Columbus Blue Jackets Top Five Games of 2017-2018
The top five games the Columbus Blue Jackets played out of their 88 regular season and playoff games.
It would have been nice to be able to include a second round playoff game in this list but alas, the Columbus Blue Jackets season ended at 88 total games. There were still plenty of exciting and season altering games to look back upon in the 2017-2018 season.
#5: March 4th at San Jose
The Columbus Blue Jackets were in the thick of a wild card race after a dismal February. They were finishing up their annual California swing after dropping two disappointing games to Los Angeles and Anaheim, giving up leads in both.
The Jackets could have easily mailed in the third game in four nights and headed home to regroup. But Nick Foligno and Sonny Milano opened up the scoring in the first to give the Jackets a 2-0 lead heading into the second.
Artemi Panarin scored early in the second to make it a 3-0 lead. Then it appeared as though the demons of the previous two games were about to rise in the second period. San Jose scored with less than two minutes left in the second period and then again in the third to make it a one goal Jacket lead.
It would have been easy for the team to crumble, allow a third goal, and lose their third straight game after a long road trip. But Bob and the defense held off a late push and Panarin potted an empty net goal to secure a 4-2 win.
The Columbus Blue Jackets saved what could have been a disastrous road trip with the victory. The win also kickstarted the 10 game winning streak the team desperately needed to get into the playoffs.
Although it wasn’t as sexy as the other games in the top five, the San Jose win was crucial to the Jackets making the playoffs. Without the two points in the Bay Area, the California road trip would have been a complete disaster and who knows how March plays out for the Jackets.
#4: January 8th at Toronto.
Playing in Toronto means the eyes of the hockey world are upon you. The Jackets first game of the season in the center of the hockey universe was one that the fans in Toronto won’t soon forget.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Jackets were shut down by goalie Fredrik Andersen for much of the game. Heading into the third period the score was 2-0 Toronto. Sergei Bobrovksy was doing his part though and made several spectacular saves to keep the Jackets close.
The Jackets had their chances but were just not able to get past Andersen. With five minutes to go in the game it appeared as though the Maple Leafs were going to pull off a 2-0 win in front of the home faithful.
That was until Nick Foligno was able to get a shot on Andersen that ended up trickling behind him for a goal. With the deficit cut in half the Jackets pushed and madness ensued.
Less than two minutes after Foligno’s goal, rookie Pierre-Luc Dubois beat the Maple Leafs netminder on a snapshot from the slot to tie the game at two.
The Maple Leafs, and the entire crowd at the Air Canada Centre, were stunned. There was no way the Jackets were going to let this one get away after coming back like that and they didn’t disappoint in the overtime.
Artemi Panarin delivered his second most important overtime goal of the season to give the Jackets a huge road win and stun the hockey world in Toronto.
#3: March 27th at Edmonton
Just three days after their 10 game winning streak being snapped it looked as though the Columbus Blue Jackets were going to start a losing streak. The Jackets were in Edmonton to face the Oilers and before most of the fans were in their seats the home team had scored.
That goal was quickly followed by a Conner McDavid shorthanded goal to give the Oilers a 2-0 lead. That lead was padded by a power play goal midway through the first period. Just like that, the Jackets were down three goals in 10 minutes.
The team could have packed it in, saved their energy for the two remaining games on the Western Canada road trip but they fought back. And with a vengeance.
Thomas Vanek scored just two minutes later to cut the lead to just two. A minute later, Artemi Panarin potted his 26th goal of the season. And with just over three minutes left in the 1st period, Vanek scored his second goal to completely eliminate the early lead the Oilers built.
The Jackets were far from done, unlike the Oilers. The CBJ went on to score four more goals to rout Edmonton, 7-3. Their seven unanswered goals were the most for the franchise last season and matches a feat they accomplished three time in the 2016-2017 season. Vanek ended the game with a hat trick and an assist. His performance in this game alone was worth the small price the Jackets paid for him at the trade deadline.
