Final Score: Islanders 4 – Blue Jackets 3
Game Summary
The Islanders reached three goals before the Jackets managed three shots, and that pretty well did the Jackets in. The Jackets did make it close tying the game in the third, and made a late push pulling the goalie on the power play. None of it though was enough to overcome the awful start, as the Islanders won 4-3.
The Jackets scored on their first shot, a snipe by Brandon Dubinsky. He was reunited with Cam Atkinson and Boone Jenner and it paid dividends right away with that goal. Boone blocked a shot, got the puck out and sprung Dubi and Cam on a two on one. Dubi looked off Cam and beat Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss.
Boone blocks, Dubi does.
— NHL Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 31, 2016
(we know the score is tied now, thx) #CBJ pic.twitter.com/KJ6zMLJ3uy
Brandon Saad scored the Jackets second goal. It was a rather weak goal. Saad walked in one versus two, he lopped it on net, it handcuffed Greiss and went in.
WHOOPS pic.twitter.com/gGj4dDxZxl
— NHL Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 1, 2016
Not the best goal Saad will ever score but he will take it. It ended a 10 game goalless drought and was Saad’s first power play goal since November. It’s pretty remarkable having not scored on the power play for this long, that he is third on the team in PP goals.
That Cam-Dubi-Boone line was at it again in the third. Boone tied the game just 37 seconds into the period. Cam made a great play behind the net and Boone was right where he always is on the doorstep.
fish bowl booneeeee pic.twitter.com/C3cPfk2SV8
— NHL Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 1, 2016
Sonny Milano looked good in his debut. It doesn’t take long to notice the speed he has. This seems to be a trend among the young Jackets, they can all fly. The Jackets are really starting to develop into a team that has both speed and size. Sonny excels with the puck on his stick. He made some solid rushes and set up a couple nice chances. He played 13:26, and did not receive any special team’s time. He had one shot and was fourth on the team with a 62.5% Corsi.
Sonny wasn’t the only young guy to play well. As you can see below in the Stat of the Night, both Oliver Bjorkstrand and Dean Kukan had strong possession games.
Stat of the Night
Stats courtesy of HockeyStats.ca, War On Ice, and Hockey Reference.
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