Oliver Bjorkstrand Scored the Columbus Blue Jackets' Second Power Play Goal in Two Games in Their 4-3 Overtime Loss to the St. Louis Blues

By Max Steele on November 2, 2019 at 10:15 am
Nov 1, 2019; St. Louis, MO, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (28) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the St. Louis Blues during the second period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports
© Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports
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The Columbus Blue Jackets have scored power play goals in two consecutive games.

We may have to check and see if swine can fly and/or a certain place has frozen over.

The trials and the tribulations of the of the Blue Jackets' power play are well documented.  After an unstoppable run at the beginning of the 2016-2017, the special teams unit has never impressed.  Since that time, the Blue Jackets' power play has consistently ranked in the bottom ten of the NHL.

But for now, there's a little hope.

Outside of two tough losses, the Blue Jackets' power play has been a point of optimism, scoring two goals in two games.  While this outcome may be expected of most competitive teams, it has major implications for the Blue Jackets' special teams confidence.

This is first time this season the Columbus Blue Jackets have had power play goals in consecutive outings.

Oliver Bjorkstrand was one of those power play goal-scorers.  In the 4-3 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues, Bjorkstrand gathered a feed from Pierre-Luc Dubois in the slot to hammer home his third goal of the year.

After the game, Bjorkstrand commented on what was going well for the power play.

"I felt like we were moving the puck," he said. "Zach (Werenski) was moving the puck well on the blue line.  Wenny (Alexander Wennberg) shot the puck.  I got a few shots."

The increased movement, shot volume, and second-chance opportunities all led to Bjorkstrand's score.

Despite the recent power play success, Bjorkstrand expressed a long-term view of the special team's improvement.

"All those things we did on the power play - I think we need to just keep doing that.  And that's moving the puck and being ready," Bjorkstrand said.

"There's positives in that, but it's one game.  We've got to keep doing that in the next few games, especially tomorrow (against Calgary)...build on it and not take steps back, take steps forward."

The Columbus Blue Jackets' much maligned power play appears to firing - perhaps not on all, but at least more cylinders than previous.  While the results have not been there in terms of wins the last two games, finding a groove in the power play is a tremendous internal victory.

The Blue Jackets will now look to take the momentum from these performances and translate future well-performing power plays into wins and points.  For the sake of their playoff chances, these goals cannot be aberrations. 

If there is hope for success this season, the team must continue to build, improve, and redeem the Columbus Blue Jackets' power play.

 

 

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