Sergei Bobrovsky has been at the forefront of every game during the Blue Jackets now seven-game winning streak, and that was the case even more so than normal last night against the Red Wings.
In a league where there are 5-6 goals scored per game on average, Jimmy Howard was tremendous and Bobrovsky still found a way to out-duel him en route to a 1-0 shootout win.
10 takeaways:
1. The Blue Jackets have played some good hockey in stretches during this winning streak and have scored timely goals, but Bobrovsky has been the key factor in all of this. He's more or less locked teams down and given the Jackets a chance every night regardless of how many shots they give up (34.3 on average). In the last seven starts Bobrovsky has allowed just 12 goals (1.7 per game) and stopped 230-242 for a ridiculous .950SV%.
2. Sticking with Bobrovsky, he's now up to a .923SV% on the year and has some of the best numbers you'll see despite playing on a team that's still under .500 and has been hit with injuries more than anyone else. He's making a good case to get paid.
3. I give Jack Johnson a hard time every now and then, but I have to give credit where it is due: he was good last night. He logged almost 24 minutes of ice and had three hits, three shots and a few nice defensive breakups to go with it. On one play the back door was wide open and he stretched out to get a stick on it and Columbus garnered a 2-on-1 the other way out of it. Columbus also generated 60% of the shot attempts when he was on the ice at even-strength despite going up against tough competition.
4. Columbus keeps winning so it's not a big issue right now, but they need Ryan Johansen to step up offensively. He has just four points in his last 11 games and has really quieted down after opening the season on a 10-game point streak.
5. Jeremy Morin played a little less than 13 minutes but I felt he was very good in his debut with the Jackets. He had a couple shots, four hits and created a few good chances for his linemates; including a gorgeous pass coming from behind the net to Nick Foligno in front. Morin also gained Detroit's line with control of the puck regularly, and overall played a strong 200-foot game.
6. Nick Foligno's value must be going up by the game. Not only is he averaging almost a point per game and leading the team in hits (GMs drool over physical players who can play) but now he's showing good versatility centering a line and actually doing well in that role. In a weak free agent class I'm sure a 27-year-old who is physical, can score, play in all situations and can be used at center or on the wing will attract quite a few suitors if he reaches the open market.
7. I thought Cam Atkinson played some great hockey last night. He didn't score, obviously, but he was a threat almost every shift and he used his speed to create several scoring chances. He also showed great hands and patience stepping around a defender and out-waiting Jimmy Howard before sliding the puck over to James Wisniewski for what would have been the game-winner if he converted. Atkinson was also a 67% possession player, which was 2nd on the team.
8. Normally out-hitting a team by a wide margin isn't a good thing, as it likely means you rarely have the puck, but it was pretty even in that regard last night and the Jackets had 22 more hits than the Wings. They finished their checks every chance they had, and everyone on the team (Atkinson aside) had at least a hit. Columbus is getting back to the team we saw last year.
9. Fedor Tyutin was thrown right into the fire in his first game back from injury. He played over 20 minutes and had four hits and three blocks in the process. There were a couple shifts where he was hemmed in his own zone pretty good, though.
10. The good news for Columbus: they continue passing teams in the standings and are closing the gap for a playoff spot. The bad news: they're still six points out of both 3rd in the Metro and the 2nd Wild Card. They need to keep winning, especially against Eastern Conference opponents.
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