Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Game 2 Post-Game
They pulled it off! It certainly didn’t seem like the Columbus Blue Jackets had much hope after the first period last night, but they proved there was more left in the tank.
Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Jackets only mustered 4 shots on goal in the first period, registering one goal, but finding themselves behind 3-1 after the first period. The biggest question after that period was goaltending. Sergei Bobrovsky said himself after the first game that he had to be better if the Jackets were going to win. We know he is capable of playing better, but he certainly looked shaky in the first period. The Pittsburgh Penguins scored twice in the first five minutes of the game. Bobrovsky’s play was questionable, with some fans on social media even calling for him to be pulled. Coach Richards stuck with him though, and it ended up being a good call.
Within a minute after Pittsburgh’s second goal, the Jackets’ leading goal-scorer Ryan Johansen put up a Power Play tally to cut the deficit to one. Later, however, the Penguins came back and scored yet again, ending the first period ahead 3-1. Playing against the best Power Play team in the league, the Jackets took eight penalties last night. That seems like a recipe for disaster, but they held up extremely well. In the second period, Matt Calvet pulled off a short-handed goal, beating goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to make the game 3-2, again bringing the Jackets within one. The Jackets only gave Pittsburgh one Power Play goal, leaving them one for eight with a shorthanded tally against them. A pretty solid PK effort.
Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The game remained 3-2 to an uncomfortably late minute, with less than seven minutes left in regulation. However, the Jackets found themselves on a Power Play, and Jack Johnson became the night’s first hero. He scored the tying goal, and eventually lead the game into overtime. Two overtimes. The first one consisted of many frustrating missed chances and scary saves by Bobrovsky, but the score remained tied at 3. It wasn’t until period 5 that the game was decided, and by none other than the Jackets’ Matt Calvert, nicknamed Matty Hustle by the fans. He certainly lived up to his nickname last night, pushing through the Pens defense to take a shot of a rebound, and then get his own rebound and bury it behind Fleury for the game-winner. Calvert was definitely the star last night, scoring two clutch goals to lead the Jackets to their first-ever post-season win.
The win last night was a big one, coming from behind to beat the Penguins in double overtime, and tying the series at a game apiece. It was certainly the backdrop the Jackets want to have when they come back to Nationwide Arena on Monday and try to pick off the Pens in front of the home crowd.