The Blue Jackets didn't have an ideal game one against the Penguins. The 3-1 loss speaks for itself.
One prominent player in particular seemed to be missing at the end of the game, Brandon Saad.
The two-time Stanley Cup winner skated only 19 shifts on the evening including, two in the third period, amounting to 1:45 in ice time.
Brandon Saad should play more than than a minute & change in the 3rd if the #CBJ want to get more goals (from: https://t.co/Gfr9xdpQU9) pic.twitter.com/cM9bOfPMMZ
— Matt (@zekebud) April 13, 2017
Saad had 24 goals and 29 assists this regular season for 53 points. He finished game one with a +3 shot differential at even strength and 15:40 of total ice time.
On Tuesday, Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella said it was his decision to limit Saad's ice time down the stretch in Game 1. In the same way that Cam Atkinson was benched in the third period of Columbus' game at Philadelphia last weekend, Tortorella felt he could get more out of other players, particularly a youngster like Olver Bjorkstrand.
"I just thought other guys were going at certain times," Tortorella said. "Saader needs to be a big part of this. I thought that line (Saad, Nick Foligno and Alex Wennberg), their first period was their best period and it started to deteriorate a little bit from there. I was going with our thought at that particular time in the third period who was going."
His previous play with the Chicago Blackhawks is a reason why many are excited to see him play this postseason. Atkinson responded to his benching with a clutch goal at Toronto. Let's hope Torts see the see result with Saad.
The Blue Jackets play Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Pittsburgh Penguins this Friday.
