It's hard to score goals in the National Hockey League.
Seth Jones has felt that struggle this season, scoring just one goal in his first 30 games while shooting at a 1.6% clip, well below his career average of 5.3%. Game 31 was certainly different, though.
After tonight's big, 3-2 overtime win over the Hurricanes, he's certainly got the monkey off his back. He notched two goals for the Blue Jackets tonight, including the overtime winner. It was his fourth career multi-goal game, and his first since December 6th, 2018 vs. the Flyers.
"My teammates found me when I was jumping, and I tried to make some plays off the rush," said Jones. "We've kind of seen in the past couple weeks us moving the puck a lot better throughout the neutral zone. I think a big part of that is getting out cleaner of our defensive zone and not spending as much time there. That gives our offensive guys more time with the puck and more chances to make plays."
John Tortorella was impressed with Jones' game, and he needs him to step up like he did tonight more consistently.
"We needed someone to step up and take control of the game for us. He stepped up and said 'I'm gonna be that guy for us,'" said Tortorella, who acknowledged that it was one of the better games that he's seen Jones play.
The Blue Jackets will need Jones and Zach Werenski, who has tallied 2-4-6 in his last five games, to be leaders down this next stretch of games, where they'll take on Carolina, Tampa Bay, and Florida.
Jones scored the Blue Jackets' first goal of the game, burying a rebound to give Columbus a 1-0 lead. Oliver Bjorkstrand ripped a shot on net, and Alex Nedeljkovic was able to parry it, but it fell right on Jones' stick and the Arlington, Texas native made no mistake.
MR. JONES WITH THE REBOUND! #CBJ pic.twitter.com/fg6gnMfWHQ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 18, 2021
Then, in overtime, Jones found himself carrying the puck up the ice in a 2-on-1 break. He wasn't sure if he was going to shoot or pass, but he made the decision when Dougie Hamilton took away the passing lane.
"I looked pass first, and really when I got around the top of the circle, I was thinking shot," said Jones. It was definitely the right choice, as he beat Nedeljkovic high glove side to give the Blue Jackets a much-needed two points.
SETH ORDERS A DOUBLE IN OT. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/kW9ONCjVNi
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 19, 2021
It was a great game for Jones, whose final tally was two goals, six shots on goal, five hits, and two blocked shots in 25 minutes and 36 seconds of ice time. While the Blue Jackets can't rely on Jones scoring two goals every game from now on, if he plays most games as well-rounded as he played tonight, the club will be in good shape.
