Blue Jackets seeing results despite flaws
The Blue Jackets’ imperfections are improving, but they’re still around.
There are still stretches when they get hemmed into their own end of the ice for too long. There are times when they can’t set up in the opposing team’s zone, and can’t get to the middle third of the ice once they do.
Those are problems, but the Blue Jackets are proving they can still be competitive despite them, as they did Thursday in a 3-2 overtime victory on the road to start a four-game set against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Seth Jones scored two goals, including the winner with 51 seconds left in overtime, and Joonas Korpisalo made some fantastic stops in a 25-save victory at PNC Arena.
“We haven’t played a perfect game this year and it never is perfect,” Jones said. “I thought we found a great way to win.”
Here are some takeaways:
Melting the ice
Jones is capable of putting pucks in the net, but one of the NHL’S top twoway defensemen is just as concerned about keeping them out of his team’s net. Regardless, Jones hadn’t scored a goal in 19 games by the time he swatted home the rebound of Oliver Bjorkstrand’s shot with 5:49 let in the first period.
Jones’ winning goal, his third this season, was indicative of the improvement the Blue Jackets have made in recent games in transitioning to offense more cleanly. It’s no coincidence that has coincided with stronger play from Jones and his defense partner, Zach Werenski.
“I was up in the play quite a bit, trying to be aggressive,” Jones said. “I want to get that in my game a little bit more moving forward for this team.”
Another dazzler
Korpisalo made another incredible save with his goalie stick, which prevented the Hurricanes from extending a 2-1 lead in the second period.
Moments after Sebastian Aho gave Carolina a 2-1 lead on a power play with 7:40 left in the second, the Hurricanes got another great scoring chance when a shot from the point by Hadyn Fleury ricocheted off Werenski directly to Warren Foegele for a quick shot.
Korpisalo dove, stopped Foegele’s shot in mid-air with his stick and quickly
covered the puck. The stunned look on Foegele’s face said it all.
Surprise scorer
Kevin Stenlund was slated as a healthy scratch, but was pressed into the lineup after Mikhail Grigorenko came down with what the team called a “NON-COVID illness.”
Stenlund made the most of his second chance, tying the score 2-2 with 2:10 left in the second period, just four seconds after a Columbus power play expired. He finished with five shots in 11:23 of ice time.
“It didn’t bother me that much,” Stenlund said of being informed by coach John Tortorella that he would play. “I got my nap in, (got) some food.”
Staying hot
After struggling through the first half of the season, Max Domi is now living up to the expectations the Blue Jackets had after acquiring him from Montreal for Josh Anderson.
After posting back-to-back twopoint games last week, Domi showed off his hands and vision again on Stenlund’s tying goal, taking a pass from Bjorkstrand between his legs and quickly sending a backhand feed to Stenlund, who was in perfect position to bang home a one-timer.
It was Domi’s fifth point in the past four games (two goals, three assists). bhedger@dispatch.com @Brianhedger
BLUE JACKETS 3, HURRICANES 2, OT
Columbus 1 1 0 1—3 Carolina 0 2 0 0—2
FIRST PERIOD: 1, Columbus, Jones 2 (Bjorkstrand, Werenski), 14:11. Penalty: Domi, CBJ (Cross Checking), 1:24. SECOND PERIOD: 2, Carolina, Aho 12 (Niederreiter, Foegele), 0:51. 3, Carolina, Aho 13 (Necas, Hamilton), 12:20 (pp). 4, Columbus, Stenlund 5 (Bjorkstrand, Domi), 17:50. Penalties: Foligno, CBJ (Roughing), 4:38; Matteau, CBJ (Tripping), 11:09; Pesce, CAR (Tripping), 15:46.
OVERTIME: 5, Columbus, Jones 3 (Bjorkstrand), 4:09.
Shots on Goal: Columbus 14-6-6-2: 28. Carolina 7-12-4-4: 27. Power-plays: Columbus 0 of 1; Carolina 1 of 3. Goalies:
Columbus, Korpisalo 8-9-5 (27 shots-25 saves). Carolina, Nedeljkovic 6-2-2 (28-25). A: 2,924 (18,680). T: 2:31.