Final Score: Canadiens 2 – Blue Jackets 5
Game Summary
The Jackets do it again. They went into Montreal and defeated the Habs for a second straight night. Each game decided by identical 5-2 scores. Not only did the Canadiens lose the game but they also may be without Max Pacioretty who took a PK Subban shot to the face and had to leave the game. Hopefully this is not serious and he doesn’t miss anytime.
Speaking of Subban, there is no reason he should have been booed. He is a fantastic player and a fantastic person. He is so fun to watch, and was having a great game. He played 27:03 had two assists and had a 63.41% Corsi. He was not even close to the reason Montreal lost that game. This has got to the low point for the Canadiens.
How much lower can you get after dropping back-to-backs against the NHL's worst team with their 3rd string goalie an no head coach?
— Andrew Berkshire (@AndrewBerkshire) January 27, 2016At this point I think it’s time to stop referring to Joonas Korpisalo as the Blue Jackets third string goalie. On paper sure he's behind Sergei Bobrovsky and Curtis McEhlinney but not in performance. Korpisalo has seven games (including tonight) this season in which he has posted a .930 save percentage or higher. McEhlinney has two such games (three if you count a .929). On the season McEhlinney has an .888 sv% while Korpisalo has a .914. Yes it’s a small sample but considering Korpisalo’s age and success so far he has leapfrogged Mac on the depth chart in my opinion.
For the Jackets it was the same group of player providing the offense. Cam Atkinson picked up right where he left off scoring another goal. He also added an assist, making a nice pass to set up Brandon Dubinsky from behind the net. Dubinsky then returned the favour to Atkinson assisting on his goal.
Boone Jenner scored his 17th goal of the season. That sets a new career high for goals and points.
This was an exciting game to watch but it was not without some controversy. The first was on the Canadiens first goal. Prior to the goal it looked like Lars Eller was offside. Watching it in full speed I agreed. The Blue Jackets challenged the play but it was ruled a good goal. After seeing the reply the right call was made. The puck was over the blue line but Eller tagged up before Devante Smith-Pelly touched it.
The second one was on a flukey play by Brendan Gallagher. Gallagher from basically the corner threw the puck on net; Cody Goloubef knocked the puck down and almost into his own net. Korpisalo was able to kick the puck out before it crossed the line. Or did he? It was very very close. Refs upon review, stuck with the no goal call on the ice. There wasn’t clear enough evidence to overturn the call. Had this been called a goal on the ice I think it would have remained a goal.
#GottaSeeIt: Joonas Korpisalo makes a tremendous pad save to deny Gallagher of a sure goal. https://t.co/8PVzDIHSaT pic.twitter.com/ZOcUH1wewB
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 27, 2016Stat of the Night
Stats courtesy of HockeyStats.ca and War On Ice.
You can follow me on Twitter @PaulBerthelot