Winnipeg Jets @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 3/16/23

The first period of this game would be a clinic on good defense for both teams. It would take until the final seconds for a goal to be scored. It would, unfortunately, be in the Winnipeg Jets favor, however. K. Connor would score at 19:58, giving his team a 1-0 advantage heading into Period 2. This would also be a Powerplay goal for the Jets. 

A former Jets player would even the odds in this Period 2, however, as Patrik Laine would score goal fifteen of his season. The goal would come at 10:00, giving Adam Boqvist his twelfth assist this season and his third point in just two games. The secondary assist would go to Johnny Gaudreau, who keeps skating along; this is his thirty-seventh of the season. Amazingly, this would be the only goal of this period, giving us a 1-1 tie and an exciting third period to go.

After more back-and-forth hockey, with many chances and no goals, Kent Johnson would break through! His twelfth goal this season would come at 9:40. Given the top goal scorers on the Blue Jackets had fifteen goals total at this point in the game, Johnson has had a fantastic season thus far. Assist one on this Johnson goal goes to Jack Roslovic, giving him twenty-five so far this season. The secondary assist would go to Emil Bemstrom, his eighth this season. After many...many nail bitting worthy icing calls, Captain Boone Jenner would score on the Jets empty net! This is Jenner's sixteenth goal of the season, and, for now, he has the most on this team. The time of this goal would be 19:57, and the only assist on this goal would become Patrik Laine's nineteenth of his season. The Blue Jackets would WIN tonight 3-1. Those two points taste sweet, but not as sweet as us FINALLY sweeping a team series! 

Even though that 3-1 win is impressive, this was not a perfect game. Joonas Korpisalo (Korpi-save-o) had a huge part in this win. If not for his stopping 37 of 38 shots tonight, this game would not have been a win, no doubt. The Powerplay Kill was also on full display. Their ability to dismiss 3 individual 5 Jets on 3 Blue Jackets situations is stunning. The Jets had 7 chances on the Powerplay total and, thankfully, only scored on 1. Still, that's a lot and far too many penalties. So, there are still some sports to improve upon. This is still a huge win for a team showing massive improvement. 

Star One of the Game, with 38 shots on his net and stopping 37, Joonas Korpisalo.

Star Two of the Game, with 1-1-2, Patrik Laine.

Star Three of the Game, with 1-0-1, Kent Johnson. (His third Game Winning Goal this season!) 

We'll be back at it, on the road, on February 18th. We will head down to Dallas and face the Stars. The puck drop is set for 6:00 PM. This game will be another heavy challenge for a young Blue Jackets team starting to find an identity, so we'll see how it goes! (I have high hopes, though.)       

Go CBJ!