Same thing different night. The Columbus Blue Jackets show once again they can skate with the upper level teams in the Eastern Conference, however they can not pull out a win in front of the crowd at Nationwide Arena.
First Period:
The first period didn’t have much going on, two teams trying to feel each other out, then P.K. Subban took a penalty trying to UFC Derek MacKenzie and the Blue Jackets went on the power play. Then another penalty, The Blue Jackets would have a minute and a half of a 5 on 3 power play. The power play which started hot, gets worse and worse as the season goes on, the Blue Jackets can’t seem to do anything with it, before you know it the penalty is over. Shortly after the penalty ended R.J. Umberger collected the puck on the lower left side of the ice, fired a shot on net, Peter Budaj was screened and the puck found its way into the net.
Nikita Nikitin with a fake shot so good he tripped himself up started the most bizarre play of the game. Nikitin almost falls onto the puck, meanwhile Jared Boll is tackled in the crease and disrupts Budaj’s rhythm. Artem Anisimov collects the puck, his shot is blocked by a stick and flies into the air, it comes down with some wicked front spin, and rolls its way into the net while Budaj is trying to collect his bearings.
The rest of the period plays out much like the beginning, until Fedor Tyutin can not corral a bouncing puck, Alex Galchenyuk grabs the puck, skates in alone and scores past Curtis McElhinney with only 7.8 seconds left on the clock.
CBJ 2 Montreal 1
Second Period:
The second period was pretty uneventful if you were a Blue Jacket fan. Cam Atkinson took a penalty that sent one of the best power play units to work. The Canadiens showed some impressive puck movement, Tyutin fell down on the play and Lars Eller put one behind McElhinney.
Jared Boll tried to get his team and Nationwide Arena back into the game when he dropped the gloves with Brandon Prust, much like the second period, the fight was uneventful. The period ended with the lone goal being scored by the Canadiens.
CBJ 2 Montreal 2
Third Period:
The third period was much like the second, except it had no goals. Nick Foligno got a very questionable hit to the head penalty, the Blue Jackets PK was up to the task this time and killed it off. P.K. Subban got a penalty for stick holding, and the Blue Jackets PP got a chance to do some work. The power play looked bad, and the Canadiens easily killed off the penalty.
Nov 7, 2013; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Blake Comeau (14) carries the puck in the second period of play against the New York Rangers at Nationwide Arena. New York Rangers win 4 to 2 over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowksi-USA TODAY Sports
Blake Comeau played one of his best games of the year, although it won’t show up in the stats sheet. He was all over the ice, stealing pucks, finishing checks, and putting the puck on net.
The Blue Jackets were falling all night, I don’t know if they had some pre game drinks or their skates were tampered with, but it was weird. The Canadiens seemed to have no problem skating, so it stayed a mystery to me. The period ended and for the third consecutive game the Blue Jackets were going to overtime.
CBJ 2 Montreal 2
Overtime:
I love 4 on 4 overtime hockey, it’s so wide open and the teams go back and forth for five minutes. Jack Johnson started it off with a backhand shot that rang off the post. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, the Blue Jackets turned the puck over in their own zone, this time it was Nikitin. He did find a way to get back on his feet, make a play on the puck, and keep the Canadiens from having an easy overtime ender.
Before I knew it the overtime period was over with no goals and it was time for a shootout.
Shootout:
Mark Letestu: No Goal
Alex Galchenyuk: Lost control of puck, no goal
Artem Anisimov: No Goal
David Desharnais: Goal
Ryan Johansen: No Goal
The Columbus Blue Jackets once again proved they can play with almost any team in this league, they are just having a hard time turning it into wins. To look on the bright side, they received 5 of 8 points in the last four games (1-0-3), but honestly I’m getting tired of looking on the bright side and want to start looking at wins and not moral victories. Hopefully once this team gets healthier, we will see the team we all thought we would on the ice. Until then I guess moral victories will have to do.
Buy ‘Em High:
- R.J. Umberger: Scored first goal of the game, and was a +1 rating for the night.
- Blake Comeau: Won’t show up in the stats, but played probably his best game of the year.
- Curtis McElhinney: Stopped 38 of 40 shots, and kept the Blue Jackets in the game all night.
Sell ‘Em Low:
- Fedor Tyutin: For someone who is supposed to be our most solid D-man, he sure isn’t playing that way, -1 on the night.
- Cam Atkinson: Lost edges all night long, didn’t look like himself. Ended the night -1.
- The PP/Offense: Had a 5 on 3 for a minute and a half….nothing, if not for a flukey goal, we would have only scored one and wouldn’t have even made it to overtime. Both have to get better, or this is going to be a long season.