Final Score: Sharks 3 – Blue Jackets 1
Game Summary
Much like the game against L.A. the Jackets had their issues controlling the puck. This is a common theme with the California teams. They are fast, physical and will not let the opposition touch the puck. The Jackets again had to rely on their star net-minder Sergei Bobrovsky, and again Bob was rock solid in net. Ultimately the Blue Jackets couldn’t squeak one past Sharks goalie Martin Jones, as they fell 1-0.
Bob has been the saving grace for this team thus far. They have played some very strong western conference teams and Bob has been shutting them down. He made 26 saves on 28 shots for a .929 save percentage. He made some highlight reel saves, but none was bigger than this one on Brent Burns.
bobrovsky forever pic.twitter.com/qf65SlvIOc
— ColumbusBlueJackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 28, 2016
Both goals Bob allowed were on the power play. The first one came off an awful clear from Dalton Prout. Prout had the whole middle of the ice to clear the puck, but decided to rim it along the boards right to where the San Jose players were. They made a quick pass and it was 1-0. The second goal came off a point shot, that was knocked down in front and Tomas Hertl was right there in front of Bobrovsky to put home the puck.
The Sharks had thought they had scored another goal in the third, but John Tortorella challenged for offside and by the slimmest of margins it was called back.
It's close... pic.twitter.com/dxfUMo9Eul
— Erik Kuhre (@Puckguy14) October 28, 2016
The third period was a little longer than usual. At the end of the second period with 2:42 remaining the lights in the SAP Centre in San Jose went out. Rather than wait for the lights to turn back on, they went to intermission and played the rest of the second period at the beginning of the third. They played the 2:42 the horn went then they switched sides for the third. A very weird situation, that didn’t really seem to help or hurt either team.
The Jackets shuffled their lines before game and came up with a new fourth line of Scott Hartnell, Lukas Sedlak and Sam Gagner. Hartnell really stepped up in the game, scoring the only Blue Jackets goal, and had the best chance of the night.
Hartnell puts it home. That may be Lukas Sedlak's first point as a pro as well. 2-1 Sharks. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/8tRL8pduq4
— Buckeye State Hockey (@BuckeyeStHockey) October 28, 2016
Here is Hartnell missing the gaping net after a sharp pass from Gagner. 1-0 Sharks #CBJ pic.twitter.com/5Kaom3L9GM
— Buckeye State Hockey (@BuckeyeStHockey) October 28, 2016
I have no idea how he missed the open net there. Gagner makes a great pass to set Hartnell up with a gift but he couldn’t finish the play off.
Stat of the Night
Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.
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