https://www.1stohiobattery.com/columbus-blue-jackets-analysis/2019/12/4388/three-things-some-late-jackets-magic-impressive-resolve-and-another-key-injury-in-columbus-win-over-los

 

Despite their mediocre records, both the LAK and CBJ were riding five-game point streaks going into tonight's game.  But with only two minutes left in regulation, it looked like it would be the Kings to extend their point streak.  LAK was holding a slim 2-1 lead on the strength of a goal scored 42 seconds into the game and a second period goal scored by f***ing Jeff Carter.  Because that's what happens when Carter makes his annual return to Nationwide.  The CBJ fans boo him every time he touches the puck, and then he scores anyway and LA wins.

 

But this time it turned out different.  The CBJ pulled the goalie with two minutes left and scored a game-tying goal to send tonight's game into overtime.  And then won it in the 3-on-3 OT with a beautiful give-and-go between PLD and Nyquist:

 

 ^ So it turned out that both teams extended their point streaks to six games.  But the CBJ got the OT win to bump above .500 (15-14-6) going into Saturday's game hosting NJ.

 

Werenski is just amazing.  In his first two games after returning early from the IR, he posts nearly 24 minutes of ice time in the Tuesday game at Detroit and then over 26 minutes of ice time tonight.  Z also got the Jackets first goal tonight on a power-play slap-shot in the first period and then an assist on a wrist shot through traffic tipped in by Boone Jenner for the 6-on-5 game-tying goal in the third.

 

Even with this six-game point streak, the injury train keeps rolling over the CBJ.  Savard was late scratch for tonight's game due to illness, which meant Gabriel Carlsson was an emergency call-up from Cleveland and inserted into the d-lineup.  On the offensive side, Cam Atkinson appeared to injure his ankle midway thru the second period and didn't return.  So maybe another call-up from the Monsters?

 

Despite the spate of injuries befalling the CBJ, the team seems to be finding their scoring touch and gutting out some come-from-behind wins during this six-game point streak (4-0-2).  It certainly helps that Korpi has been solid in the net too:

 

Another win for the CBJ (yea!!!)  Another injury for the CBJ (boo!!!)

 

The Jackets are now 16-14-6 after a 5-1 win over the Devils in Nationwide last night.  The CBJ is now riding a seven-game point streak (5-0-2) and a four-game winning streak going into their final game before the Christmas Break (Monday at NYI).

 

Bjorkstrand got the first two goals of the night for the CBJ to tie PLD with a team-high 12 goals this season.  Then midway into the third period, Bjorkstrand was in some discomfort on the bench talking with a trainer, then went to the locker room and did not return.  The injury was undisclosed but on the broadcast they showed Bjorkstrand reacting after a stick cross-check to his lower right back.

 

D-man Gavrikov scored the Jackets third goal in the second off a nice up-ice rush by Texier and Robinson that dropped it back to Gav for a slap shot.  Up 3-1, the Jackets committed a penalty with just under three minutes remaining and the Devils pulled their goalie to create a 6-on-4 to try and make up a two=goal deficit.  Instead, a Werenski 200-foot empty net goal only 6 seconds into the 6-on-4 clinched the win for the CBJ.  Nyquist added a second empty-netter a little later to put Columbus up 5-1.

 

https://www.1stohiobattery.com/columbus-blue-jackets-news/2019/12/4392/oliver-bjorkstrand-scored-two-goals-in-the-blue-jackets-5-1-defeat-of-the-new-jersey-devils-and-now-co-leads

David Savard has recovered from his illness and will draw back into the lineup tonight at the New York Islanders after missing the past two games.  This will be the Jackets final game before the NHL Christmas Break.  Their next game is on Friday, Dec. 27 at Washington.

 

Bad news on Oliver Bjorkstrand, though.  He has a rib cartilage contusion and an oblique strain from that stick cross-check to his right side in Tuesday's game.  Bjorkstrand is out 4-6 weeks with an early February projected return.

