Folks, the Blue Jackets are in the win column.
After two losses to Nashville over the weekend, they needed one today. They've been in 1-1 games through 40 minutes in all three games this season, and this time, they broke the dam. Two third-period goals–beautiful goals, too–gave the Blue Jackets their first win of the year, a 3-2 decision in Detroit.
Let's break it down.
BJORKY'S ON THE BOARD
A couple of palpable sighs of relief could be felt in the last two games. First, it was Alexandre Texier–expected to play a prominent role for the Blue Jackets this season–opening his account in Saturday's loss to the Nashville Predators.
On Monday, it was Oliver Bjorkstrand breaking the seal and scoring his first goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1 in the second period. Big things are on the horizon for Bjorkstrand and it's these types of players you want to see filling the net early and often. If it went much longer, you wonder when Bjorkstrand started to press or have it consume him. Luckily, he's a patient dude.
Check out this laser beam.
Loose puck and Oliver Bjorkstrand (@OBjorkstrand) absolutely rips it. #NHLFaceOff
— NHL (@NHL) January 18, 2021
: https://t.co/rDOVXK7wQ7 @NHLonNBCSports pic.twitter.com/sTTXCRLPjr
If the Blue Jackets are going to dig out of this early funk and get on the right road, Bjorkstrand must be a big part of it. Today's goal was a good sign.
And how about the Gordie Howe hat trick?
DEFENSIVELY OFFENSIVE
This is the Blue Jackets' bread and butter. Their calling card, their modus operandi.
Defending is in their DNA. And three games into 2020-21, it's clear they have some things to work through. They bled odd-man chances in Nashville and Monday in Detroit, they had a hard time making simple plays to evade the Red Wings' forechecking and release pressure. Yes, Joonas Korpisalo had a strong day, but he can't bail the Blue Jackets out of every mistake.
It's something you can bet John Tortorella will zoom in on during video and practice sessions in the days ahead. They can't survive long this season by struggling defensively while also having a hard time scoring goals. That's a recipe for disaster.
To their credit, they were much sharper in the third period and really limited Detroit's time and space–despite having to sweat it out down the stretch.
THE HORSES ARE OUT OF THE BARN
Pierre-Luc Dubois' trade request, etc. are well-documented. If we take him at his word, he pledged to be a good teammate as long as he's here. Which is good, because the Blue Jackets need him.
His third period goal, which stretched the Columbus lead to 3-1, was a work of art.
3-1 #CBJ
— Alison (@AlisonL) January 18, 2021
Grigorenko with a beautifully banked puck launches Dubois for the score. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/yH10rA3oer
They've got a lot of their top guys on the board, now, but still need offense from Cam Atkinson and Max Domi. Despite seeing only one shift in the last eight minutes of the second period, Dubois was an absolute force in the third and his goal stood as the game-decider.
Texier's wunderkind goal gave the Blue Jackets a 2-1 when they sorely needed a lift, too.
And that's a wrap on Alexandre Texier's (@atexier99) goal. #NHLFaceOff
— NHL (@NHL) January 18, 2021
: https://t.co/rDOVXK7wQ7 @NHLonNBCSports pic.twitter.com/hn9cylmuvP
