Final Score: Capitals 2 – Blue Jackets 1
Game Summary
This was the first real test for the new Tortorella lead Blue Jackets; taking on a tough divisional opponent on the road. And while the team didn’t win I thought they passed the test (although barely).
With Brandon Saad out with an illness and Fedor Tyutin healthy scratched the Blue Jackets held the high flying Capitals to just two goals, and actually outshot the Caps 30-28. This was a much better game all around compared to the New Jersey one where the Jackets had just 14 shots.
This game was reminiscent of the home opener. The Jackets played with (one could argue outplayed) a very good team but unfortunately came out on the losing end. With this game it’s hard to blame anyone for the loss; the team just couldn’t beat Braden Holtby more than once. If you want to blame someone Dalton Prout not being able to keep the puck in the zone ended up being costly. But it’s hard to fault him, the puck was bouncing. If anything blame should be on Torts for having Prout and Kevin Connaunton out against the Alex Ovechkin line.
Bobrovsky was sharp again. He made some very big saves and neither goal was on him. The first one he was screened and was being interfered with unintentionally by his own defencemen. The second one was a 3 on 1 with Ovi, Nick Backstrom and T.J. Oshie. I'm not ready to say the old Bob is back quite yet, but back to back great starts has him headed in the right direction.
Ryan Johansen returned after a two game absence. While he didn’t record a point I thought he looked fine. As they mentioned on broadcast, Joey was out right away battling and being physical, which was a good sign. He wasn’t tentative or rusty from the time off.
Another positive to come from this game was the penalty kill. They held the vaunted Washington power play to no goals and just three shots in two attempts. The defencemen in particular Ryan Murray, did a good job of getting in the lane and blocking Ovi’s shots. I like how Murray has started to get significant PK time under Torts. For whatever reason Todd Richards didn’t play Murray on the PK. The PK is much better when Murray is out there. Granted it has been a limited sample, but Murray has allowed the fewest scoring chances against per 60 minutes when shorthanded among Blue Jacket defencemen.
Stat of the Night
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With tomorrow night being Halloween, I wont be able to do Saturday's Post Battle until Sunday or possibly Monday. I apologize in advance for this inconvenience.
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