Final Score: Wild - 5 Blue Jackets - 2
Game Summary
It might be a good thing they are not broadcasting pre-season games as this one sounded ugly.
I really don't want to make this a thing, since it's pre-season but the team was outshot again. It wasn’t as bad as the first three games but that was because the Jackets fell behind and score effects took over in the third. Through two periods when the game was close the Jackets were outshot 22-14. This game there was a genuine reason for the team being outshot, they were on the PK early and often.
It all started when a minute into the game Clarkson was given a major and game misconduct for kneeing. Rene Bourque followed that up with a slashing penalty and a fight. Minnesota scored on both of those power plays and never looked back.
On the ice time front Jack Johnson led the way with 26:49. Among the forwards Oliver Bjorkstrand was the leader with 18:48, however don’t read too much into that as the team had to play down a RW with Clarkson getting the misconduct. Kerby Rychel saw just 12:58 this game but still managed to take a team high six shots including five of the team’s first 14. With that performance he moves ahead of Milano for me in the competition for a spot on the third line.
Back to Clarkson, I haven’t seen the hit but the league has said they want to take a look at it so it must have been pretty bad. Clarkson has had two prior suspensions, one of which also happened in the pre-season, when he infamously came off the bench to defend Phil Kessel. I expect at least a game is coming for Clarkson.
So what does it mean for the team? If a suspension does happen it opens up another spot for one of the “big three… prospects. I’d expect Bjorkstrand and Rychel to make the opening night roster should Clarkson miss time. Both guys thus far have earned it with their pre-season play, and they are both further along in their development compared to Milano. Milano could spend the entirety of next season in the AHL and the Jackets could slide his entry level contract. That pushes restricted free agency back a year giving the team longer control of Milano when he will be closer to his peak. It also saves the team money in the short term not having to pay any potential bonus money to Sonny.
Stat of the Night
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