It didn't look good in the beginning, but the final 40 minutes were some of the best (and most inspired) hockey we've seen from the Blue Jackets in a while.
With their season on the line, they delivered a thumping of the Montreal Canadiens, 6-2, in front of a sold-out crowd at Nationwide Arena. And there was no shortage of analysis after the game, highlighted by a handicapping of where things stand with a week-plus left in the regular season.
NHL Network's Darren Pang and Bill Lindsay said they were impressed by the Blue Jackets' resolve after a poor first period, rebounding to take control of the game and not look back.
"I thought the crowd in Columbus ... the crowd got going, the energy got going, and some confidence followed," Pang said.
And their quick start to the second period seemed to be just the jolt they needed. David Savard scored the 1-1 goal in the early moments, and before long, the Blue Jackets held a 3-2 lead after Matt Duchene's gorgeous cross-ice setup to Artemi Panarin.
"A really bad first period by Columbus," said Lindsay. "This Columbus team came out (in the second period) and they were a much different team, much more physical, much more prepared. They had that emotion and passion. It wasn't there in the first period – where is this, in this big game?
"That switch got turned on (between periods) big time by the Blue Jackets."
H/T to SpecmenceCBJ (YouTube) for the clip.
