The Columbus Blue Jackets played a great game for 50 minutes, even with some questionable calls going against them. Then the dam broke and the Canadiens scored three goals in about under four minutes, all of which came on the power play. The Blue Jackets couldn’t claw back and ended up losing 3-2.
Jan 14, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman
Kevin Connauton(4) celebrates a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
The Columbus Blue Jackets came out to play in the first, as they scored on their very first shot, just 3:31 into the game. Kevin Connauton scored his seventh goal of the season and Jeremy Morin got the assist. The Blue Jackets, per the usual as of late, got out shot in the first period 12-6, but it was the one shot that didn’t go in that made Blue Jacket fans do a double take. Brendan Gallagher thought he had a goal when he hit the post and the puck sat on the goal line. It was about to cross over the line fully when Sergei Bobrovsky pulled some ninja voodoo and kicked the puck back towards center ice. The goal light went off and the referee almost pointed at the net to indicate a goal but he stopped himself, then the play went to a review in Toronto and all of Columbus sighed. However this time Toronto got the call right, and saw enough evidence to not take a chance to screw the Blue Jackets.
The second period saw more of the same on the shot chart, as the Blue Jackets were out shot 9-6 by the Montreal Canadiens. Matt Calvert took a puck off the leg during a 5-on-4, making it pretty much a 5-on-3 with Calvert hobbling around. The Blue Jackets were able to kill off the rest of the penalty and Matty Hustle was no worse for the wear and looked like himself on his next shift. Columbus is going to have to get better at putting the puck on net, no matter how well Bobrovsky has been playing, there is no way they climb out of this hole getting out shot every game.
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P.K. Subban took a tripping penalty that should have been interference. The Blue Jackets took full advantage of the power play scoring just a few seconds after the PP started. Ryan Johansen sniped a wrist shot past Carey Price to give the Blue Jackets a 2-0 lead. Matt Calvert took a “penalty” when his stick was held and as he ripped it out he came down on a Canadiens stick and broke it. Montreal took advantage as Max Pacioretty scored when the Blue Jackets were unable to clear the puck. Jared Boll then took a high sticking penalty and Subban made the Jackets pay with 4 seconds left in the penalty. Yet another “penalty” for the Blue Jackets and the Canadiens scored their 3rd straight goal on the PP when Pacioretty scored his second of the night.
With some help from the referees, the Columbus Blue Jackets couldn’t stay out the penalty box in the last half of the third period. It ended up costing them the game as they gave up 3 straight PP goals and lost the game 3-2. With that, the first half of the season comes to an end for Columbus, with an 18-20-3 record. A lot of things to work on for the second 41 games, and the once in-sight playoff hopes now seem like an all too pleasant dream.