The Blue Jackets were able to extend their points streak to 5 games last night, as they defeated the Montreal Canadiens in a shootout.
Last night's game was a tale of four completely different teams. I know, that's confusing. But each team showed their best and worst, so, it kinda makes sense. The Blue Jackets looked fantastic in the first period and for much of the second, controlling the puck and pouring it onto the Canadiens.
But the script completely flipped over in the third period and overtime, with Montreal dominating possession. After entering the third with a 17-16 shots advantage, they out-shot the Jackets 9-6 in the period; then 6-0 in overtime.
To say that this was a tough overtime performance would be a vast understatement. The Blue Jackets were absolutely shelled in the 3 on 3, barely had control of the puck at all, and were bailed out by goaltender Jet Greaves.
The good news is, they won the skills competition; getting goals from Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko, while Greaves stopped two of the three Canadiens shooters.
The end result was a 4-3 win, though it certainly didn't feel like much of a win with the way this team finished. Here are three things that stood out to us.
1. Jet Greaves has gotten better with more starts.
Without diving too far into the analytics here, it looks like Jet Greaves has been more comfortable as he's picked up more starts. In his last two games, he's faced 65 shots and only surrendered 4 goals.
That's a save percentage of 0.939%. In those two games, I would argue that the Jackets have not played anywhere near their best games - but he's willed this team into three points.
The reason he's had a run of starts is because Elvis Merzlikins was reportedly sick. (Or was he?) It's worth noting that Elvis will be back in the crease tonight as the team plays the Jets in Winnipeg.
But, it begs one question: even though the tandem rotation has given this team mostly positive results; is it time to roll with one or the other?
We have seen Elvis play better as he's strung together starts in the past, as well. This is something we will have to watch for as the schedule continues on.
2. The power-play looks much better with Adam Fantilli on it.
Last Tuesday in Seattle, the Blue Jackets made Kent Johnson a healthy scratch. This opened up his spot as the half boards man on the first power-play unit, which gave Adam Fantilli a chance to step in.
Adam scored the lone Blue Jackets goal that night on the power-play, and the team has not changed a thing since. In fact, in four games with Fantilli on that top unit, the Blue Jackets are 3 for 9 with the extra man (33.3%). Before that change, they were 5 for 36 (13.9%).
This isn't a knock on Johnson, but he has started slow this year so he was the most likely guy to get moved off of the top unit. That unit has looked remarkably better with #19 out there, as he gives them an additional shooting threat from the right side.
Last night, the Jackets went 1 for 2, with that goal being massive in the second period, giving them a 3-1 lead. Without it, this was almost certainly a regulation loss. Let this unit roll.
3. This team cannot hold a lead late in the game.
The elephant in the room. The Jackets coughed up a third period two goal lead again last night. This is something that has happened far too often this season. In fact, it's something that should almost never happen. Especially not at home.
It's not difficult to see the issue. This team is at its best when they are forechecking the opposition and tiring them out in their own end.
But, when they get a lead, they stop doing that and resort to playing a prevent defense. The thing about the prevent defense that always holds true: it prevents you from winning.
We saw that last night, as the Canadiens poured it on late, scoring twice in the final 12 minutes. Then, when the Jackets needed to turn their game back on, they were unable to make the adjustment and get back after it.
As a result, they nearly lost this one in regulation. And, they were never a remote threat in overtime. They were extremely lucky to come away with 2 points.
This feels like it's on the coaching staff. I'm not sure why they feel the need to change their style with the lead in the third period. With the way this team is constructed, their best chance at playing effective defense is to play at the other team's end of the ice.
That formula does not include having their third line standing across the neutral zone to break up passing lanes. Speaking bluntly: none of them can skate well enough to do anything from there.
They need to be on their toes, cycling in the offensive zone and hammering defensemen into the glass. That's what makes them an effective third line.
Hopefully, they can figure it all out. But, I'm not holding my breath that it will happen before their next game, which is tonight in Winnipeg. They are going to need all of the help they can get in this tough back-to-back.
We'll have our preview and keys to the game out a little later today.