 

Bjorkstrand's trip to the IR makes nine total Blue Jackets on the injury list - with most out medium- to long-term.  The 1st Ohio Battery website compiled this current CBJ injury list at 'WITH INJURIES PILING UP, THE BLUE JACKETS ARE IN A TOUGH SITUATION'

• RW Cam Atkinson is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

• RW Oliver Bjorkstrand (IR) is out 4-6 weeks with a rib cartilage contusion and an oblique strain. His expected return is early February.

• LW Sonny Milano is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

• RW Josh Anderson (IR) is out 4-6 weeks with a shoulder injury. His expected return is late January.

• D Andrew Peeke (IR) is out 4-6 weeks with a broken hand. His expected return is early February.

• F Emil Bemstrom (IR) is out 6-8 weeks with a dislocated rib and broken cartilage. His expected return is mid-February.

• D Ryan Murray (IR) is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

• D Markus Nutivaara (IR) is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury

• F Brandon Dubinsky (IR) is out indefinitely with a wrist injury.

With all that injury news, how about some good news for the CBJ.  Actually, great news for Korpisalo.  He was named third star of last week by the NHL:

 

3-2 win at NYI tonight.  Eight-game point streak (6-0-2) and five consecutive wins.  The Jackets are 17-14-6 going into the Christmas Break:

 

And the CBJ won with a game-winner goal from a great offensive play by Gavrikov, our defensive d-man in his rookie year at 24.  Plus a goal from Stenlund, a 23-year-old emergency call-up from Cleveland who scored his 2nd NHL goal.  Plus a goal from 32-year-old, 5'-4" Nathan Gerbe, an emergency call-up who was Cleveland's leading scorer and scored his first NHL goal since he was with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2016.

 

It's good to have organizational depth(!)

 

https://www.1stohiobattery.com/columbus-blue-jackets-news/2019/12/4404/blue-jackets-falter-late-lose-in-overtime-to-capitals-but-extend-their-points-streak-to-nine-games

 

The CBJ saw their five-game winning streak end at Washington last night with a 2-1 OT loss.  But because they made it to OT, their point streak extends to nine games (6-0-3).

 

The Jackets lost it on an overtime power-play goal (the third OT game they've lost that way this season!).  The sole CBJ goal was from Cleveland call-up Jakob Lilja.  This was Lilja's first NHL goal (the sixth Blue Jacket to net his first NHL goal this season!).

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2019/12/29/21041774/game-39-recap

 

After the Football Buckeyes lost Saturday night and the Basketball Buckeyes lost early Sunday afternoon, it was up to the CBJ to prevent a Columbus team sweep this weekend.

 

With two goals in the first period, it looked like they were going to do it.  But the Blackhawks got on the scoreboard midway through the third period.  And then scored a tying goal with 2 minutes remaining, sending it to OT.  In the overtime, it looked like the Jackets would give Chicago a power-play goal.  But they killed off the penalty and got their own power-play with only 18.1 seconds remaining.  If it was a few tenths longer, the CBJ would have gotten the win.  Werenski fired a shot past the Chicago goalie a few tenths of a second after clock hit 0.0 and the game headed to a shootout.

 

It would have been great to avoid the shootout because in the very first round, starting goalie Joonas Korpisalo got injured and had to be helped down the aisle to the locker room.  (NOT GOOD)  Backup Elvis Merzlikins had to come in cold and the CBJ lost the shootout.  No win, but the point streak is extended to 10 games (6-0-4).

 

But the status of Korpisalo's injury (which looked like a groin pull) is now top of mind.

Wow, maybe they should have found a backup goalie so that Korpisalo didn't have to start 10 straight games or whatever it was.

I didn't realize until this morning that there was a clock controversy in the OT.  Apparently the refs blew the whistle for the Chicago penalty with 19.2 seconds left - but the clock didn't stop until 18.1 seconds.  That's just normal human reaction time that usually doesn't factor into the game.  But usually, with under a minute remaining, the refs check the video feed and add some time back to the clock.  That didn't happen here.

