Columbus Blue Jackets Make It Three In A Row In 3-1 Win Over Tampa Bay

I’m going to give you characteristics of a hockey team in a game, and you tell me what team from the NHL this sounds like? They got an early goal, were able to hang onto their lead throughout, out-hustled the opposition to the puck, was strong on the forecheck, played three solid periods of hockey and were 1:13 away from a shutout.

If you guessed the Columbus Blue Jackets, kuddos to you. It was arguably – actually, no argument about it – it was the best game of the season the Jackets have played so far and it helped extend the Columbus winning streak to three in a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It was another early goal that would put CBJ on top, as a lazy-looking shot around the blue line from Boone Jenner had just enough on it to slide past the elbow of Ben Bishop, who was standing up in the crease between the pipes (for whatever reason) for a Lumbus 1-0 lead. Boom.

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The second goal, also in the first period, was just as confusing, as

took another lazy shot, this one a wrister, from the faceoff circle, and it too got just enough on it to sneak past Bishop’s shoulder, on the opposite side, to give Columbus a 2-0 lead. Boom. Oh, and this one was on a power play.

That would prove to be enough, but just for good measure, Jack Skille saw his tremendous effort he gave all throughout the night rewarded, as he and Michael Chaput passed back and forth until Skille finally beat Bishop, this time peeking the puck on the ice, for a goal to make it 3-0. Boom.

The first and third periods were tremendous for the Jackets – especially the third, which was probably the best 20 minutes the Blue Jackets have played all season. They were seemingly a step ahead of the Lightning and frankly, looked like they wanted it more. I don’t know if the Lightning thought the Jackets would be an easy game (lets be real – they won 7-4 last time and the Jackets still have yet to win 10 games), but whatever the case, the Blue Jackets looked really really good.

The lone Lightning goal came in the third came with just 1:13 left, and Tampa Bay was just firing shots at the net trying to get anything they could. Finally, Ondrej Palat was able to go top-self on Sergei Bobrovksy for the lone score for the home team. If you’ll recall, the Lightning came into the game as the leading-scoring team in the NHL.

Oh, speaking of Bobrovsky, he looked outstanding. The best we’ve seen this year, and showed that he quite possibly could be back, which would go miles for confidence for the home team. After standing on his head through 55 shots against the Panthers, he did the same for 34 shots, allowing just that one late goal.

The Blue Jackets are on a streak, yall, and they looked really good continuing it tonight.