Columbus Blue Jackets @ Nashville Predators: Season 25 Game 1

Welcome to the quarter-century celebration, 5th Line! 

Congratulations to Jet Greaves, who got to start in game one of an NHL season for the first time in his career. The team would take the ice in Nashville with energy, just as excited to start the 25th season of Columbus Blue Jackets hockey as the fans. Unfortunately, the opening goal would be in favor of the home team. Predators' Michael Bunting would sail the puck past the gloved hand of Jet Greaves. From the line of sight he had, Jet had no chance at stopping the Predators from going up 1-0 at 6:45. Even with a few minutes of good play toward the middle of the period for the Predators, the Blue Jackets would have excellent energy and control in the beginning and end of the opening period. The strength of play for the visiting Blue Jackets would come through at 16:01 with the first goal of the season for Dimitri Voronkov! Damon Severson and Denton Mateychuk would each get their first assists of the season on the goal from Jackets' #10. The rest of the period would see good play, but ultimately the 1-1 tie would hold through the end of Period 1.  

An observation before we get into Period 2. Miles Wood and Charlie Coyle came to Columbus in March. I didn't love the idea of losing two draft picks and Gavin Brindley at the time, even though I knew Charlie Coyle. I hadn't heard Miles Wood's name mentioned much when we played the Colorado Avalanche. That said, both men were all over the ice in not just Period 1, but throughout the game. I'm excited that Don Waddell acquired us these two experienced forwards. From what I've seen so far, they are a solid fit. I can't wait to see how they continue to work for and with the Blue Jackets in their first full season in Columbus. Now, on to Period 2!

This middle period tonight would be full of a lot of back and forth until both Sean Monahan and Isac Lundestrom would share the visitor box for high-sticking and hooking. In this crucial kill, Jet Greaves would rob the Predators of a great 3-on-5 scoring chance. Thanks to our goalie and our remaining players on the ice, the Blue Jackets would manage to kill the double Predators' Power Play, keeping the game tied. With seconds left on the clock before the second intermission, after a failed Blue Jackets Power Play, it would appear as if Mathieu Olivier had scored. The Predators would challenge for goaltender interference, and we'd lose the Mathieu Olivier goal. It's a bummer, but at least we're still tied at 1-1 heading into Period 3. 

Early in Period 3, the Predators would snatch the lead back (2-1) after a tripping penalty was called on Zach Aston-Reese. Ryan O'Reilly would add the Predators' second goal of the night as his first of the season at 2:41. The assists would be the first of the season for both Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi. After this Predators' goal, there'd be a notable shift in momentum in favor of the home team. Jet Greaves would remain strong in the net, even when under attack. It was quite inspiring, as was the Blue Jackets' push in the final minutes to try and tie this game, but it wouldn't happen. The Blue Jackets would fall in their first game of the season by a goal, the final score, 2-1, Nashville.   

Even with the loss, the Blue Jackets did a lot of good things tonight. The Blue Jackets would finish with 7 more shots on goal than the Predators, 38 to 31. Jet Greaves would have an impressive game, finishing with a .935 Save Percentage thanks to his stopping 29 of the Predators' 31 shots on his goal. For a good portion of this game, the Blue Jackets were in control and had the drive to thrive. I think losing the Mathieu Oliver goal and then Ryan O'Reilly's go-ahead goal at the start of Period 3 was the downfall for the Blue Jackets tonight. That said, this was not a bad game. We only lost by a goal, and the team did not fall apart at the end, but instead pushed till the final buzzer. We have 81 more games to play. I'm not worried at all.

Michael Bunting would take the Third Star of the Game after he scored the first goal of the night for his Nashville Predators. 

Ryan O'Reilly would take the Second Star of the Game after scoring the second goal of the night for his Nashville Predators, and this would become the game-winning goal for the home team tonight. 

 The First Star of the Game, rightfully so, would go to the Predators' goalie, Juuse Saros. He had a .974 save percentage after he stopped all but one shot from the Blue Jackets, going 37/38. This man was definitely an obstacle for the Blue Jackets all night. 

Our next game will see the Blue Jackets remain on the road. We'll travel to Minnesota to face the Wild on Saturday night. The game will again start at 8:00 p.m.  

Go CBJ!       




      

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