 

Usually an extra second doesn't make any difference.  But this time, it would have made all the difference.  Werenski's OT goal would have counted.  The CBJ would have won.  And, most importantly, the game doesn't go to a shootout and Korpi doesn't get injured.  And boy was Torts hot about it after the game.  Below is his entire 59-second post-game press conference(!)

 

Here's a little more about the clock controversy in the OT from the NHL Network - with video from the game:

 

Update on the Korpisalo injury:  Korpisalo has a knee injury and will be out “weeks”

 

So for those who wanted to see more of Elvis Merzlikins - they'll get their wish.  Elvis will get a chance to show what he can do as a starter for an extended period.  He hasn't been sharp as a little-used backup, posting an 0-4-4 record to go with a 3.41 GAA and .889 save percentage.  But then, neither was Korpi when he was Bob's backup.

 

23-year-old goalie Matiss Kivlenieks was summoned from Cleveland on emergency recall to serve as Elvis' backup.  This is the 8th AHL player called up to Columbus this season (so far!) and the 4th player called up this month on an emergency basis(!)

In happier news, Seth Jones and Joonas Korpisalo were named to the NHL All-Star Game.  Of course, Korpi is injured so he won't be playing - but he got the honor anyway:

 

Korpisalo had surgery on his knee to repair a torn meniscus and will be out 4-6 weeks.

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2019/12/31/21045228/columbus-blue-jackets-florida-panthers-elvis-merzlikins-is-in-the-building-werenski-hattrick

 

Last night, Bob was back in Nationwide Arena for the first time since signing with Florida.  But the goalie that Jackets fans were most concerned about was the one named Elvis.  With Korpisalo out for 4-6 weeks, little-used backup Elvis Merzlikins would need to backstop the CBJ to keep their point-streak alive.  And Elvis was up to the task for this New Year Eve's game - stopping 36 of 37 shots in the 4-1 win.  It was Elvis' first NHL win - and was he ever happy in the post-game(!)

 

D-man Zach Werenski also scored a hat trick (his first NHL hat trick) to pace the CBJ offense:

 

So the Jackets extended their point streak to 11 games (7-0-4) to end 2019.

 

But also because it was still 2019, the Jackets lost another player to an injury.  Rookie forward Texier left with an undisclosed injury in the first injury and didn't return.  The CBJ also got a scare in the second period when Wennberg's helmet was struck by the puck and he laid on the ice before going to the locker room.  But Wennberg later returned and finished the game.

 

The Jackets will start 2020 and reach the 41-game halfway point on Thursday at Boston.

Torts fined $20,000 - because the NHL doesn't like when its coaches point out when the refs screw up.  The league also announced a conditional fine of $25,000 that the league would collect if he behaves similarly through Dec. 29, 2020 of this year - because they also hold a grudge:

 

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/28406451/blue-jackets-john-tortorella-fined-20k-ripping-officiating

 

https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/blue-jackets-place-alexandre-texier-on-injured-reserve/c-313346466

 

The CBJ placed rookie forward Alexandre Texier on IR due to a lumbar stress fracture and have added center Justin Scott to the roster on emergency recall from the Cleveland Monsters.  Making Texier the 11th player go on the team's current injury list and 9th on the current IR.  Scott is the 9th AHL player called up to Columbus this season and the 5th player called up in the past month on an emergency basis(!)

 

A bit of good news today on the injury front.  Sonny Milano is expected to draw back into the lineup after missing the last 8 games.  But despite this, the 2019-20 Jackets are entering 2014-15 injury territory.  This season might not reach the 2014-15 man-games lost total of 502 (its currently 167).  But as CBJ reporter AlisonL said below, they've had more players out of the lineup on a given night (currently 10) than in 2014-15:

 

https://www.1stohiobattery.com/columbus-blue-jackets-analysis/2020/01/4426/three-things-seth-jones-is-unbelievable-the-blue-jackets-hang-tough-and-hope-is-beaming-after-a-big-ot-win

 

The CBJ win 2-1 in OT at Boston.  Despite all the injuries, this team keeps finding a way to extend its points streak - now at 12 games (8-0-4).

