Columbus Blue Jackets VS Boston Bruins:Game Summary
By Tyler West
First Period:
Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Bruins came to play. Every Columbus pass was met mere seconds later with a Boston defender. The Bruins’ back checking was on display for the fans. The Columbus offense had little time to think, let alone act. The intensity of the game led to a bit of sloppy play, resulting in only a total of eleven shots on goal. (BOS-7, CBJ-4)
But this ain’t your granddaddy’s Blue Jackets. They weren’t intimidated. The Jackets took Boston’s game and gave them a taste of their own medicine.
Columbus controlled most of the first period, playing the majority of the game in Boston’s zone. When they didn’t have the puck on their stick, the boys in union blue were fore checking, leading to Bruin turnovers and Blue Jacket chances.
The first real scoring chance was a success in result of a Jack Johnson power play goal. After failing to score on the first man advantage, they didn’t make the same mistake twice. Marion Gaborik earned an assist when he passed the puck to James Wisnewski (who also got one) who found an open Johnson. Jack wasted no time on the blast, putting the puck past Tuuka Rask.
End of the first period: CBJ 1, BOS 0
Second period:
Fore and Back Checking began to loosen, play began to open up.
Boston opened the period at the same speed while Columbus was a little sluggish early on. Bobrovsky was Bobrovsky, however, so the score remained the same. Boone Jenner got called for high sticking, resulting in a 4 minute power play for the Bruins. The penalty kill attempt was the best of the season for the Blue Jackets and continued fore checking resulted in Boston taking a penalty. 4 on 4 play and a short PP for the Jackets came of nothing, keeping the score at 1-0.
Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
The Columbus PK gave the Jackets momentum, which lead to sustained play in Boston’s zone. Several shots were fired at Rask, none getting through. The Bruins were called for a penalty against Boone Jenner. The fourth Blue Jackets power play, however, couldn’t get a tally. In fact, the best scoring chance came from the Bruins on a short handed attempt, but fortunately it shot it wide.
After the Columbus Blue Jackets’ power play, Boston began to carry the play. Minutes later Chris Kelly fired a blast from just inside the blue line to beat Sergei Bobrovsky, tying the game at 1. Bobrovsky, who had been arguably the best player on the ice for both teams, seemed to have lost focus on the shot. Either way, it eluded him and Boston fans finally had something to celebrate. Boston dominated the rest of the period but didn’t score again.
End of the second period: CBJ 1, BOS 1
Third period:
The Blue Jackets were caught flat footed early as Loui Ericksson got behind Nick Foligno to score a flimsy back hander. The goal was assisted by Patrice Bergeron and Riley Smith.
Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
From there, play evened out. Both teams played a north-south hockey game, leading to scoring chances for both. Columbus gave themselves decent chances to tie up the game by continuously throwing both themselves as well as the puck at the net.
It was to no prevail.
Tuuka Rask was simply too good. Nothing else was going to get by him. The 3rd Boston goal came from Milan Lucic after the puck bounced over Jack Johnson’s stick. Lucic simply stuck his own stick out and pushed it in the back of the net. It was an empty net goal. Rask went on to stop 26/27 shots as the Boston Bruins took down the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1.
End of the game: BOS 3, CBJ 1
Interesting news and Notes:
-18 Blocked shots for Boston Bruins
-Columbus Blue Jackets are now 2-2-0 with 4 points
-14,092 was the attendance
-Columbus Blue Jackets were 1/4 on the power play
-Boston Bruins had 36 shots on goal, Columbus Blue Jackets had 27 shots on goal
–Blake Comeau left the game with a lower body injury.