Around these parts, we’ll do our best to give you everything you need to know about the Columbus Blue Jackets. We’ll also fill you in on the stories you may not have heard about (or those you didn’t think you need to know about), the social media buzz around the league, along with a few random nuggets for good measure.
Think of it as your morning coffee with a shot of hockey talk.
THEY'RE STILL ALIVE: The Washington Capitals were the NHL’s best team in the regular season, a refrain that probably sounds hauntingly familiar to their fans. For whatever reason the playoffs have been a different story, first under Bruce Boudreau and now under Barry Trotz (sorry Dale Hunter, we hardly knew ye). Their “window to win” has never been as open as this season, but they find themselves up against it and facing another must-win after staying alive Saturday night.
I’m probably not among the majority here, but I think the Capitals still have a chance in this thing. They’re so talented, so deep and they’ve played pretty well in this series despite falling behind 3-1 and now sitting at 3-2 to the Penguins. Pittsburgh has been, by far, the more opportunistic club – much like their opening round series against the Blue Jackets – and their goaltending has been better.
But with a little momentum on their side after Game 5 and a temporary jolt of positive energy in their direction, who’s to say the Capitals can’t force a Game 7 back in Washington? That’s the giant carrot dangling in front of them right now: find a way to get it done in Pittsburgh tonight, then head back to Verizon Center with a chance to do the improbable.
For the Capitals, anything less than a championship after this season and with this roster is a failure. I expect them to be fully ready for tonight’s Game 6 and should they manage to win, all bets are off for a potential Game 7.
Because, save maybe one game, they've kind of been on their heels all series. Pretty remarkable they're up 3-2.
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) May 7, 2017
CONTROVERSY IN CALI: By now, you’ve heard about the miracle comeback from the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night. The Edmonton Oilers, leading 3-0 with a little more than three minutes left in regulation, were able to successfully blow that lead and lose in double overtime.
What the Ducks did has only been done once before in NHL playoff history (win a game while trailing by three with less than four minutes left) and you’d have to think it gives them a decided edge as the series returns to Edmonton, where they’ve already won twice in the series.
Game 5 was not without drama; Anaheim’s tying goal, scored by Rikard Rakell with 15 seconds remaining in the third period, went to review after the NHL Situation Room initiated the discussion after seeing a replay. Ducks forward Ryan Kesler looked to be interfering with Oilers goalie Cam Talbot, who was struggling to get footing in the crease as Rakell slid the puck under his pads for the tying goal.
Rakell scores with 15 seconds left to tie it for Ducks pic.twitter.com/tBrokVWFM4
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 6, 2017
After review, the goal was upheld and Anaheim went on to win in double overtime on a Jakob Silfverberg goal.
Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli's reaction summed it perfectly.
Peter Chiarellis reaction to the Ducks tying goal was amazing pic.twitter.com/1SnRWUlppn
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 6, 2017
DON'T GO, ANDY: Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen might have the most unenviable task of any of his colleagues as the Vegas Golden Knights' expansion draft creeps closer; his team has plenty of no-move clauses and players who must be protected, and when you do the math, it adds up to Columbus being at risk to lose one of its top young players.
The player in the cross-hairs is assumed to be Josh Anderson, who had a breakout year with 17 goals and seemed to embrace the stage of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Golden Knights GM George McPhee loves fast and physical forwards and Anderson certainly fits that bill. As it currently stands, he may be one of those exposed by the Blue Jackets if they can't iron out the Scott Hartnell situation. Aaron Portzline had a great breakdown of the scenarios in The Dispatch, and while it appears the Blue Jackets will be able to figure it out, we'd be foolish to assume anything because, at the end of the day, McPhee's job is to put a competitive team on the ice. He has no time to be sympathetic to his GM colleagues.
It makes sense that the Blue Jackets want to pull out all the stops to keep Anderson in the fold. He's a big part of their balanced/depth approach to the forward group and is only scratching the surface of what he could be in the NHL.
ICYMI: The Blue Jackets are down a forward in the organization as Daniel Zaar signed a two-year deal with Malmo (SHL) yesterday. He departs for his new club immediately ... Looking for a neat gift for the CBJ-loving mom in your life? We have a few ideas ... Don't forget about Elvis Merzlikins ... In our latest "season report card," Jeff Svoboda looks at promising young sniper Oliver Bjorkstrand, who could be a deadly weapon in 2017-18.
Follow 1st Ohio BatteryFacebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
