Carlsson will be on playoff roster
TORONTO — Gabriel Carlsson might wind up playing fewer games in Cleveland than Johnny Manziel.
The 20-year-old Swedish defenseman, who looked poised and decisive in his second NHL game on Sunday night, will remain with the Blue Jackets for the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Coach John Tortorella was impressed enough with Carlsson’s work in two weekend appearances to keep him with the parent club. The rangy 6-foot-4, 191-pounder registered his first NHL point on a secondperiod assist in the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 win over Toronto.
More important, he’s given coaches another option for the third pair of playoff defensemen after a mere three games with the minor-league Cleveland Monsters.
“The most important thing I like about his game is just his demeanor,” Tortorella said of Carlsson. “He’s not afraid to step up. He’s not afraid to make a pass into the middle of the ice. He’s not a tentative player. I think he’s very confident, and that’s the most important thing.”
It’s been an amazing few weeks for the 29th overall pick in the 2015 draft. He just finished up his season in the Swedish Elite League and made his pro debut April 1 with the Monsters.
Carlsson never thought playing for the Jackets this season was possible. But his composure, reach and skating for a defenseman his size have impressed.
“I’m just trying to enjoy the moment as long as possible here, and I’m very happy to continue the season,” he said.
His second-period clearing attempt skipped past the Leafs’ Tyler Bozak and helped lead to Matt Calvert’s goal that the cut the Blue Jackets’ deficit to 2-1.
“It’s fun and it’s something you dream about and you try to smile about it more,” Carlsson said.
Atkinson produces
Nobody in the Jackets’ locker room had a bigger smile after the game than Cam Atkinson. A night after being benched in a loss at Philadelphia, the winger scored the game-winning goal while short-handed in the final minute of the second period.
Atkinson played a strong all-around game, contributing to four successful penalty kills and reuniting with linemates Brandon Dubinsky and Boone Jenner. He was clearly relieved to get a goal in the regular-season finale after managing only one in the previous 11 games.
“Obviously, the last 10 to 11 games I haven’t been playing up to my standards,” said the team’s leading scorer, who potted his 35th goal. “It hasn’t been a lack of trying. Today, I said, ‘Screw it, go play your game and whatever happens, happens.’ I didn’t overthink it.”
Tortorella was glad to see Atkinson get a boost heading into the playoffs.
“He not only got involved offensively, I thought he concentrated on the other side of the puck,” the coach said. “He’s been brutal for the past little while. It was so important for him to feel like he contributed to the team before we get to the real stuff.”