Jackets’ Peeke finds offensive confidence
Blue Jackets defenseman Andrew Peeke was a healthy scratch a month ago, sitting against Chicago on Dec. 31 and Ottawa on Jan. 3.
But since returning to the lineup, he’s steadily risen the line chart — he’s now playing on the top pair alongside Vladislav Gavrikov — and is feeling his confidence grow.
“I think he’s one of those guys you root for because he’s all in,” Jackets coach Brad Larsen said.
“He’s physical at the puck. He’ll block anything, doesn’t matter who’s shooting it. He just continues to work at his game as far as moving the puck and making quick decisions. I think he’s certainly improving, for sure.”
Peeke’s main role for the Blue Jackets will always be defense first, and the 24year-old is well aware of that.
But after scoring just two goals last season, both into empty nets, he has five so far this year — a mark that leads all of the Blue Jackets’ defensemen.
His goal in Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals deflected off both a stick and a leg on its way to the net, but not all of his goals this season have come on fortunate bounces, as Peeke was quick to point out after Tuesday’s game.
“Sometimes it’s just a couple bounces, which tonight was,” Peeke said.
“It hit off a stick and hit off the pants.
No one’s going to complain about that. I think my two previous goals were pretty good shots.
“It’s just building confidence and trusting that you have that skillset in you.”
Peeke played 23:55 Tuesday, the second-most among the Blue Jackets’ defensemen, and recorded three shots on goal, two missed shots and three hits while blocking one shot along with the goal he scored.
He showed off his newfound confidence in the third period, streaking down the wing and firing a shot at Charlie Lindgren from close range that forced the goaltender into a challenging save.
Gavrikov and Peeke also drew the assignment of checking Alex Ovechkin’s line, and they held Ovechkin, who has scored the second-most goals in NHL history, without a point and to just three shots on goal.