Jackets enjoy depth at defenseman
The best way to gauge just how deep the Blue Jackets run in quality defensemen is to look at who is not playing.
After Dean Kukan earned the role of sixth defenseman for the first two games in a best-offive series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, three defensemen who played for the Jackets this season were healthy scratches – Markus Nutivaara, Scott Harrington and rookie Andrew Peeke, who filled in admirably during a rash of injuries.
The fact they’re all waiting for a shot to play says a lot more about the Blue Jackets’ depth – and
Kukan’s talent – than it does about them as players.
“For me, it was coming down to Kuks and Nuti,” coach John Tortorella said of the Jackets’ competition for the sixth spot. “(Harrington) also. Harry’s given us some good minutes during the year, but we just thought Kuks played better than the others. And I say that, you know … Peeker (also) gave us some good minutes when we had injuries. It all happens with the injuries, when you get to see your (depth) players play, but the decision – everybody was all for it, as far as the decision we made.”
Kukan, who shoots left-handed, has worked at the right point on the third defense pairing with
Ryan Murray in the first two games. He logged 13:04 on Sunday in Game 1, which the Blue Jackets won 2-0, and finished with four shots on goal, tied for the team high.
After returning from a knee injury Jan. 2 in Boston, which cost him the rest of the regular season, the 27-year-old Swiss defenseman has returned to form. He is also proving how much of a luxury Tortorella has when filling out his defensive lineup.
“Our depth on (defense) is really a strength of our team,” said top defenseman Seth Jones, who is back to full strength after an ankle fracture ended his regular season early. “We’re comfortable with all six.
Murr, Kuks, and you know, Nuti’s not in the lineup. We have Harry, Peeke, guys that aren’t even in the lineup that can come in and play in our top six, as well. So any given night, if we have everyone going, I think that’s what’s great about our D-corps.”
No friends in the playoffs
Zach Werenski and Auston Matthews have a friendship that extends back to their mid-teens at the U.S. National Team Development Program, but they’ve set it aside for a while.
In fact, one of Werenski’s two credited hits in Game 1 victory was against Matthews, Toronto’s
star center who was hit four times by the Blue Jackets. Werenski has a pencil-thin mustache similar to the one Matthews has worn for a few years, but that’s where their like-mindedness will stay until the series ends.
“You don’t really think too much about the friendship during a series like this,” Werenski said. “Obviously, both of us want to win and that’s why we’re here.”
Numbers game
In the NHL’S history of five-game series, teams that won Game 1 have won the series almost 82 percent of the time.
According to the NHL’S public relations staff, winners of Game 1 in a best-of-five series have an all-time .819 winning percentage in the series. Teams that won the first two games went 55-1, with the 1985 New York Islanders being the only team to win after falling behind 2-0.
The NHL included a best-of-five qualifying round this season as part of a 24-team playoff format adopted during an extended pause in the season for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Game 3 start time set
Game 3 of the series will start at 8 p.m. Thursday, the NHL announced Tuesday. bhedger@dispatch.com @Brianhedger