 

Elvia handles the net again with 25 saves on 26 shots.  Milano scores in regulation and Dubois scores the game-winning goal in overtime off a sweet pass from Jones:

 

The Jackets 12-game point streak got snapped with a 3-2 regulation loss against San Jose today.  Now the CBJ begin their California+Vegas road trip:

• Mon. 1/6 at L.A.
• Tues. 1/7 at Anaheim
• Thurs 1/9 at San Jose
• Sat. 1/11 at Vegas

Tough on the team and tough on the fans with all games starting at 10PM or 10:30PM EST(!)  After this four-game road swing in the Pacific Time Zone, the CBJ return to Nationwide for a three-game home stand the following week.

INJURY UPDATES

 

The Good News:  https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/blue-jackets-activate-emil-bemstrom-from-injured-reserve/c-313452134

 

The Bad News:  https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/columbus-blue-jackets-place-dean-kukan-on-injured-reserve/c-313438322

Markus Nutivaara has been activated from IR as well and he was practicing yesterday along with Cam Atkinson.

 

Going to be interesting to see what Jarmo does with the goalies on the California road trip.  Elvis has looked stellar, but he can't start every game, can he?

 

Getting a lot of '14-'15 vibes right now.

CBJ had four U20 prospects in the 2020 World Junior Hockey Championship.  Three of those prospects were in yesterday's tournament gold medal final of Canada vs Russia:

• Canada had center Liam Foudy, who was drafted in the 1st-round (18th overall pick) of the 2018 draft, and will turn 20 on 2/4.  The 6'-0" center had 3 goals and 1 assist in 7 games with the tournament champs.

• Russia had RW Kirill Marchenko and LW Dimitri Voronkov.  6'-2" forward Kirill Marchenko, who was drafted in the 2nd-round (49th overall pick) of the 2018 draft and will turn 20 on 7/21, had 2 goals and 4 assists in 7 games.  6'-3" forward Dimitri Voronkov, who was drafted in the 4th-round (114th overall pick) of the 2019 draft and will turn 20 on 9/10, had 3 goals and 4 assists in 7 games.

• Switzerland had defenseman Tim Berni, who was drafted in the 6th-round (159th overall pick) of the 2018 draft, and will turn 20 on 2/11.  The 6'-0" defenseman had 3 assists in 5 games before Switzerland was eliminated in the quarterfinals.

3 hours ago, DarkandStormy said:

Markus Nutivaara has been activated from IR as well and he was practicing yesterday along with Cam Atkinson.

 

With Kukan going on the IR, it's great to get Nutivaara back.  Getting Cam back in the lineup would be great too, if only for the extra depth at this point(!)

 

 

3 hours ago, DarkandStormy said:

Going to be interesting to see what Jarmo does with the goalies on the California road trip.  Elvis has looked stellar, but he can't start every game, can he?

 

When the backup is 23-year-old Matiss Kivlenieks - who carries a 3.04 GAA and 0.894 save pct in the AHL this season - I could see Elvis starting all four games of this California+Vegas road trip.

https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/zach-werenski-named-nhl-third-star/c-313537844

 

CBJ defenseman Zach Werenski was named NHL Third Star of the past week.  Werenski opened last week with his first career hat trick in a 4-1 win over Florida on 12/31 and then played a team-high 27:00 in a 2-1 overtime win over Boston on Jan. 2.  He closed last week with a pair of goals in a 3-2 loss to San Jose on Jan. 4.

 

The 22-year-old defenseman has recorded 13-12-25 in 35 games this season - only Nashville's Roman Josi has more goals (14) among defensemen.

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2020/1/7/21054386/winner-winner-chicken-dinner-late-night-hockey-sees-columbus-blue-jackets-win-points-now-in-13-of-14

 

The Jackets got their 12-game point streak snapped last weekend.  But they started a new point streak with a 4-2 win last night at LA (or a 13 in 14-game point streak in the alternate).  Elvis was great again with 35 saves and the CBJ got goals from Gerbe, Harrington and Stenlund before Nyquist potted an empty-netter to clinch it.

