What a game last night, folks.
Seven unanswered goals led the Blue Jackets to victory – making it 11 in their last 12 – to keep them in the Metropolitan's third spot with just five games left to play. This week's Mid-Week Heat Check recognizes the player who helped dig the Jackets out of the 3-0 deficit last night – and takes a look at the opponent who helped cause it. Let's dive right in.
Thomas Vanek - Blue Jackets Winger
It took him a couple of games to hit his stride with his new club, but Thomas Vanek has been a godsend for the Columbus Blue Jackets after being acquired at the trade deadline – and last night’s game was his best yet.
The 34-year-old Austrian helped rally the Blue Jackets last night – down 3-0 early in Edmonton – and completed his hat-trick in the 7-3 win, adding an assist in the process. More impressively, those four points came in just 13:54 of ice time.
Torts: "I've told Thomas to shoot the puck since Day 1 (with the Jackets)."
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 28, 2018
Vanek potted his 11th career hat trick last night in Columbus' rout. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/A2oEXrAIQ4
After a bumpy start – he didn’t record a point in his first four games with Columbus – Vanek has looked better than anyone imagined, with 13 points (7-6–13) over his last 10 games. Acquired in part due to his ability to help with the power play, he actually hasn’t recorded a single point on the man advantage yet, with all of his production coming during 5-on-5 play.
More importantly, though, he’s made two struggling Jackets find their game again, in Boone Jenner and Alexander Wennberg. Vanek’s finishing skill helped Wennberg hit a new franchise record last night, as he finished with a +6 rating, something no Jacket has ever done before.
Connor McDavid – Edmonton Oilers Center
The reason for last night’s early 3-0 deficit was the man wearing number 97 in orange.
Connor McDavid is on a tear as of late, with a mind-blowing 6-7–13 line over his last five games. Three of those points came last night, giving him 102 points so far this season – the most in the league.
There aren’t enough good things to say about McDavid’s game. He seemingly plays the game twice as fast as everyone else around him – both in terms of skating speed and anticipation – and without him, the Oilers would likely be favorites yet again in the draft lottery.
Sonnets will be written. Generations will speak in hushed tones about how he elevated his team from a blazing dumpster fire to just a scorching one. #WeAreWitnesses https://t.co/nhegyy3eNi
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) March 28, 2018
His team certainly isn’t making the playoffs, but we’re witnessing an historic player who may not even be close to his prime yet. He hit 100 points last year, and now, at 21, he’s done it twice, making him one of the only players in NHL history to duplicate that feat before his 22nd birthday.
