Columbus Blue Jackets Squeak out a Shootout Victory over Boston

The Columbus Blue Jackets finally start a game with purpose and intensity. They don’t finish with it though.

The Columbus Blue Jackets play in the first period is exactly what Torts and the entire fanbase were looking for. They don’t finish with the same intensity though and almost give up two points to the Boston Bruins. The Jackets end up winning in a shootout though and take home the two points.

The CBJ jumped on the Bruins in the first period. The best first period the Jackets have played all year resulted in a David Savard goal two minutes into the game to start the scoring. They continued to dominate the period and finished with a Boone Jenner goal with less than three minutes remaining in the period.

Eight minutes into the second period Markus Nutivaara made an incredible pass across three lines to Tyler Motte. The stretch pass led to Motte’s first goal as a Jacket as he went five hole on Tuuka Rask.

That 3-0 lead seemed insurmountable. The Jackets were playing with purpose, speed, and physicality. But the most reliable part of their game was about to let them down.

Penalty Kill Woes

The Jackets had not allowed a power play goal in any home game yet this season. That changed late in the second period with a Patrice Bergeron goal to draw the game within two.

A Matt Calvert high sticking penalty gave the Bruins a brief power play. Brad Marchand would even out the numbers on a tripping against Tyler Motte. During the four on four play the Bruins scored on a Torey Krug goal following a great pass from David Pasternak who had three assist on the night.

The third assist for pasta came on the power play just a few minutes later. Marchand scored to erase a 3-0 lead for the Jackets.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Moments later, Oliver Bjorkstand was racing Torey Krug for a puck in the Bruins end. Bjorkstand checked Krug from behind into the boards. Kevan Miller didn’t like that too much and turned the young Dane into a punching bag. Bjorkstrand took some huge hits but Miller was sent off the ice with a game misconduct. The Jackets failed to convert on the subsequent power play though.

The air was completely out of their tires and it seemed as if a fourth goal was inevitable late in the third. Somehow, the Jackets held on to force overtime.

Overtime and Shootout

The overtime period resulted in relatively few scoring chances. Both teams took every chance they could to change lines and slow down the pace of play.

The Jackets opened up the shootout with Alexander Wennberg who was stopped by Rask. The Bruins failed to score and then came the birthday boy. Artemi Panarin, who missed on a breakaway earlier in the game, beat Rask to open up the shootout scoring. Following another Bob stop, Oliver Bjorstrand delivered a blow of his own to the Bruins.

After taking some huge hits in the third from Millar Bjorkstrand ended the game for the Jackets with a wrister past Rask.

Game Notes

• The Jackets move to 8-4-0 on the season. 16 points puts them tied with New Jersey atop the Metropolitan Division. The Devils have two games in hand.
• Markus Nutivaara had two primary assist tonight, including an incredible stretch pass to Tyler Motte
• Cam Atkinson did not dress for the game as he continues to deal with his injury
• The Jackets also scratched Zac Dalpe in favor of playing Scott Harrington. The seven defenseman made for some interesting pairings and line rotations throughout the game.
• The Jackets continue their power play woes going 0-5 with the man advantage.

The Columbus Blue Jackets take two points that they saw slipping from their grasp in the third period. They now travel to Florida to start their road trip.