The Columbus Blue Jackets' first trip to the new Little Caesars Arena was a fruitful one, as the team snapped a four-game losing streak with a 2-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | SO | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| RED WINGS | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
IN A PARAGRAPH
A boring affair for the most part turned exciting as Sergei Bobrovsky made one of the best saves you'll ever see in overtime before Artemi Panarin and Jack Johnson scored in a nine-round shootout. Panarin opened the scoring just 67 seconds in but Detroit tied the score early in the third to force overtime.
NOTABLES
- Panarin scored his second goal in four games and finished with five shots on net.
- Alexander Wennberg played 29 shifts and had three shots on goal.
- Bobrovsky made 32 saves including robbing two Red Wings in overtime. He also stopped eight of nine shots in the shootout.
STAT ATTACK
The Blue Jackets did not commit a penalty while Detroit was whistled for just two minors, one with time running out in overtime. ... Columbus improved to 5-1 in overtime/shootout, 4-1-1 vs. the Atlantic Division, 5-3-1 on the road and 6-3-1 when scoring first. ... The Blue Jackets are now 14-3-2 vs. the Wings since March 28, 2012 and 7-1-1 in their last nine visits to Detroit. ... Scratches included defenseman Scott Harrington and forwards Zac Dalpe and Sonny Milano as the team played with 11 forwards and seven defensemen. ... Defenseman Gabriel Carlsson played just six shifts as a result.
WHAT HAPPENED
Columbus needed just 1:07 to reach the ascendancy, as a bad line change and a turnover spelled doom for Detroit. The Red Wings couldn't get the puck deep as defenseman Trevor Daley went for a change, leaving Panarin alone out front in transition, where he took a pass from Oliver Bjorkstrand and beat the defenseless Jimmy Howard to give Columbus a 1-0 lead.
Detroit created a solid chance with a 2-on-1 late in the first when the Jackets turned it over at their own offensive blue line and Andreas Athanasiou used his speed to get by David Savard before passing to Dylan Larkin, but Bobrovsky slid over to his right and used the glove to gobble up the shot.
Shortly thereafter, Detroit returned the favor with their own turnover at the offensive blue line, and Mike Green was forced to hook Josh Anderson as he got free, resulting in a penalty shot with 42.3 seconds to play in the frame. Anderson came in slow on the penalty shot but fired it right into the glove of Howard to keep it 1-0.
After a second period without much happening, Detroit tied the score 6:11 into the third. As the Wings pressured, a rebound came out to Niklas Kronwall in the high slot, and he faked a shot and fed Athanasiou for a relatively easy finish into the open cage.
Columbus replied with pressure, and the puck fell to Panarin and Seth Jones for open chances in the next four minutes, but neither could hit the mark.
In overtime, Zach Werenski rang the post off a pass from Nick Foligno a minute and a half in, then Bobrovsky made a pair of saves that will end up on the highlight reels. First, he sprawled and used his skate, unbelievably, to stop a 2-on-0 featuring Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha, then turned aside a breakaway by Mantha with his pad a few moments later.
OH. MY. BOB. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/nNCBO4KAn0
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 12, 2017
Frans Nielsen scored first in the shootout before Panarin knotted it in the second round. Bobrovsky and Jimmy Howard were unbeatable in the next six rounds, but finally Johnson deked the Red Wings goalie and stuffed the puck into the net in the ninth round for the win.
INJURY REPORT
None.
NEXT UP
The Blue Jackets have two days off before heading to Montreal for a Tuesday game against the Canadiens at 7:30 p.m.
