Vancouver Canucks vs Columbus Blue Jackets Post Game Recap: Gutting One Out Versus The Gunners

5 years ago

The Rundown

The Vancouver Canucks came into tonight’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on a 2 game win streak. Fun fact, the team had scored the first goal in their previous 5 games, and the boys looked to do that again to get in front of a Columbus team with lots of firepower.

Jakob Markstrom started in net tonight, and attempted to win his 3rd straight decision.

1st Period

Well, the Canucks failed to score the first goal in this game. It only took 46 seconds, but Columbus jumped out to the early lead when a Seth Jones point shot went off Jay Beagle’s foot and in.

The Canucks couldn’t seem to get anything going, and were hemmed in their own zone by the home team for the next 4 minutes. The terrible start for Vancouver saw them record their first shot on goal around the 8 minute mark off a Roussel dump in.

The boys got their act together in the second half of the period, but nearly saw themselves down by 2 after a weird bounce off the boards came right to Artemi Panarin. Markstrom was there, and made a big stop to keep the Canucks in the game 11:30 minutes into the period.

Bo Horvat got the best chance of the period for Vancouver at the 14:30 minutes in. Horvat intercepted a Boone Jenner pass right in the slot, but shot the puck right into the chest of Joonas Korpisalo.

Markstrom made another great save 16:30 minutes in, as David Savard came in and put a backhand shot off the outstretched pad of the Canucks netminder.

A minute later and Markstrom got the blocker on a Brandon Dubinsky chance which stemmed off a Brock Boeser turnover. Good couple minutes for Markstrom kept the Canucks at a 1 goal deficit, which is how they ended the first period. The Canucks looked flat, and needed to up their tempo if they wanted to get back into this hockey game.

2nd Period

It took 4 minutes before either team mustered a quality scoring chance in the middle frame, but Columbus’ Jenner found himself in on a breakaway after Erik Gudbranson blew a tire at centre ice. Luckily for Gudbranson, Markstrom was able to stretch out the right pad to stone Jenner, and Ben Hutton made a nice play on Cam Atkinson to snuff out any rebound chance that might’ve followed.

The Canucks responded just a minute later with a chance of their own. Tyler Motte used his great speed to race around Zach Werenski and gave himself a breakaway. Werenski was forced to haul him down, which gave the Canucks their first power-play of the night and a chance to either tie the game or give themselves some momentum. The power-play had one great look, when Bo Horvat was all alone in front, but they couldn’t beat Korpisalo and the game remained 1-0 Columbus.

The Blue Jackets found a way to ramp up their level of play around the halfway mark of the frame, and they used their newfound pace to force the Canucks to take a penalty. After a strong cycle by Columbus, Troy Stecher tripped up Riley Nash, and the worst power-play at home in the league attempted to score a goal on a Canucks penalty kill which was perfect in their past 2 games (Baby steps). The Canucks killed off the penalty, but only a minute later saw themselves a man down again after Jenner rushed into the zone, and Josh Leivo was forced to hook him to the ice. Columbus went to their 2nd power-play as they tried to extend their lead.

However, it was Antoine Roussel for the short handed Canucks who got the best chance of the Columbus PP only 30 seconds in, but he couldn’t bury his mini breakaway as Korpisalo was able to get the pad on the shot.

Markstrom had to make 17 saves in the period, and the lifeless Canucks were fortunate to only head to the 3rd period down by 1. The team was absolutely dominated through 2 periods, and quite frankly didn’t look like they came ready to play tonight.

3rd Period

The Canucks were able to get a shot off before the 5 minute mark of the final frame, something they hadn’t done in the prior 2 periods, but didn’t generate much offensively as Columbus tried their hardest to grind out the 1 goal win.

All of a sudden, an early Christmas miracle for the boys in white. Elias Pettersson picked up the puck from the far boards and sent it to the point to Chris Tanev. Tanev shot the puck towards goal, and it was deflected by Leivo before it bounced off a Columbus defender and in. 1-1 game 8 minutes in.

It didn’t take long for Columbus to retake the lead. The Blue Jackets had a terrific response to the Canucks equalizer, and took it to the road team for 2 minutes before Oliver Bjorkstrand sniped one past Markstrom.

What followed the goal was another listless 5 minute stretch for the Canucks, who simply looked like they ran out of gas.

17 minutes into the period, and the Canucks struck gold again. Alex Edler shot the puck at the net from the point, and it was deflected by Leivo for a 2nd time this period, but this time it took a hop off another Canucks player and in. The Canuck who it went off of? None other than Pettersson for his 16th goal of the season. 2-2 game.

With just 1:46 remaining in the hockey game, the Canucks somehow took the lead. Jake Virtanen, who looked to had gotten the Canucks on the board earlier, came down the right wing and fired what looked to be a harmless shot towards the Columbus goal. However, Korpisalo cheated off his post just a tad and it went off his back and in… An awful goal allowed by Korpisalo, but the Canucks took it and it was a 3-2 game.

The Blue Jackets pressed and pressed in their attempt to tie the game up, but never found the goal they needed. The Canucks fought hard to win their 3rd straight game, 3-2 against the Blue Jackets.

Advanced Stats

Both photos courtesy of naturalstattrick.com

Wrap Up

This game was one of the worst performances I’ve seen from this team all year, yet they somehow found a way to pull this one out.

Markstrom played out of his mind, as the Canucks were greatly out-shot throughout the whole game but were always in it. This game was truly one of the best games a Canucks’ goaltender has played this season, because the team in front of him didn’t deserve the win tonight. However, the boys came through in the clutch and found ways to get it done. Great job by Markstrom, phenomenal performance tonight.

Nice to see Leivo with the multi-point effort as he received more opportunities to produce in the top 6. Showed some deft touch in front, and showed he could be a great net front presence on the Pettersson-Boeser line.

Pettersson was able to pull some late magic out of his ass to help the Canucks out when they needed him most. Just a star player that did what star players do. No biggie.

Virtanen’s game winning goal was a lesson to all youngsters out there to throw the puck on net, because you really never know what might happen.

Well, after they broke their lengthy losing streak against the Predators a week ago, they’re the next Canucks opponent, and the last opponent of the road trip.

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