Jackets awaiting Bemstrom boomer
21-year-old with rocket reputation studies Laine and is ready to launch
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — One of Emil Bemstrom’s biggest strengths as a rookie in the Swedish Hockey League was the art of getting open.
The other was his shot, which helped the Blue Jackets’ 21-year-old forward score 23 goals at age 19 for Djurgardens in 2018-19, making him the youngest player in SHL history to lead the league in goals.
In fact, Bemstrom’s right-handed one-timer from the left wing on power plays was so powerful that some in the Swedish league drew lofty comparisons of Bemstrom’s shot to that of NHL stars such as Steven Stamkos of Tampa Bay and Alex Ovechkin of Washington, whose “office” is that area of the ice on power plays.
In other words, Bemstrom’s shot is a rocket.
Rockets need launching pads, however, and those have been tougher for Bemstrom to find in the NHL, which has a lot more talent and a lot less space on its smaller ice surfaces.
“I think it’s been good for me to see the game from above and slow it down a little bit,” said Bemstrom, who returned to the Blue Jackets’ lineup Thursday after a 15-game stint on the taxi squad. “I’m getting comfortable with the puck in practices, and I’m ready to go.”
Bemstrom attempted just two shots and didn’t get any on net in his return game, skating 14 minutes, 16 seconds in the Jackets’ 2-0 loss to Chicago at Nationwide Arena. But he was a lot more noticeable than he was in his five-game stint to open the season.
Bemstrom didn’t register a single point and put just seven shots on goal before an assignment to the taxi squad allowed him to watch games from the press box area high above the ice. He also watched video breakdowns and went through skill-oriented practices with assistant coach Kenny Mccudden, the Blue Jackets’ skill-development guru.
Bemstrom also picked up an unexpected tutor in forward Patrik Laine, who was acquired in a Jan. 23 trade with the Winnipeg Jets. Laine, 22, also has a right-handed rocket from the left wing on power plays and has earned accolades because of it.
Laine also had scored six goals in 11
games with the Blue Jackets going into a matchup Saturday against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.
“He and Ovechkin have been, like, my idols,” Bemstrom said of Laine. “I’ve been watching games from upstairs and I’ve been trying to watch his game a little bit. He gets (into) a lot of open spaces on the ice and gets shots through almost every time, so it’s nice to see. I can learn a lot from him.”
That appears to be the plan, and if it works the Blue Jackets could theoretically have two booming shots for opposing teams to worry about.
“I didn’t feel that comfortable in the beginning (of the season),” said
Bemstrom, who again showed his prowess on larger European ice surfaces with eight goals, nine assists and 17 points for Helsinki’s HIFK in Finland before the NHL season. “I don’t know why.
“But now I’ve had some practice time and I’m starting to feel more comfortable out there. I’ve just got to find my way to find those areas where I can get (off) my shots. That’s just how it is. I have to find a way.”
Rust-proof
After going a full calendar year without playing a game, Gabriel Carlsson stepped into the Blue Jackets’ lineup Feb. 20 against the Predators and played well.
In fact, the 24-year-old defenseman scored his first NHL goal in the Jackets’ 4-2 loss and earned a lineup spot with two more solid outings this week against the Blackhawks. Carlsson remained in the lineup Saturday against Nashville and gained some affirmation from coach John Tortorella for his solid contribution in Thursday’s 2-0 loss.
“I thought Carlsson had some of the best puck poise of our D, quite honestly, in how he held onto pucks and made some plays,” Tortorella said of Carlsson, the No. 29 overall pick in the 2015 draft. “Really encouraging to see the improvement in him.”
Principal Atkinson
Tortorella didn’t get on the ice for practice Wednesday, which allowed the Blue Jackets to play some “pond hockey” games instead, as the coach described it.
Tortorella’s absence prompted a question to Cam Atkinson that made him smile sheepishly when the practice was loosely compared to getting a substitute teacher.
“I think of ‘Billy Madison’ when you say ‘substitute teacher,’ when the kids all start acting out and doing things they probably shouldn’t be doing,” Atkinson said of the 1995 comedy film starring Adam Sandler. “It was a good change of pace.” bhedger@dispatch.com @Brianhedger
CANTON — One final race separated the New Albany girls swimming team from its first state championship on Friday in the Division I state meet at Branin Natatorium. But nerves were never a factor despite the high stakes.
“We do better when we’re confident. All of us put the work in. We just had to believe in ourselves,” Eagles junior Ava Lachey said. “Just by doing that, we put the nerves away.”
New Albany finished the state meet as strong as it started, winning the 400 freestyle relay in 3 minutes, 24.65 seconds — more than two seconds ahead of Hudson — to clinch the championship. Carly Meeting, Olivia Hovorka, Ashlyn Morr and Lachey comprised the winning relay and capped a 246.5-point night, 26 ahead of runner-up Mason.
The Eagles also got a victory in the opening event of the state meet when Meeting, Sydney Boals, Hovorka and Lachey won the 200 medley relay in 1:41.56.
In the next race, the 200 freestyle, Lachey (1:50.15), Meeting (1:50.35) and Morr (1:51.9) finished fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, to establish momentum.
New Albany finished runner-up by nine points to Dublin Coffman last year.
“These girls really stayed focused. It was fun to see them come together and do this,” coach Dave Wharton said. “Being second last year made the girls hungry. For sure they wanted to come back. You always wonder when your seniors graduate how you will replace them. It’s exciting to see them accomplish this.”
Other top-eight finishes for the Eagles came from Lachey in the 100 free (tied for second, 50.75); Meeting in the 100 backstroke (second, 55.04); Morr in the 500 free (fifth, 5:00.93); the 200 free
relay team of Boals, Marisa Downs, Evie Morris and Morr (fifth, 1:36.65); Boals in the 200 individual medley (sixth,
2:05.47); and Hovorka in the 100 butterfly (seventh, 55.5).
Upper Arlington (186) and Coffman (149.5) finished third and fourth, respectively, in the team standings.
Led by Duke commit Martina Peroni, who was named swimmer of the meet, Olentangy was sixth (125). Peroni set a state-meet record of 1:57.77 in the 200 IM and later finished second (54.19) to teammate Cameron Kuriger (53.99) in the 100 butterfly.
“I felt pretty good in warm-ups. One of the coolest things that happened was Cameron and me being next to each other and scoring points for the team,” Peroni said. “A time of (1:57) was the goal all season.”
Other central Ohio state champions included Upper Arlington’s Riley Huddleston winning the 100 freestyle
(50.23) and sharing the 50 free title (23.15) with teammate Caroline Porterfield. The Bears also got a win from their 200 free relay team of Avery Catalano, Lizzie Oliphant, Porterfield and Emma Schueler.
Dublin Coffman freshman Emily Brown finished first in the 200 free (1:48.29) and 500 free (4:52.61). Teammate Ellie Andrews won her second consecutive championship in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.84).
“I wasn’t expecting two, that’s for sure,” Brown said. “I just wanted to get up there, have fun and get some experience.”
Earlier in the day, Hilliard Darby freshman Bailee Sturgill finished third in diving (313.05). dpurpura@thisweeknews.com @Thisweekdave