Columbus Blue Jackets: Thoughts After Shootout Win vs Boston
The Columbus Blue Jackets started out lights out against the Bruins with amassing a 3-0 lead, but they were able to claim two points in a shootout.
Positives
Hot Start
The Columbus Blue Jackets had their best start of the season. The Jackets scored the first three goals of the game with David Savard and Boone Jenner opening the scoring.
In the second period Tyler Motte increased the Jackets lead to 3-0. The Blue Jackets were the faster and more aggressive team to start, but the Bruins fought back.
Tyler Motte
With the injury to Cam Atkinson, Tyler Motte was called up from the Cleveland Monsters. Motte and Hannikainen were the only two on the “fourth line” with the Jackets playing seven defensemen and 11 forwards.
Tyler Motte scored on a beauty of a pass from Markus Nutivaara. Motte was all over the ice for the Blue Jackets and even earned ice time in overtime. This is the highest honor coach Tortorella could have given Motte.
Markus Nutivaara
The young fin stood out for the Jackets. Markus Nutivaara had one of the best passes of the season mentioned above and claimed an assist earlier in Boone Jenner’s goal. Nutivaara played well on the defensive end pairing with both Ryan Murray and David Savard at times. He also was the only Jacket to score multiple points tonight.
Markus was a question mark heading into the season. He came in off a hip injury and took more time than expected to get back into the lineup, but he has seemed to finally hit his stride which means Scott Harrington may be watching from the press box in the near future.
Negatives
Slow Finish
The Blue Jackets were up three goals on the Bruins, but they were forced into overtime and an eventual shootout. Columbus started the game off strong, but they seemed to take the foot off the gas, letting the Bruins inch back into the game.
Specialty Teams
The power play has been a disaster for the Jackets and these struggles continued again against the Bruins. The Jackets power play was once again too fancy and they went an abysmal 0 for 5 on the man advantage. The Blue Jackets are not lacking talent on the power play, but the killer instinct.
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To make matters worse, the Blue Jackets penalty kill struggled against the juggernaut that is the Bruins power play. Columbus gave up their first two home power play goals, with the second tying the game up. The Bruins were able to move the puck around and get into the shooting lanes.
Conclusion
The Blue Jackets may not have played their most complete game, but they were able to claim a franchise record 8th win in the month of October. The Jackets have not been able to completely click, but they have been able to come out with wins.
The Bruins were the most physical game for the Blue Jackets this season with Josh Anderson going toe to toe with Chara and hard hit throughout the game, but this seemed to give the Bruins the momentum.
Columbus started off strong, but they need to play a full 60 minutes. The Jackets shootout was able to bail them out with Bobrovsky being perfect and Panarin and Bjorkstrand scoring, but they should have been able to finish with a regulation win.