Calvert’s goal worthy of highlight reel
Matt Calvert pulled the puck behind him skating through traffic, went around Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta and beat goalie Matt Murray with a beautiful backhand, giving the Blue Jackets their second of four leads Thursday night.
“I just saw an opportunity,” Calvert said of his ninth goal of the season. “It’s not really a move I pull off too much, but it worked out for me, and it was great to see it go in.”
“I’ve seen Calvy do that kind of stuff before,” linemate Mark Letestu said. “He has that kind of skill level. He sometimes sacrifices for what we need out of him in his role, but he has that ability to make plays.”
Calvert is valued for his versatility, not his offense, but he was aggressive in the offensive zone all night.
He had four shots on goal through two periods and nearly scored his second of the night in the second period but couldn’t corral the puck in front of the net before Evgeni Malkin poked it away with his stick. Earlier, he drew a high-sticking penalty on Jamie Oleksiak while attacking the net.
“For me, it was the first game of the playoffs,” Calvert said. “Everyone in here has got to find another level, and I thought a lot of guys did it. Teammates surround Matt Calvert to congratulate him after his behind-the-back, backhanded goal in the first period.
That was my focus.”
With two assists, PierreLuc Dubois seized Zach Werenski’s franchise record for points by a rookie. Dubois now has 48. Werenski’s goal tied Seth Jones for the team record for goals by a defenseman. Both have 16 this season.
“It’s an honor,” Dubois said. “It’s fun to beat a guy like ‘Z,’ who last year had an amazing season. He was a (defenseman) and played less games. That’s pretty impressive. I wish there was a way he could still have that (record).”
In his first game since suffering a sprained knee Feb. 26, right wing Josh Anderson logged 9:44 of ice time with two shots and a plus-1 rating on a line with center Brandon Dubinsky and Calvert.
Anderson, who missed 17 games, said his six-week absence “felt like three months” and “it’s definitely extra special” that his return came against the Penguins.
Cam Atkinson’s goal extended his point streak to a career-high-tying nine
games, matching his run from Dec. 5 to 23, 2016. … Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky received the team’s 2017-18 Community MVP Award, given to the player who best exemplifies service, dedication and leadership. As a result, the Blue Jackets Foundation will donate $5,000 to a charity of Bobrovsky’s choice. Bobrovsky and his wife, Olga, have hosted about 1,000 children and their families — part of Bob’s Battalion — in a suite they’ve rented for home games.