The win was the 11th in 12 tries and would lead to a successful Western Canada road trip picking up five of six possible points. Those valuable points in the final stretch of the Jackets schedule all but assured them a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
#2: Round One, Game One at Washington
Starting the series on the road, the Jackets, like all teams, were looking to steal one on the road against their higher seeded opponent. They did that in game one against the Washington Capitals. The Columbus Blue Jackets capped a thrilling comeback with an overtime goal that no one will soon forget.
The game opened up with some great opportunities for the Capitals and some big hits. Bob made a few nice saves before he was eventually beat by a deflection right in front of the net by TJ Oshie.
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Then the Caps were gifted a five minute major penalty after a somewhat boarder line hit by Josh Anderson that was certainly a two minute penalty but definitely not five minutes. The officiating crew that night decided they would fulfill the stereotype around NHL refs though and they blew the call and on top of the major penalty, assessed a game misconduct.
Evgeny Kuznetsov then scored off of a beautiful wrister to extend the lead to two goals. The Jackets though then held strong and killed the remaining four minutes of the major penalty.
Five minutes into the second Boone Jenner sent a beautiful saucer pass through two Capitals players right on Alexander Wennberg‘s tape. Wenny took care of business and cut the lead in half.
The next goal would belong to the Jackets who would tie the game in the third on a power play goal from Thomas Vanek. But the Capitals were quick to respond and the momentum shifted back to the home team.
Down a goal with 15 minutes left on the road in game one is a massive obstacle to overcome. But the Jackets were able to do just that. Seth Jones‘ power play goal with 4:28 left, tied the game up at three and took all of the air out of the arena in D.C.
The deathblow came from Artemi Panarin six minutes into overtime. The winger raced down the left wing and somehow fired a wrist shot that beat backup Philipp Grubauer. The shot was from a wide angle and seemed to come out of nowhere which added to the Capitals fans bewilderment.
The win was the best the Jackets could ask for after falling behind 2-0 in the first and still having to kill off a four minute power play. The team stood strong and fought back to stun the Caps on home ice and open up the series with a win.
#1: Stanley Cup Playoffs, Game 2 at Washington
Undoubtedly the best game of the season was the game two, overtime comeback win in Washington. The 5-4 overtime thriller put the Columbus Blue Jackets up 2-0 in the opening round and the team looked like they were on their way to the first postseason series win in franchise history.
The game started out much like game one did with the Capitals jumping out to an early 2-0 lead including a power play goal from Alex Ovechkin. Like game one, the Jackets countered after a beautiful stretch pass from Nick Foligno sprang Cam Atkison to a breakaway that he snuck behind Philipp Grubauer.
But unlike game one, the fourth goal went to the Capitals giving them a commanding 3-1 lead 25 minutes into the game.
The Jackets ensured the game didn’t get too far out of reach with one of the prettiest tic-tack-toe goals you’ll ever see.
bird's eye tic-tac-toe#cbj | #marchon pic.twitter.com/fAlNW43K2r
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 16, 2018
Josh Anderson’s goal was massive and was the ideal way to bounce back after his game misconduct in game one.
The Jackets then took advantage of two power play opportunities later on in the second to complete an impressive second period comeback to take the lead at 4-3. Three unanswered goals after the crushing come from behind win in game one had the Capitals reeling and the Jackets looked like they were in great shape.
But a terrible penalty late in the third period gave the Caps a chance to tie it up. And they did just that off a TJ Oshie goal with less than four minutes left in the game. The back and forth game had again been tied up and for the second time in as many games, the two Metropolitan Division foes headed to overtime.
And for the second time in as many games the Jackets would emerge victorious. Matt Calvert once again scored an overtime game winner for the Jackets, his second in as many playoff series. The back and fourth game was an emotional roller coaster that resulted in the Jackets having a decisive 2-0 series lead heading home.
Everyone in the hockey world thought the Jackets would at least win one game in Columbus and take this series in five or six games. But as we know, that was not to be and the Caps began their magical run to the Stanley Cup after two incredible Jackets wins.