With a lighter schedule this week i kept my tongue held on yesterday until the Erik Gudbranson news came out in a legit quick hit before taking today for a full blog, recap the game in Hershey and Columbus; health updates and rumors; and what this week looks like. This will also serve as my piece for tomorrow before the next game preview.

On Erik Gudbranson

What a ridiculous result and decision by the league to go after the victim of a viscous hit from behind. The player policed the player for his action.

The league ruled the boarding hit from behind a minor after the referees called it a major penalty on the ice. Gudbranson was laid out on the ice and bleeding. A visible injury in a player’s first game back from a previous absence.

Instead, he sends the message to not be messed with and ends up with 27 penalty minutes for warning the officials an action was about to happen.

Cousins hit Gubdranson from behind. That’s boarding. He did not let up on the play.

Gubdranson should have gone back to get the repairs and stitches on his nose. Maybe come back with a cage. Get him next time in April.

No. He had to get his pound of flesh to not let the fight carry over. Smart move by Gudsy. Cousins turned into a coward when he came face forward in an altercation. Gutless. Don’t throw a hit you can’t take.

Getting hit in the boards hurts. Playing against Quebec teams and Pennsylvania middle and high schools teams, I gave and took a few hits and had my share of penalties. I owned my mistakes.

April 11 is now the game of the season.

Cannot wait to see 44 back on the ice soon.

CBJ PG30 v Florida — Gudsy v Cousins

Aside covering the main part already, the Florida Panthers’ held strong as a third period team defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets by the final score of 5-2.

Period I

Gustav Forsling opened the scoring just a minute into the game from Sasha Barkov and Sam Reinhart for goal number three of the season.

Yegor Chinakov tied the game at one for his sixth of the year from Kirill Marchenko and Erik Gubdranson.

Carter Verhaeghe got the go ahead goal less than 30 seconds after Chinny’s goal for Verhaeghe’s 13th of the season. Reinhart and Forsling had the helpers.

Period II

No goals were scored. Stinger had the highlight intermission scrimmage goal in mascot madness .

Period III

The hit happened. The retaliation happened. Seven minute power play. Four goals scored in the final seven minutes including the Jumbotron outage.

At the end of the Gudbranson seven minute penalty kill, Barkov buried the power play game winner in front of Greaves for his 10th of the year from Sam Bennett and Reinhart.

Dmitri Voronkov got a garbage rebound goal on a 6 v 5 for his sixth of his career from Patrik Laine in his first game back from illness and Zach Werenski.

Matthew Tkachuk had the first empty net goal for his fifth of the season from Nikko Mikkola.

Eetu Lustorainen got the other empty netter for his fourth of the season from Barkov and Reinhart.

Goalies

Anthony Stolarz had 17 saves on 19 shots faced for a 0.895 save percentage.

Jet Greaves had 30 saves on 33 shots for a 0.909 save percentage. Was not his fault.

Players to Watch

Aaron Ekblad had a minor penalty; was a plus +2 in 18:40TOI.

Johnny Gaudreau was a -3 in 15:30TOI. His season has been a total 180 to his best Calgary years.


CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAMES

1. Dmitri Voronkov — goal (6)

2. Yegor Chinakov — goal (6)

3. Erik Gudbranson — assist (8), 2 blocks, 29 penalty minutes

Cleveland @ Hershey Shutout

What a touching night. Despite the 6-0 domination, a great American game for the military heroes in ChocolateTown for Hershey and Cleveland.

With all the injured on Columbus, the team was not the same.

Corson Ceulemans was loose.

TFW had some looks.

Daniil Tarasov looked pretty good. Huge presence and healthy. His laterals were solid. His butterfly was active the last 25 minutes.

Pavel Cajan stunk. 5 goals on 16 shots. 3 powerplay goals and two breakaways. Tough night. No gas in the tank.

Trade Rumors

On Spencer Martin

With Tarasov back and healthy, Edmonton should be asking.

On Elvis Merzlikins

For Campbell?

On Adam Boqvist

Silence but a rebuilding team might look. Still available

On Jake Bean

Still available … maybe Edmonton ?

On Andrew Peeke

Vancouver has sniffed around…

On Jack Roslovic

Only rental worth anything, imagine salary retention…

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