Fansided

Columbus Blue Jackets in Elite Form

By Lansing Murphy |
Feb 26, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Cam Atkinson (13) is congratulated by center Boone Jenner (38) after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Columbus won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Cam Atkinson (13) is congratulated by center Boone Jenner (38) after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Columbus won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Watch out NHL. The Columbus Blue Jackets came off their bye week and are back playing at an elite level.

The Columbus Blue Jackets played a top notch opponent on the road in a big divisional match up and dominated. The New York Rangers had no answer for the attacking, physically dominating, 60 minute game the Jackets brought tonight.

The Jackets came out gunning and scored just one minute into the game. David Savard sent a wrister toward the net allowing Alexander Wennberg to tip the puck past Henrik Lundqvist.

The back and forth first period played on only three more minutes until former Blue Jacket Rick Nash scored to tie it up. Just two minutes and forty seconds later on the power play, Cam Atkison wristed a saucy puck that put the Jackets into the lead for good.

Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets /

Columbus Blue Jackets

Wennberg and Atkinson both added second goals later in the game as well as Josh Anderson’s third goal this weekend. The Jackets shut down the Rangers as they looked completely out of sync. The Rangers were unable to maintain any rhythm or sustain any continued offensive possession.

Jackets Return to “The Streak” Play

Columbus over the last two weeks has returned to playing like they did during “The Streak”. Fast, physical, and attacking have characterized the play of the Blue Jackets and it should scare teams.

With only 22 games left before the playoffs, the Jackets seem to be hitting their stride. The scoring is coming from even strength opportunities and from all lines. Both Sergei Bobrovsky and Joonas Korpisalo are making big saves too. That is when needed which isn’t all to often given the Jackets defense has been stifling.

The Jackets and Rangers skated much like you would expect two divisional opponents that are only separated by a point. The Columbus Blue Jackets though showed they are ready for serious hockey by dominating possession and playing shut down defense when they need to.

The win tonight over the Rangers puts the Jackets in third in the Metropolitan division, one point up on the Rangers with two games in hand. Only one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Jackets fly to Montreal to take on the Canadiens on Tuesday.

The last few games have put the rest of league on notice. Watch out NHL, the Jackets are back playing at an elite level.

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