I think we can officially say that hockey is back! The Blue Jackets opened their preseason play last night with a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Overtime was needed to settle things at Nationwide Arena, and none other than Ryan Murray scored the overtime winner!
The game may have ended like we all wanted it to end, but the start of the game wasn’t exactly the greatest beginning to the preseason. Just about 45 seconds into the first period James Neal went five hole on Curtis McElhinney after some sloppy play off the opening draw. The first period moved on with the Blue Jackets vastly improving though.
Sep 15, 2013; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman
James Wisniewski(21) skates with the puck during the 1st period of the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Leifheit-USA TODAY Sports
Both Artem Anisimov and James Wisniewski netted power play goals during the first period to keep the game at a tie going into the second. Chuck Kobasew added the other goal for the Penguins in between the two Blue Jackets power play goals. Columbus was ranked 28th last year on the power play with only a 14.2% conversation rate, so to score two power play goals in the first period is a promising sign, hopefully.
The second period ended with no goals, three penalties, and the Pens out-shooting Columbus 14-5. The third period was much more exciting though, four goals, two fights, and an exciting finish on the power play. Unfortunately the last minute power play didn’t result in a game winning goal and the game went into overtime.
Mark Letestu and Cam Atkinson scored goals within 30 seconds of each other for the Blue Jackets in the third period. Letestu put in a great goal right in front of the net during a scrum for the puck. Good to see a goal like that, Blue Jackets really crashed the net to help finish that play off. Atkinson, with blazing speed, flew into the Pens zone and wristed a rocket into the back of the net for the fourth goal for CBJ.
Dustin Jeffrey and Chuck Kobasew scored for the Pens, and as mentioned the game was tied at 4 and overtime ensued.
It was Ryan Murray who scored the game winning goal in overtime. He was assisted by R.J. Umberger and Mark Letestu. Jamie McLennan, of the NHL Network, called Umberger’s play a “veteran play” on the OT goal. Umberger took it as far as he could into the zone and laid it off for Murray who was trailing the play, and Murray finished it off! Umberger could have tried to force a play across the net, but the Pens defense shut that down, he was patient, unselfish and set up the rookie for a perfect play.
Here are some quick notes on my thoughts about how the Blue Jackets played:
Sep 15, 2013; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets forward
Jack Skille(5) body checks Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Philip Samuelsson (55) during the 3rd period of the game at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Leifheit-USA TODAY Sports
– It was good to see two power play goals. They went 2 out of 6 in the game, which is 33%, double last years.
– I was glad to see two fights in this game, Ilari Melart and James Wisniewski both had tilts. Really liked the Melart fight, even though the actual fight was not good, he stood up for his goalie and cleared the crease with authority.
– Jack Skille looked good to me. He didn’t make any fantastic plays that led to a goal, but he skated well and finished his checks.
– Cam Atkinson played well, he was flying all over the ice and was really involved in the play. Also had the nice goal in the third.
– Ryan Murray looked great, I especially liked him quarterbacking the power play. I only saw one moment where he stumbled a bit, he gave away the puck with a bad pass late in the third. Nothing came of it and he redeemed himself with the OT goal!
There you have it, a quick recap of the first preseason game and my opinions on some of the players and overall team play of the Blue Jackets. Make sure to share your opinions with us by commenting below, via Twitter, or conversing on Facebook.