It was a disappointing end to the season, but the Blue Jackets left their mark with some fantastic goals. Let’s take a look back on some of the incredible finishes from the 2017-18 season. Here are our top ten goals:
10: Bjorkstrand Snipes
Oliver Bjorkstrand had a sneaky good season, finishing third on the team in assists and fifth in scoring. He also was just one of two players (Pierre-Luc Dubois being the other) to play all 82 games. While he only scored 11 goals, he had two beauties in an otherwise defensively dominated game against Dallas. This snipe was especially noteworthy, and the Blue Jackets won 2-1, thanks to Bjorkstrand's brilliance.
9: Jones One-Time Blast
Artemi Panarin, noted sniper, is also an incredibly gifted passer. Here, he correctly identifies that Seth Jones is joining the rush, and shows shot just long enough that the goalie and defenseman are both in no-man's land when the puck goes across the ice for a beautiful one-timer.
8: Atkinson Slams Home Slap-Pass from Jones
Speaking of Jones, get a load of this beauty of a pass to find Cam Atkinson alone in front of the net on a 5-on-3 power play. Jones had to fake his slap shot to freeze the goalie, and put it right on the tape of Atkinson, who had the dexterity to turn quickly and shovel it into the net before the sprawling Jimmy Howard could make the stop.
7: Milano Goes Backhand
Sonny Milano had an up and down season, but showed that he was an effective contributor when he played. That was especially evident when he gained enough trust to be playing in 3-on-3 overtime. Here, he sealed the deal with a perfect fake-shot, backhand to the roof combo.
6: Calvert Totally Meant To Do That, Right?
This list wouldn't be complete without a goal from Matt Calvert, who's managed to score some of the biggest goals in the franchise's history despite playing largely in a fourth line role. This breakaway goal personified Matty Ice, who made a great hustle play to put himself in a favorable position, then took the road less traveled to find success.
Note: his game-winning, one-handed overtime goal warrants an 'honorable mention'.
5: Panarin Announces Himself With First Goal With New Team
Believe it or not, Panarin didn't score his first goal as a member of the Blue Jackets until his fourth game with the team. For most players, that's not newsworthy, but for someone with his talent, it is. His bomb of a slapshot against the New York Rangers wasn't just his first goal, but his first power play goal of the season.
4: Panarin Ties It Late Against Detroit
That was his first power play goal, but his most memorable came late in the season against the struggling Detroit Red Wings. He scored a huge goal late to tie the game at four, and Dubois added the (also amazing) overtime winner to give the Blue Jackets four straight goals in an improbable come-from-behind win.
3: Panarin Humiliates Buffalo
Panarin lent a hand in many pretty goals this season (if you haven't figured that out already, please keep reading), but perhaps none was more ridiculous than his goal against the Sabres. He stickhandled himself into what looked like a dead-end, only to toe-drag the puck to the middle before shoveling a puck off the crossbar and into the net. It's the kind of goal you see in Pee Wee hockey, not the NHL.
Helpful hint: watch the video again, but listen to the collective groan in the crowd when the puck goes in.
2: Atkinson and Panarin Make Magic
The Blue Jackets went 0-3 in home playoff games. You know this. Not much went well, but this was the most magical moment in those mostly otherwise forgettable evenings.
After a sloppy keep-in by Dmitry Orlov due to Atkinson's pressure, Panarin jumped on a loose puck and sprung Atkinson. Panarin darted past the defense to create a 2-1, and from the red line in, you could tell that these two were on the same page. Poor John Carlson didn't stand a chance, and the duo of Blue Jackets stars made him (and Braden Holtby) look silly.
1: Panarin Ends It
Who else but Panarin to cap off the list, but it's deserved. This is the kind of individual play, like several others on this list, that prompted GM Jarmo Kekalainen to trade for the Russian winger.
It's probably the only goal that - ten years from now - everyone will remember clear as day. The most amazing goal of the season combined a perfect blend of speed, skill, and unpredictability that makes Panarin so incredibly special.
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