During a very up and down game for the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Boston Bruins, Boone Jenner, hit his 100th goal and he did it on a night in which he had his very first hat-trick.
Congratulations Boone! The poor man was sick the night before and missed the loss against the New York Islanders, a game in which the team could’ve used his style of play. The team lacked the physical play that Boone brings every game on the “Identity line” for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Boone Jenner is third on the team in hits. The only two with more hits are in fact his other two-line mates, Josh Anderson with 185, and Nick Foligno with 154.
Missing him in center on that line that night was obvious, but the very next night against the Bruins, Boone came back and won 68.8% of his faceoffs, blocked 3 shots, scored 3 goals, one shorthanded, and one of his goals was the game winner.
When the Blue Jackets were clicking, it reminded us as fans, of the Blue Jackets from earlier in the year. Goals, goals, and more goals. Accurate passing, possession moving into their offensive zone, and physical play from everyone, not just that “Identity line.”
This team is better than they have played since the deadline and on March 12th against the Bruins, one of the best team in the NHL right now, the Blue Jackets showed just how good they can be offensively when they aren’t dumping the puck in, or poor passing causes a breakout on Bobrovsky, or when some of your teammates shy away from hits.
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Artemi Panarin started a fight, that’s what it will take for this team to continue to grow and bond and translate to efficient play. This team can do amazing things offensively, on paper, but every Blue Jackets fan got a glimpse of that talent the other night and a big part of that success was Boone Jenner playing as effectively as he did on a line that strikes fear into teams in the NHL.
This “Identity line” centered by Jenner sets the tone for the game. Tortorella has opted to start that line on the ice in order to punish opposing teams right from puck drop.
Foligno has 3 points since the trade deadline but an abundance of hits. Jenner has 5 points since the trade deadline and an abundance of hits. Anderson has 6 points and leads the line in hits.
Boone Jenner comes back from being sick to score his 100th goal and his first hat trick in the same night and it was all at home, he wasn’t as aggressive himself in this game, but his line mates helped him go onto score that hat trick and the game winning goal.