Union and Blue
Fansided

Grading the Columbus Blue Jackets Performance vs NHL’s Elite Teams

By Lansing Murphy

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 13: Yanni Gourde #37 of the Tampa Bay Lightning watches the puck fly into the net against goalie Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period at Amalie Arena on October 13, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 13: Yanni Gourde #37 of the Tampa Bay Lightning watches the puck fly into the net against goalie Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period at Amalie Arena on October 13, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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November 23rd: 4-2 Win vs Toronto

Columbus Blue Jackets
COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 23: Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Artemi Panarin (9) celebrates with Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Markus Hannikainen (37) and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard (58) after scoring a goal in a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 23, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH.(Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The real revenge tour 2018. After falling just three nights before in Canada, the Jackets had a chance to get back at the Leafs in Nationwide Arena.

Fueled by Thanksgiving leftovers, the Jackets came out once again and put up the first two goals of the game. The 2-0 lead was curtesy of Josh Anderson who scored both his ninth and tenth goals of the season to give the CBJ an early lead.

Former Columbus Blue Jacket Ron Hainesy would cut the lead in half late in the first period though. The lead would entirely vanish on Kasperi Kapenan’s tenth goal of the year early in the second period and the night was beginning to feel like Monday all over again.

The Jackets, backstopped by a great performance from Bob, hung around in the second period dominated by the Leafs until Artemi Panarin was called for tripping with less than five minutes left in the game.

The vaunted Leafs power play headed out on the ice for the first time all night looking to take the lead. But a Toronto turnover in the neutral zone gave Alexander Wennberg the puck and he fired a  pass to a streaking Cam Atkinson. Down the right wing, Cam was defended by one of the league’s top defensive centers in John Tavares but Cam made him look like an AHLer.

A slick toe drag put Tavares out of position and allowed Cam to snap a wrister past Fredrik Andersen. The goal extended Cam’s goal streak to six games and was his 14th, and most important, goal of the season. The game winner was one for the highlight reels that we will be watching for a while.

Markus Hannikainen added an insurance goal in the third and the Jackets had their revenge by way of a 4-2 victory. Although they won, Toronto played a better game but the shorthanded goal and stout net-minding from Bob led to a crucial two points.

11/23: 4-2 Win vs Toronto. A-. . Performances vs Stanley Cup Contenders.

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