.
Cole Sillinger evened the game at 3 with his 5th career goal that was unassisted. Jack Roslovic got the Blue Jackets ahead after serving the night before as a healthy scratch for his 4th of the year; Max Domi and Peeker had the helpers. The game winner came from Adam Boqvist, in his second of the game and 6th of the year with support from Gabriel Carlsson, getting his second assist after being a scratch the whole road trip, and Jakub Voracek with his 18th apple in 23 games.
The last goal from the Sharks came from Tomas Hertl for his 9th of the year; Jonathan Dahlen and Meier had the helpers.
Alexandre Texier registered the final marker on the scoreboard in the empty net for his 8th goal of the season; former Shark Gus Nyquist and undrafted winger Eric Robinson had the assists.
Adin Hill stopped 24 of 29 for a 0.828 save percentage; Elvis stopped 30 of 34 for a 0.882 save percentage.
CBJ 3 Stars of the Game
1. Adam Boqvist— 2 goals (6)
2. Alexandre Texier— goal (8), assist (4)
3. Cole Sillinger— goal (5)
Game in the 6
Lineups I’m holding off on until tomorrow pending the Jason Spezza suspension.
But… Let’s preview. It’s been a long time since these two teams faced each other. The 2020 playoff bubble, Game 5, in the Scotia bank Arena. That was the last time these teams met. The NHL Playoffs, to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, due to the shortened season with the first wave of COVID-19 around the world.
Additionally, ex-Jackets on waivers today: LD Kevin Connauton (FLA) and C Riley Nash (WPG) for player assignment.
More will come tomorrow…
Thoughts?
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