On Tuesday night, the Blue Jackets faced probably their most important game in more than 3 years. But instead of competing and moving up in the Metropolitan Division standings, they got smacked in what was, essentially, a 5-1 game if you discount a couple of garbage time goals.
The team played flat, sure. But, fact is, they got scored on way too easily. There's no reason that game should have been 5-1 early in the third period. The Flyers, while better, weren't "dominant" better. So, the team finally decided to address its mediocre goaltending by giving the crease to someone new. And it took only one game for Jet Greaves to steady the ship.
They didn't pick up the W, but he kept them in the game...
Jet was magnificent for the Blue Jackets last night, and it came in a game when they needed a high level of goaltending to even have a chance. This was against the division leading Washington Capitals. It was going to take something special to win this game, and they almost did.
Coming into last night's game, the Jackets had just one win against the Capitals in their last 9 tries. Just 2 wins in their last 13. Washington has dominated this series in recent years, and this season they're playing at an entirely different level altogether. They were coming in with 9 consecutive road wins, sitting first atop the Eastern Conference.
But Greaves did something we've been waiting for all year: he stood tall early and gave this team a chance to win. He made 11 saves in the first period. Another 13 in the second. It wasn't until their 27th shot on goal of the night that the Capitals were able to beat him and tie the game 1-1 early in the third period.
It's hard to fault him for that goal. It was an uncontested one-timer from in between the circles, off of a broken defensive zone coverage. At that point, you're just leaning on your position and hoping the shot hits you. There's no level of adjustment that will allow you to make a reflex save on those.
The OT goal was similarly tough, he couldn't see the shot coming until it was going past him. Aside from those two plays, he stopped everything that was thrown at him, and gave the Jackets a chance to win against the best team in the East. Almost comically, his 1.8 goals saved above expected is a near exact inverse of Elvis Merzlikins on Tuesday night (he allowed 1.79 goals above expected).
What more can you ask for?
Jet will certainly get another opportunity to tend the crease this weekend, because let's face it: Daniil Tarasov has been unplayable this season. The Jackets face a back-to-back against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, and in Carolina on Sunday. I expect Elvis Merzlikins to play in one of these games, but Jet has earned another opportunity (per Dean Evason). If he plays like this again, we're probably looking at our new starting goaltender for the next little while.