Anderson’s fast, furious play fuels Blue Jackets
As games dwindle and pressure mounts, the Blue Jackets’ most effective forward has emerged in twoplus weeks since the trade deadline.
It’s not Artemi Panarin or Cam Atkinson, although they both are threats. It’s not Pierre-luc Dubois, Matt Duchene or Ryan Dzingel, either.
It’s Josh Anderson, and it’s not even close.
“I’d like to see him lead the way, as far as how you play,” coach John Tortorella said last weekend, before Anderson did exactly that in a demon-exorcising, 4-1 trouncing of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday at Nationwide Arena. “We’re waiting for someone to lead the way, and Andy certainly has the ability, the speed and the season to do that and say, ‘Follow me.’ ”
Anderson’s play the past three weeks has gotten that message across to his teammates, loud and clear. They are following Anderson, even if most have no prayer of actually catching him on skates.
Anderson not only is the Jackets’ biggest, baddest dude up front — a guy who stood toeto-toe with Boston’s towering Zdeno Chara
last season and lived to tell about it — he also is their fastest forward, with breathtaking speed at 6 feet 3 and 221 pounds.
That size/speed combination has been on display the past four games, including Anderson’s career-best effort Tuesday, leading the Blue Jackets to a 7-4 victory at home against the Boston Bruins, who had a 15-0-4 stretch end Sunday in Pittsburgh and sit comfortably in second place in the Atlantic Division.
Anderson pushed his goal total to a careerbest 23 and finished with career-highs in assists (three) and points (four). He also impressed in three previous games, despite adding only one assist during a frustrating offensive slog for the team.
His lines, however, have been the Jackets’ most effective, led by Anderson’s hard-nosed forechecking.
In two games against Pittsburgh last week,
Anderson helped the Jackets’ “identity” line — which included captain Nick Foligno and Boone Jenner — hem the Penguins into their zone for long stretches and also take a 1-0 lead on Jenner’s goal 2:31 into the game.
Tortorella broke them up Monday during a frustrating 2-0 loss at the New York Islanders, but it didn’t affect Anderson, who immediately helped Duchene and Dzingel get traction. Those three stayed together against Boston and the results were even better.
Anderson’s read of a play while backchecking, and then speed after a turnover created by Dzingel, sparked his goal and a big night for their line. Dzingel and Duchene also scored, with Dzingel adding two assists for the first three-point game in his NHL career.
“This is the time of the year when you’ve got to step it up and kind of lead by example on the ice,” said Anderson, who also leads the Jackets with 185 hits. “I want to be that guy, too. I want to lead by example on the ice and I’ve got to continue to do that with my play.”
It hasn’t gone unnoticed, either. The Jackets have climbed aboard the No. 77 train and hope to keep chugging right into the Stanley Cup playoffs.
“If he doesn’t have the puck on his stick, he’s going to forecheck somebody and get it back,” said Jenner, whose first of three goals against the Bruins was scored off Anderson’s rebound. “He’s dangerous out there, and I think that brings a lot of guys with him into the fight.” Tortorella agrees. “Andy is having a hell of a year,” he said. “Everywhere we put him, he seems to help. He’s a very important guy for us right now.”