Final Score: Wild 4 – Blue Jackets 2
Game Summary
The Wild are a very good team but they don’t play the most exciting brand of hockey. The Jackets were not able to up the pace and play like they want to. It costs them as they lost to the Wild 4-2.
Anton Forsberg received the start and was quite good. He stopped 29 of 31 shots for a .935 sv%. He made some big saves which helped keep the Jackets hopes alive. Neither goal was his fault, just a couple of nice plays by Minnesota. I thinks he's earned the next start in Carolina with Joonas Korpisalo getting the second half of the back to back on Saturday.
The Jackets rolled out some new defensive pairs this game and I thought it worked really well. Ryan Murray and David Savard were the top pair both receiving the most ice time. They were the top pair by performance as well, Savard had a 58.3% Corsi and Murray had a 59.52%. Jack Johnson had his ice time cut down considerably as he played 22:08. He was down almost three minutes from his season average of 25:17. Johnson was very effective in the reduced role with a Corsi of 50.98%. Anytime Johnson is at or around 50% it’s a big win for the club.
Cody Goloubef returned and made his impact felt. He was the key to the Jackets scoring their first goal. He made a real nice play to hold the puck in the zone and the found Scott Hartnell who found Cam Atkinson. He was also good from a possession standout, controlling 52.78% of the play.
Nick Foligno scored a late goal to keep the game close. He's quietly been a roll. He's up to six goals on the season and his shooting percentage has risen up to 6.6%. He's on pace for 49 points, which is right around what we would expect from him.
Mikko Koivu took a big hit in the first period from Savard and was forced to leave the game. He was taken to hospital during the game. He has now been released. Wishing Mikko all the best, never want to see player hurt like that.
On a lighter note the Jackets and Wild at the end of the game scored two goals, two seconds apart, tying the NHL record. In a season that’s been all too forgettable that is something to get your name in the record books.
Stat of the Night
Stats courtesy of HockeyStats.ca and War On Ice.
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