Well, okay then.
The Columbus Blue Jackets remain wildly inconsistent and it has made for a roller coaster of a season.
This time they pull out a win against the Toronto Maple Leafs by a score of 4-2 and it was a game that was never really in reach for the visiting Maple Leafs. The Blue Jackets got ahead early 2-0 and when it got down to a one-score deficit, the Blue Jackets picked up another goal on the power play.
Multiple players had great nights to ensure that the home team came out ahead. Most noteworthy, they came from unexpected places.
Wennberg Wildin' Out
A lot of complaints have been thrown in the direction of Alexander Wennberg and the play he has displayed 30+ games into the season. The comments weren't unfounded with his production dipping much lower than it has in recent seasons. Obviously battling an injury, Wennberg has been working his way back to full strength.
Tonight may have been his best game of the entire season without the points on the board he put up. He posted a 51.7% CF at even strength and a game score of over 1 (which is very good, if you want to learn more about the metric read about it here). Add that he posted one goal and one assist, you have to believe that Wennberg is turning a corner.
Good things happen when you shoot the puck. Wennberg is the beneficiary of this shot. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/TBkPNhQewj
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 21, 2017
Going up against solid centers all night long, Wennberg showed up in a big way and it definitely needs to be recognized.
Korpisalo Killin' It
Starting a backup goaltender can be an adventure, especially when you're playing a great club. Add that to the fact that the Blue Jackets got their doors blown off in their last game, worrying is normal.
It turns out that there was nothing to worry about since Joonas Korpisalo turned in one of his best performances of the season. He posted a .951 save percentage and faced 41 shots total.
When you're up by two goals after the first period...#CBJ pic.twitter.com/wpCbQCRmwB
— SB (@Sam_Blazer) December 21, 2017
That is a full nights work and allows for starter Sergei Bobrovsky the opportunity to recharge before their big game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Who? Seth Jones
Back then they didn't want him and now he's hot they're all on him. That is the story of Seth Jones' career so far. Playing on the third pairing for the Nashville Predators before being traded, Jones is now on the top pairing and one of the best defensemen in the game.
He posted another multi-point game which is becoming a bit ho-hum for a player that performs so well offensively. His end to end goal was a master class in skating and shooting. It was absolute excellence.
Jones is a one man wrecking crew. This unassisted goal is an absolute screamer. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/GIUQaioOAk
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 21, 2017
He also helped turn around the power play that desperately needed it with a pass off the end boards that sent the Maple Leafs scrambling, trying to find the puck.
Dubois takes a pass from Atkinson as they catch McElhinney leaning the other way. Great power play goal.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/MArTvi3Y6Q
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 21, 2017
Jones is a revelation. Tonight was just another example to add to his portfolio.
Baby, I Hear The Power Play Blues Calling
Speaking of the power play, toss everything you know about it out (at least for now). The Blue Jackets played a scrambled style of play and were able to find success with less structure than before.
Jones started it on the man advantage but Cam Atkinson's slick pass to the slot to Pierre-Luc Dubois was really a team effort. Everyone had to be on the same wavelength and if they weren't it would've looked like every other power play before it. There was an urgency to there play that wasn't there before.
It is early to say that they solved their woes but if the Blue Jackets find out that not playing with a laissez-faire attitude is the key, the goals will come soon.
Atkinson Diet
There hasn't been a lot of success for Cam Atkinson thus far before his new contract was signed and other than the game the day after his signing, there hasn't been the success after the signing either. It is a concerning development for a Blue Jacket team desperately seeking secondary scoring.
With two assists on the night, Atkinson was involved in the offense and it is more than he has done on most nights. He fed the puck to players in good spots and it allowed the Blue Jackets to feel comfortable in the lead that they had.
If Atkinson isn't performing, he needs to step up in different ways. Becoming a distributor is one way of staying involved when the pucks aren't going in. It's a healthy sign for the player to fill the stat sheet in other ways.
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