 

Before this season, if someone tried to tell you that the Jackets would win a game with Gerbe, Harrington and Stenlund scoring the decisive goals, you probably would've quickly walked away from the person - thinking they were obviously crazy.  But that's how the Jackets are winning these days.  And with this LA win, the CBJ are only one point below the playoff line(!)  Strange days indeed.

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2020/1/8/21056335/game-44-recap-jackets-secure-four-points-in-two-nights-in-socal

 

Jackets win in LA/Anaheim on back-to-back nights and pull into a points tie with the WC2 spot in the East.  Werenski nets two more goals and Elvis gets 37 saves in the win.

https://www.1stohiobattery.com/columbus-blue-jackets-news/2020/01/4449/despite-third-period-push-blue-jackets-fall-to-sharks

 

Can't win em all.  Especially if the CBJ are facing the SJS.  The Jackets have gotten points in 14 of their past 16 games (10-2-4).  They've only lost two games in regulation - both to the San Jose Sharks - last Saturday and last night.  Fortunately, this is a final time the CBJ face the Sharks this season(!)

I just came across this meme at https://www.reddit.com/r/BlueJackets/comments/emgxyn/feels_good_man_credit_to_wheel_house_hockey/ so its a few games out of date.  But its still a fun meme for CBJ fans:

 

The CBJ are doing well in the standings - and very well in the TV ratings:

 

---

Local ratings for Blue Jackets games on FOX Sports Ohio up 41%, pacing best in franchise history

 

https://www.foxsports.com/ohio/story/local-ratings-for-blue-jackets-games-on-fox-sports-ohio-up-41-pacing-best-in-franchise-history-011020

The CBJ got a nice 3-0 win at Vegas last night.  Points in 15 of their past 17 games (11-2-4) for a 22-16-8 record and a points-tie with Philly for the WC2 spot in the East.

 

The Jackets went 3-1-0 in the California+Vegas road trip.  Finished off with a 27-save shutout by Elvis Merzlikins in Vegas.  The first NHL career shutout for him.  Which is only fitting because Elvis was always a star in Vegas(!)

 

More Elvis in Vegas fun from the reddit post - Gavrikov interrupts Elvis’ interview to remind him that they are in Vegas and it’s time to go

 

Elvis gets another shutout as Columbus beats Boston 3-0 back home in Nationwide tonight.

 

This was a 34-save shutout for Merzlikins and was his second straight after his first career NHL shutout in Vegas on Saturday.

 

The CBJ now have points in 16 of their past 18 games (12-2-4) for a 23-16-8 record - and still in a points-tie with Philly for the WC2 spot in the East.

https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/blue-jackets-announce-roster-moves/c-313969318

 

The CBJ took Cam Atkinson and d-man Peeke off the IR prior to tonight's game against Carolina.  Cam will be back in the lineup tonight after missing 12 games with an ankle sprain.

 

Peeke was assigned back to Cleveland, along with defenseman Carlsson, goaltender Kivlenieks and center MacInnis.  The team also announced that they promoted 22-year-old goaltender Veini Vehvilainen from the Monsters to the CBJ.

 

The Vehvilainen promotion was an interesting move.  There's only four games left until the NHL All-Star Game break.  So it's possible that VV is simply replacing Kivlenieks on the bench to watch Elvis start these four games - and allowing Kivlenieks to get some playing time in the AHL.  But VV has been outstanding for Cleveland in his rookie season - he's 5th in the entire AHL with a 2.22 GAA.  So it's possible we might see VV start one of the two back-to-back weekend games - with Saturday's home game against last-place New Jersey the more likely spot.

17 minutes ago, Columbo said:

The Vehvilainen promotion was an interesting move.  There's only four games left until the NHL All-Star Game break.  So it's possible that VV is simply replacing Kivlenieks on the bench to watch Elvis start these four games - and allowing Kivlenieks to get some playing time in the AHL.  But VV has been outstanding for Cleveland in his rookie season - he's 5th in the entire AHL with a 2.22 GAA.  So it's possible we might see VV start one of the two back-to-back weekend games - with Saturday's home game against last-place New Jersey the more likely spot.

