Under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, the Blue Jackets had some unexpected players step up, but when things got tough, they turned to their shining star to do what he does best and carry this team to a victory.
Here are five thoughts from the win in New York.
2nd the best
Simplifying the game. The second line continues to impress in a new and exciting way each and every night. Their game tonight didn’t have an Alexander Wennberg four-point performance or a Thomas Vanek multi-goal game, but it did have a Wennberg goal and those are always fun.
Wennberg scores and the hottest line in hockey continues to perform.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/1A1bHNT6Nf
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 20, 2018
Murray Murray
The Fox Sports Ohio broadcast has talked a couple times about how upset Ryan Murray was to be a healthy scratch. He was held off the scoresheet in his first game back against Ottawa, but had two assists against Bruins and had another tonight against the Rangers. He’s been one of the Jackets' better defensemen in this little stretch without Seth Jones. Tonight wasn’t his best game, but in the two games prior to this, he had a 55% Corsi, second behind only Markus Nutivaara among defensemen.
Never fear, Nutivaara is here
Speaking of Nutivaara...what a great game he had. He was arguably the Jackets' best defenseman, leading the defense with a 62.86% Corsi and four shots on goal. He was on the ice for seven high-danger shots for and just one against; in the process, he also scored his fifth goal of the season.
Panarin finds Nutivaara and the Blue Jackets are rocking and rolling in the Big Apple.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/dVXlxc8p4l
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 21, 2018
Nutivaara is starting to find his groove offensively with points in three straight games. He along with Murray have helped fill the offensive void left by Jones on the back end.
Sedlak steps in
Brandon Dubinsky, who hasn’t had a point since Feb. 13, was a healthy scratch for the first time in his Blue Jackets career. In his place was Lukas Sedlak, who had played just two games in the month of March and right away you could tell he was ready to go. He appeared to have no rust, making an impact right away; he had a shot and three high danger chances in the first period alone. The rest of his night wasn’t as impactful, but his line was key in generating the Jackets' second goal that came on a delayed penalty.
Bread Hat
What else can be said about the Bread Man? He continues to be spectacular night after night and this was no exception. He sniped the Jackets' second goal, displaying his ridiculous release. His smarts and awareness were on display on his next goal, as he played right to the whistle. He saw the puck was loose under Henrik Lundqvist, was able to scoop it out and put in in the net for a 4-2 lead.
He capped off his hat-trick with an empty net goal, marking his second four-point game of the season. He becomes just the fourth Blue Jacket in franchise history to have two four games in a season, joining Espen Knutsen, Rick Nash, and Mike Sillinger.
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