They kept it rolling.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| ISLANDERS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Proving Saturday wasn't a fluke, the Columbus Blue Jackets rode a second and third period offensive explosion to an impressive 4-1 win over the New York Islanders.
A win they desperately needed, too.
Just like last time these two squads met, the Blue Jackets opened the game with a virtual firestorm of intense offense, firing 26 shots in the first 20 minutes. That tied the franchise record set just 10 days ago in the same building. Opportunities were created on rebounds and from the slot, pucks hit the goal post, but the Blue Jackets could not place any in the back of the net guarded by Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak.
Meanwhile, a struggling Blue Jackets penalty kill was dented early by an Islanders power play goal to John Tavares. It was a 1-0 Islanders lead after the first period despite a 26-11 shot disadvantage.
It was all positive from there.
Oliver Bjorkstrand responded six minutes into the second period. Getting the puck at the top of the right circle on a Blue Jackets power play, the winger nailed a shot through a heavy Josh Anderson screen. Finally, after 33 shots, the Blue Jackets had converted.
The power play continued to be uncharacteristically effective as the period concluded, setting up Pierre-Luc Dubois for a bank shot off the goal post that put the Blue Jackets up 2-1. Anderson again screened Halak to make the save difficult. That tally held into the second intermission.
That’s back-to-back games winning period two for this team, for those of you keeping track at home. Coincidence they’ve won both of those games? I think not.
And 6:01 into the final period, Brandon Dubinsky took a pass along the boards from Boone Jenner and wrapped around the net to punch one through Halak’s pads after a couple swings. It took 43 seconds for Artemi Panarin to put one on a speeding Cam Atkinson for another goal. The Blue Jackets were up 4-1 in the bat of an eye.
That score held until the final buzzer. In the end, it was a 51-30 shot domination by the Blue Jackets.
Not to be lost in the offensive explosion by the Blue Jackets tonight are the efforts of Sergei Bobrovsky, who saved of 29 of 30 shots including multiple from point-blank range and a wonderfully played rush against Jordan Eberle.
Jordan Eberle is one of the most skilled players in the league.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 14, 2018
Full breakaway.
Bob doesn't care. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/rFhhQnrWZ3
Injury Update
Sonny Milano and Ryan Murray practiced recently and made the trip, but still have no definite timetable for their respective returns.
Next Up
The Blue Jackets travel to Toronto for a match-up with the Maple Leafs tomorrow.
Follow 1st Ohio BatteryFacebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
