2021-22 NHL Post Season Wrap- J-F Berube

I started doing these for each player on the Columbus Blue Jackets roster this past season, at the very close of the season.  With Worlds now over and the Stanley Cup now given out, it's time my focus went back to my hometown team.  I'm very happy about that.  I will say, for sake of time and what's to come (NHL Draft, Free Agency, Signings and Camp) I'll likely do more than one of these posts a day, just so each player gets their post before next season starts!  

J-F Berube, you're up!

When I think of Berube's last year in a Blue Jackets uniform, I think of one game in particular.  February 24th, 2022.  Why?  Columbus had not won a game against the Florida Panthers, who was projected to and did win the Presidents Cup 2022, all season.  Elvis Merzlikins was injured.  Joonas Korpisalo was injured.  Daniel Tarasov was injured.  This left J-F Berube to answer the call, guarding the net for Columbus.  No pressure, right?  Wrong.  J-F Berube hadn't seen NHL ice since the 2017-18 NHL Season, this now as the 2021-22 NHL Season.  So, he'd been in the minors for a hot minute.  Still, he accepted the challenge and was ready to go his first night in net.  His first game was at home in Nationwide Arena, on February 20th, 2022, against the Buffalo Sabres.  His second game was also in Nationwide Arena, on February 22nd, 2022, against the Toronto Maple Leafs.  That third game of his would be his greatest challenge, facing the Florida Panthers, in Florida.  

He went into this game 2-0-0, having led the Blue Jackets to a back-to-back win on both February 20th and 22nd.  Period 1 would end with a 1-1 tie.  Period 2 would see just 1 goal, from the Blue Jackets, giving them a 2-1 lead.  Period 3 would be one to remember this last season however, as the Blue Jackets would go on to score 4 goals, where the Panthers would only get 2 past Berube.  The final would be a huge, 6-3 win for a team who struggled to win away this season and had never won against the Panthers during that season.  

Berube would go on to play 2 more games, before becoming backup to a returning Elvis Merzlikins.  Both wouldn't quite go his way.  However, that game against the Panthers, in Florida, will be what I remember him for most this season.  He finished with 6 starts, with 3 wins and 2 losses.  Not bad at all for a man who hadn't played an NHL Game in seasons, who likely expected to not be called up, being number 4 in the lineup.  

Well done, Berube.  



        

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