 

Never mind all that.  The CBJ recalled Kivlenieks and reassigned Vehvilainen back to Cleveland.  So Elvis will be starting the four remaining games until the ASG break and the Kivlenieks temporary reassignment back to Cleveland was just a paper move to satisfy his "emergency recall" back in December and to get him a start in last night's AHL game.

 

The team also recalled defenseman Adam Clendening from the Monsters so they have an extra d-man on the roster until the break.

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2020/1/16/21069886/game-48-recap-columbus-blue-jackets-edge-carolina-hurricanes-nick-foligno-elvis-merzlikins

 

Elvis didn't get a third straight shutout - but his 32-save night was enough to get the CBJ a 3-2 win over Carolina tonight.  Team Captain Foligno got the game-winning goal with 1:41 left in regulation.  Atkinson got a goal and assist in his return from the IR.

 

The CBJ now have points in 17 of their past 19 games (13-2-4) for a 24-16-8 record and 56 points.  With this win over Carolina and Philly losing tonight - Columbus is now in a points tie with Carolina and Philly for the two wild-card spots in the East.

 

The CBJ defeated the NJD 5-0 last night in a sold-out Nationwide Arena.  Cam got two goals and an assist - and now has 3 goals and 2 assists in the two games since coming off the IR.  Foligno got a goal for goals in consecutive games.  And Elvis got a 41-save shutout - his third shutout in the last four games(!)

The CBJ now have points in 18 of their past 20 games (14-2-4) for a 25-16-8 record and 58 points.  They now hold the East WC1 spot - tied in points with Philly and one up on Carolina and Toronto - going into tonight's game at NYR.

Matiss Kivlenieks got a surprise start tonight in MSG against NYR.  It was the Latvian backup's NHL debut and he looked great saving 31 of 32 shots for his first career NHL victory.  Bjorkstrand returned from the IR after missing 13 games and scored both of the Jackets' goals in their 2-1 win against the Rangers.  Bjorkstrand's game-winner came with only 25.6 seconds left in regulation(!)

The CBJ now have points in 19 of their past 21 games (15-2-4) for a 26-16-8 record and still hold the WC1 playoff spot.

 

Elvis Merzlikins was named one of the NHL three stars for past week.  Merzlikins recorded a perfect 3-0-0 record in three appearances with a 0.67 goals-against average, .982 save percentage and two shutouts as the Blue Jackets won four games last week to move into the first Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference.  Merzlikins, a 25-year-old native of Riga, Latvia, has made 20 appearances with Columbus this season with an 8-6-4 record (2.36 GAA, .928 SV%, 3 SO).

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/alex-ovechkin-elvis-merzlikins-jonathan-toews-named-nhl-3-stars/c-314168876

The Jackets do it again, winning their 6th in a row with a 4-3 over Winnipeg last night in Nationwide Arena.  It was a higher scoring less defensive game - atypical of their 22-game season changing points streak.  But a exciting back-and-forth match that saw the Jets take the lead and the Jackets re-tie it three times, until Bjorkstrand scored the game-winning with 5:38 left in the third period.

 

This was Bjorkstrand's second goal of the night and his fourth goal in his past two games since coming off the IR(!)  Elvis gave up three goals (two off of deflections) but had 27 saves and some spectacular stops to preserve the Jackets win.

 

The CBJ now have points in 20 of their past 22 games (16-2-4) for a 27-16-8 record and hold the Eastern WC1 playoff spot going into the All-Star break.

The post All Star Game unofficial second half of the season begins tonight for much of the NHL.  But not for the CBJ just yet - they're on a 5-day mid-season break (along with some other teams) and won't play until Saturday, February 1.

 

But once they begin, it will be a 31-game race for the playoffs for the CBJ.  Something that seemed unimaginable back on Dec. 7 - after a loss to Florida dropped them to 11-14-4 and 7th-place in the eight-team Metro Division.  The 71 goals scored by the Jackets at the time were second-fewest in the entire NHL.

