Columbus Blue Jackets @ Ottawa Senators: Post Game

It’s safe to say that is what we have been waiting to see out of the Columbus Blue Jackets all year-long. A good offensive output, that was fueled by a strong power play, and a game where Sergei Bobrovsky was BOBROVSKY! The defense stood tall and the forwards added in a good forecheck as well. Fingers crossed, that this could be the catalyst this team needed to get on the right track.

First Period:

Nov 5, 2013; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center

(19) is defended by Ottawa Senators left wing

(89) during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

The first period didn’t see too much action, but what it saw, I liked. The power play got to go to work early in the first, when former Blue Jacket Marc Methot went to the box for holding against Ryan Johansen. Then Johansen made the Senators pay for the penalty, scoring a power play goal which was assisted by Ryan Murray, and James Wisniewski. It was Wiz’s 14th assist of the year, which ranks him 3rd among defenseman in the NHL. I had harsh words for Wiz’s play early in the season, however if he keeps producing offensive numbers, it’s hard to knock him.

Bob was certainly Bob today, and while he only saw 5 shots in the first period, he made some big saves that kept it a 1-0 game. With all of the team’s injuries, and its poor offensive play to this point in the season, we need more games like this out of our backstop.

CBJ 1  Ottawa 0

Second Period:

The second period was a lot more of the first. R.J. Umberger scored a power play goal, which was assisted by Ryan Johansen and Fedor Tyutin. Then the Ottawa Senators took back to back penalties, giving the Blue Jackets a 5 on 3 power play, unlike a game ago the Blue Jackets cashed in. Fedor Tyutin got the goal this time with the assist coming from Nick Foligno.

The PK looked great yesterday too, up until the waning minutes of the game. They killed off 5 of 6 PP chances for the day with the lone goal coming when the game was no longer in doubt. The forecheck was in force, if the Blue Jackets can get back to last years level of defensive play by the forwards, it will go along way to getting this team back in the hunt for the playoffs.

Boone Jenner made his way back to the lineup as well, his first game since October 25th. He got almost 17 minutes of ice time as well. I must say, for a 20-year-old man, his movember ‘stache was looking quite nice as well.

CBJ 3  Ottawa 0

Third Period:

Derek MacKenzie was all over the ice, and in the third period he was rewarded with a goal. His goal which was assisted by Mark Letestu and Blake Comeau was the final nail in the coffin, of any Senators fan with comeback thoughts in their head. Like I said from the beginning it was an entire team effort, which was very, very nice to see.

Nov 17, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman

(21) and Ottawa Senators defenseman

(74) fight in the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre.The Blue Jackets defeated the Senators 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Jared Boll took a nasty and dirty hit from Mark Borowiecki early in the 3rd, which was given a 5 minute major and game misconduct. The Blue Jackets only got 3 minutes of that power play because Wiz came to Boll’s defense and immediately started throwing haymakers at Borowiecki. I will take 3 minutes of a 5 minute major any day when a team shows that type of bond and unity. Boll ended up being ok, but I’m sure he was thanking Wiz for the brotherly love after the game.

The only downside of the game was the shutout being lost, when Erik Karlsson scored on the power play with 2:27 left in the game. Bob had it, but it found its way threw his arm and side to the back of the net. It would have been nice to get Bob a shutout, but it was also a shot he could have had.

CBJ 4  Ottawa 1

Buy ‘Em High:

1. The entire team deserves to be here, it was an entire team effort and hopefully this is what we see night in and night out from here on. If I had to choose a Top 3 it would be Ryan Johansen, Fedor Tyutin, and Sergei Bobrovsky.

Sell ‘Em Low:

1. I got nobody to put on this list other than maybe Mark Borowiecki for his high hit on Boll. Every Blue Jacket impressed me today!

Moving forward this is the team that the fans want to see and need to see to start putting butts back in the seats. If the team starts winning the fine people of Columbus will start filing into Nationwide Arena, and the atmosphere will be back to last season’s end of the year form.