The Columbus Blue Jackets won their fourth straight game in convincing fashion, beating the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 5-2 at Bell MTS Place.
In a battle of two teams riding three-game winning streaks, the Blue Jackets broke the game open by scoring four goals in the second period. It was a true "team win" for the club, which saw 13 of its 18 skaters at or above 50% Corsi For, and saw 11 players tally at least a point. Oddly enough, not one player had a multi-point outing.
Balanced Attack
John Tortorella played his lines without making any in-game line adjustments, and it turned out to be a wise decision.
Each line contributed a goal tonight; it's a huge advantage to receive production up and down the lineup, and Tortorella rolled his lines and was able to keep fresh legs going over the boards. Only Lukas Sedlak played less than 10 minutes (9:54), and on the No. 1 line, no player logged more than 18 minutes, significantly under their TOI average from the first five games.
Strange coincidence, or just like they drew it up? The first goal was scored by the first line (Atkinson), the second by the second (Foligno)...you see where this is going.
Bonus: Two goals were scored by defensemen, who have fully embraced the "safe is death" mantra. More on that in a moment.
Defensive Aggression
Once upon a time, a headline like 'defensive aggression' would yield thoughts of Chris Pronger, but that's not where I'm heading.
On several instances, Blue Jackets defensemen were quick to join the rush, giving their forwards support for an offensive chance. In today's league, defensemen joining the play is more or less mandatory, and fortunately for the Blue Jackets, they are loaded with defensemen who can skate and activate.
Jack Johnson was rewarded for jumping low onto the weak side of the ice on the 3-1 goal (similar to Werenski's goal against the Wild on Saturday).
Later, Werenski sniped his third of the year in what might be my favorite goal of the young season. It was a seemingly innocuous play, but go back and re-watch: Seth Jones was leading the rush on a 2-on-2 with...Werenski. What confidence those two must have in their linemates to cover for them, since they were the two players attacking.
Korpi Bounces Back
He wasn't peppered the way he was against the Blackhawks, but this is the kind of game Joonas Korpisalo needed. He was sharp enough, stopping 24 of 26 shots.
Goaltending is so heavily founded on confidence. Korpisalo needed to show his teammates, his coaching staff, and frankly, himself, that he was capable of responding, and he did that tonight by looking like a legitimate backup.
"Korpisalo made some key saves at key times. It was a good bounce-back game for him. He doesn't let things bother him," Tortorella said. "We're gonna need him."
Nutivaara Watch
Markus Nutivaara made his season debut and was, on the whole, pretty solid. But this thought has less to do with this particular game, and more to do with his next game.
Once Nutivaara plays one more game in the NHL, he will have to clear waivers to be sent to the AHL. When Gabriel Carlsson returns from his upper body injury, the club could have some difficult decisions to make; it's not crazy to think Nutivaara wouldn't clear waivers, so he may be "up" in Columbus for the long haul.
Of course, it's a moot point if he doesn't play another NHL game. If he's scratched in favor of Scott Harrington, he can still be sent down to the minors without cause for concern.
Second Period Heroics
For the first time this season, the Blue Jackets lit the lamp four times in a period.
#CBJ with four goals in the 2nd, the most in a period this season. Last scored four goals in a period on Jan. 31, 2017 at NYR (2nd period).
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) October 18, 2017
The first period was a pretty good period, but opportunities to break the game were there and went un-cashed. The Blue Jackets led the Corsi Battle© 26-13 (66.67%) in the first, but came away scoreless. Just 36 seconds into the second period, the top line got the ball rolling with an Atkinson breakaway goal. After that, the flood gates were open.
Speaking of flood gates, what's up with Steve Mason? He was brought in to be a viable starting goaltender, but is winless in three starts and has given up 16 goals in the process. On the other hand, Connor Hellebuyck is 3-0-0. Awkward.
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