The Jackets just might have something going here.
After a successful game against New Jersey, they followed it up with an even better performance against the Islanders. They picked up a big two points on the road, and keep pace with New Jersey and Carolina, both of whom won as well.
Here are five thoughts from the win.
THE START
The Islanders are one of the worst defensive teams in the league, though they didn’t look it at the very start of this game. For the first three minutes they held the Jackets without a shot and were in complete control of the game. The Jackets, however, managed to get one really good chance, drew a power play, and the old Islanders came back. In the final 17 minutes of the period the Jackets outshot the Islanders 26-8, tying their franchise record set 10 days ago in this same building.
REGRESSION
The Jackets entered the night last in the NHL with a 7.5% team shooting percentage. A lot of their goal scoring problems can be attributed to some bad luck and not getting the bounces. With four goals tonight and six against New Jersey on Saturday, we are finally starting to see some positive regression. This is the first time since Dec. 27 and 29 that the Jackets have scored more than three goals in back-to-back games.
In short...it’s been a while.
DASHING DANE
One thing that’s been really helpful with that regression has been the play of Oliver Bjorkstrand. Dan Dukart is driving the "play Bjorkstrand more" bus and I am hopping on the bandwagon. In my opinion, he has one of the better releases on this team. He is third on the team in scoring but just ninth in average ice time, though that’s been changing in recent games. Against New Jersey, Bjorkstrand played 16:34 and 15:18 tonight. He’s rewarding John Tortorella’s decision-making with four points in those games.
The 10th goal of the season for Bjorkstrand is an absolute beauty. The shot just zooms past Halak.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/QcYboqjzzu
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 14, 2018
A POWERFUL POWER PLAY
The Jackets' power play was clicking tonight. They scored two goals with the extra man, just the third time all season they have done that. A big reason for the success was Josh Anderson; he didn’t shoot the puck or even pass it, but he was battling in front and was the screen on both of the goals.
Josh Anderson setting the screen once again and Dubois fires one past Halak on the power play. Three-game goal streak for him now.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/LJhXnGqp9q
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 14, 2018
Anderson has the perfect combination of size and skill to play that net front role. He can battle in front and has the skill to finish in close. Perhaps he’s the key to unlocking this power play?
KEEPING UP WITH BARZAL
The Blue Jackets were able to keep the Islanders' rookie sensation quiet, not allowing him to get any points and keeping him to just two shots. He was a big part of the Islanders win over the Jackets on Feb. 3, so keeping him in check was key. Jack Johnson and Markus Nutivaara deserve a ton of the credit – they were the defensemen who faced Barzal the most at 5-on-5. Against Johnson, Barzal had just a 42.86% Corsi and against Nutivaara, it was just 33.33%. Barzal still had his chances, but the Jackets did a tremendous job at limiting those.
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