 

But since then, the Jackets have been the best team in the NHL in terms of standings points.  The CBJ have points in 20 of their past 22 games (16-2-4) for a 27-16-8 record and hold the Eastern WC1 playoff spot coming out of the All-Star break.  Here's a look at some of the numbers behind this surge:

 

https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20200127/blue-jackets--timely-goals-grind-it-out-defense-have-been-keys-to-season-turnaround

 

https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20200122/michael-arace--blue-jacketsrsquo-numbers-amazing-in-their-21-game-revival

 

The CBJ's comeback has been behind stellar goaltending, the best defense in the league and late game execution.  First, the goaltending:

• Joonas Korpisalo played the first 10 games of the streak and had a 1.72 goals-against average with a .941 save percentage.  Then he injured his knee and coach John Tortorella was forced to turn to rookie Elvis Merzlikins.  Merzlikins played the next 10 games and had a 1.51 goals-against average with a .955 save percentage.  When Elvis needed a rest, and rookie Matiss Kivlenieks stepped in to make his career debut in Madison Square Garden, made 31 saves and beat the Rangers 2-1.

Now, the defense:

• In the last 22 games, the Jackets have allowed the fewest goals (38) of any team.  Their 1.73 goals-against average during that span is a whopping half-goal better than the next-best team.  The goaltending has been outstanding, but so has the defense.  Seth Jones and Zach Werenski have developed into a top flight first line.  And the second line of David Savard and rookie Vladislav Gavrikov have been a solid shutdown pairing.

And the late game execution:

• The Jackets haven’t been blowing teams out during this 22-game stretch.  But they have been getting it done in clutch time.  The Jackets have led or trailed by one, or were tied, at the end of the second period in 16 of these 22 games.  They’re 12-2-2 in those close games because they've outscored opponents 28-10 in the third period during this stretch.

So, CBJ fans are looking forward to starting up this unofficial second half on Saturday.  They are getting back some key injured players - Atkinson and Bjorkstrand returned just before the break and Anderson, Murray and Korpisalo might be returning after the break.  Just in time for a race to the 2020 playoffs.

 

Personally, I'm thrilled with this position for this "transition season".  They weren't expected to be in playoff contention at this point.  So this playoff run is basically playing with house money.  If they stay hot and get in the 2020 playoffs, its a bonus playoff season and good experience for the young players.  If they don't reach the playoffs, its still a better-than-expected season and we can root for a NJ/PHI-type win in the draft lottery.

The Jackets resumed play this weekend after a nine-day break.  In the Saturday afternoon opener at Buffalo, the CBJ looked a little rusty.  Bjorkstrand got the team's only goal, but backup goalie Kivlenieks also held the Sabres to only one goal in regulation.  Unfortunately, the 3-on-3 OT format is ideal for a young superstar like Buffalo's Jack Eichel - and he made the most of it, scoring 36 seconds into OT to give the Sabres a 2-1 win.

 

Sunday afternoon's performance at Montreal was much less rusty.  The CBJ opened up a 2-0 lead in the second period, then held a 3-1 lead going into the third period.  That two-goal lead held until a Montreal goal with just over 4 minutes remaining.  The CBJ lead expanded again to two goals when Nyquist got an empty-netter just under 2 minutes left.  But what looked like a garbage-time goal became the game-winner when Montreal one more goal with 1:01 left before the CBJ locked down a 4-3 win.

 

Elvis gave up 3 goals but kept the Jackets in the game when the team was getting outshot early, ending with 27 saves.  Quebec-native Pierre-Luc Dubois had two goals in his return to French Canada.

 

Getting three out of four points in their return weekend games is not bad at all.  The Jackets snapped their six-game winning streak in Buffalo, but kept an eight-game point streak alive with points earned in both weekend games.  The CBJ now have points in 22 of their past 24 games (17-2-5).  They have temporarily moved one point over the Islanders for 3rd in the Metro (the Isles have played three less games then the Jackets) but are also two points up on both Eastern Wild-Card teams going into next week's action.

