Jackets’ Panarin gets ‘A’ for effort
CALGARY, Alberta — Artemi Panarin’s goal and assist Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers gave him more points in March than any other player in Blue Jackets history has compiled in one calendar month.
But it was a special night for the team’s No. 1 left wing and leading scorer even before opening faceoff.
Coach John Tortorella designated Panarin as an alternate captain for the first time. With captain Nick Foligno out because of injury and alternate captain Jack Johnson scratched for the third consecutive game, Panarin had an “A” on his sweater, along with forward Boone Jenner and defenseman Seth Jones.
“The way he carries himself, the way he plays, the way he prepares — without saying one word, he has shown true leadership,” Tortorella said of Panarin, acquired from the Blackhawks in a trade last June.
Panarin, whose 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) this month topped David Vyborny’s 18 in December 2006, also became the fifth player in franchise history to notch 70 points (26-45-71) in a season.
“Panarin doesn’t need any type of motivation,” Tortorella said. “He tries to be the best player (on the ice) every night. … He’s just built that way.” Artemi Panarin is chased by the Oilers’ Matthew Benning during Tuesday’s game, when Panarin was designated an alternate captain for the first time with the Blue Jackets.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, who had two assists Tuesday, was one of five Jackets with a multi-point game and passed Rick Nash for second-most points (41) by a rookie in franchise history.
But statistics weren’t why Tortorella said it was one of the best games he’s seen Dubois play.
“All the players contributed. So I don’t want to pick out one guy, but Luc, he played at a different level as far as his strength on the puck and … I watch a young kid being our No. 1 center, playing mostly against (Connor) McDavid, I was totally impressed with him.”
Tortorella predicted before the game that going head-to-head against
a high-profile player would “enhance” Dubois’ performance.
“He’s so fast, so it’s tough, but a really fun challenge,” Dubois said of matching up against McDavid. “You have to play a 200-foot game and sometimes sacrifice offense for defense. It’s hard work. I felt like I lost five pounds in the first period, but … it’s from games like this that I know I can grow as a player.”
After 12 hat tricks in the franchise’s first 673 road games, the Jackets have three in their past four with Thomas Vanek’s trifecta Tuesday, along with Panarin’s against the Rangers on March 20 and Cam Atkinson’s against the Flyers on March 15.
The Jackets didn’t have a hat trick the first
70 games this season, but now can tie the franchise record for most in a season (200203, 2011-12) with one more the final five games.
Defenseman Seth Jones, who leads the team in shots on goal (240), didn’t have one Tuesday for only the third game this season. He did block four shots while playing a team-high 22:33. … Atkinson’s seventh goal in seven games made him the second player in Jackets history to notch five consecutive 20-goal seasons. Nash had eight consecutive (2003-12). “I’m back to playing like my old self, if not even better than how I was last year,” Atkinson said.