Some CBJ player news before Tuesday's game recap:

 

- Anderson, Murray and Korpisalo are all practicing either with the team or separately.  Making steady process to returning to the roster, but not quite ready yet.

 

- Wennberg picked up an injury during the second period of Sunday's game and didn't return for the third.  Wennberg was placed on the IR after the game with an undisclosed upper-body injury and is expected to be out 3-4 weeks.  Ryan MacInnis was recalled from Cleveland to center the fourth-line and Riley Nash was promoted to center the third-line for Tuesday's game.

 

- Robinson and Garbe each got two-year contract extensions.  Especially nice for the 32-year-old 5'-4" Garbe, who was given a two-way deal as a reward for his play at Cleveland the past two seasons and his play at Columbus this season. 

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2020/2/5/21123362/recap-elvis-fourth-shutout-werenski-game-winner-bobrovsky-columbus-blue-jackets-florida-panthers

 

As far 0-0 games go, Tuesday night's scoreless game was full of action.  The Jackets had 44 shots-on-goal and Florida had 32 before Werenski got the game-winner in OT.  Elvis was awesome in the net again, with his fourth shutout in his last seven starts(!)

 

The Jackets now have a nine-game point streak and have points in 23 of their past 25 games (18-2-5).  Playoff situation still status quo with the CBJ third in the East and two points above the playoff line.

Another low scoring tight game but another win for the CBJ with a 2-0 home victory over Detroit last night.  They now have a 10-game point streak and have points in 24 of their past 26 games (19-2-5).

 

Werenski got the first (and game-winning) goal in the second period on an extended 6-on-5 delayed penalty sequence.  That goal was Z's 17th of the season, which sets a new franchise record for most goals for a defenseman:

 

Another shutout by Elvis in the win last night.  This is his fifth shutout in his last eight appearances.  Elvis is only the sixth goaltender to do this in the NHL since 1929:

 

Elvis only required 16 saves to record last night's shutout against the Detroit.  The CBJ outshot the Red Wings 44 to 16 - which set a franchise record for shot differential (+28).

 

It is kind of amazing the way NHL teams rise and fall in cycles.  Before Columbus joined the NHL, the Red Wings had a "Dead Things" era in the 1970's to the early 80's in which they consistently missed the playoffs.  Then the Red Wings started signing the first wave of Russian NHL players and built a powerhouse that won two Stanley Cups in the 90's and two Stanley Cups in the 00's.  In the 32 seasons from 1984 to 2016, the Red Wings made the playoffs 30 times - including 25 consecutive seasons from 1991 to 2016.

 

However, since that consecutive playoff streak was broken, they haven't reached the playoffs since.  And this season, the Red Wings have hit rock bottom.  This 21st century version of the Dead Things is last in the NHL by a wide margin this season.

 

Last night's win by the CBJ over the Red Wings also highlights this rise-and-fall cycle.  When Columbus was a hapless expansion team in the early 2000's, the Red Wings would regularly dominate the CBJ.  Now it is the CBJ who is the team that regularly makes the playoffs and it is the Red Wings that are getting dominated by the CBJ(!)

Jones to IR (bad).

Foudy up on emergency recall (both bad and good?).

Carlsson back up (meh?).

Let's get caught up on CBJ news.  First some good news:

 

Elvis Merzlikins was named first star-of-the-week for his two shutouts and an amazing 0.67 GAA and .971 save pct for his three starts in the previous week.

 

 

Now the bad news:

 

All-Star defenseman Seth Jones fractured his ankle in Saturday's game and had surgery today.  Jones is expected to miss 8-10 weeks.  BTW - the NHL playoffs begin in eight weeks(!)  So, barring a Werenski-type early recovery, Jones is likely out for the remainder of the regular season.

 

Cam Atkinson also appeared to reaggravate his high-ankle sprain in Saturday's game and was out of the lineup for Monday's game.  These high-ankle sprains are difficult to gauge - so for now Cam is being treated as day-to-day.  But because of Cam's injury, 20-year-old prospect Liam Foudy was called up from his London Knights junior team on an emergency basis.