First Twenty
Goals: CBJ – David Savard (Alexander Wennberg, Matt Calvert), 1:59; Boone Jenner (Markus Nutivaara, Josh Anderson), 17:08; BOS – None
Shots: Blue Jackets 11, Bruins 4
Shot-Attempts percentage (Corsi 5v5): Blue Jackets 63.2% (12-7), Bruins 36.8% (7-12)
The rundown: The Blue Jackets played without three forwards, including Cam Atkinson (lower-body) and Sonny Milano, and dressed seven defensemen. They also got exactly the kind of opening period they came into the game seeking.
They outskated the Bruins, drawing three penalties. They controlled the puck the majority of the 20 minutes. They also scored the first two goals of the game, taking a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
Savard got a good bounce for a goal, and Jenner scored his first of the season with some hard work around the right post. Tyler Motte, making his Blue Jackets debut, looked good too. He only played 2:22, but drew one of the penalties, had a shot on goal and was credited with a takeaway.
In net, the Jackets used their puck-possession game to make sure Sergei Bobrovskydidn’t get a lot of work, which he surely appreciated.
Second Twenty
Goals: CBJ – David Savard (Alexander Wennberg, Matt Calvert), 1:59; Boone Jenner (Markus Nutivaara, Josh Anderson), 17:08; BOS – None
Shots: Blue Jackets 11, Bruins 4
Shot-Attempts percentage (Corsi 5v5): Blue Jackets 63.2% (12-7), Bruins 36.8% (7-12)
The rundown: There was a pushback by the Bruins, not to mention Boston’s first goal of the game, in the second period.
There was also a heavyweight fight between Jackets power forward Josh Anderson and towering Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara, who has six inches in height and about 30 pounds on Anderson. Regardless, Anderson held his own, got the crowd fired up and a little more than six minutes later, Motte gave Columbus a 3-0 lead.
It was Motte’s first goal as a member of the Blue Jackets, in his first game of the season and debut as a Blue Jackets forward. Not a bad way to start out.
Bergeron’s goal late in the period not only pulled the Bruins within two goals, but also ended the Jackets’ perfect penalty-killing streak on home ice to start the season. The home-ice streak ended at 17-for-17, and the Jackets’ PK streak overall was snapped at 16 straight. It was bound to happen at some point, right?
Third period on tap, and the Jackets are tasked with finishing as strong as they started.
Final Twenty
Goals: CBJ – None; BOS – Torey Krug (Kevan Miller, David Pastrnak), 10:26, Brad Marchand (Bergeron, Pastrnak), 11:47
Shots: Blue Jackets 9, Bruins 9
Shot-Attempts percentage (Corsi 5v5): Bruins 52.4% (11-10), Blue Jackets 47.6% (10-11)
Overall shots: Blue Jackets 23, Bruins 20
Overall Corsi: Bruins 51.8% (43-40), Blue Jackets 48.2% (40-43)
The rundown: The Bruins kept pushing. The Blue Jackets caved, but only to a point, and the game was tied after the horn sounded.
It was an action-packed period, that’s for sure. Matt Calvert’s high-sticking penalty, a double-minor that put him in the box for 4:00, was both unfortunate and costly for Columbus. Calvert was falling to the ice when his stick came up and clipped a Bruins player in the face, drawing blood.
That led to Boston scoring twice in 1:21, including their second power-play goal of the game. Krug made it 3-2 during 4-on-4 play, and Marchand tied it 3-3 not long after getting out of the penalty box for a tripping minor.
Neither team scored again, but there was certainly more physical confrontations, including one after Oliver Bjorkstrand boarded Krug into the end boards in the Bruins’ zone at 14:36. Kevan Miller went after him, throwing ungloved punches, and wound up getting the most penalties – which led to a late power play for Columbus.
The Blue Jackets failed to convert, going 0-for-5 on power plays, and the game went to OT.
Another Five
Goals: None
Shots: Bruins 12, Blue Jackets 9
Overall shots: Bruins 32, Blue Jackets 30
Overall Corsi: Blue Jackets 47.67% (41-45), Bruins 52.33% (45-41)
The rundown: There were good chances each way, but Bobrovsky and Rask were each sharp enough to turn them all aside.
The Bruins got off one more shot on goal than the Blue Jackets, but ultimately this 3-on-3 was bound for a shootout – Columbus’ first of the season.
Shootout
Panarin finally got a birthday goal … Bob makes a great stop on Marchand. #CBJ
– Brian Hedger (@JacketsInsider) October 31, 2017
Bjorkstrand scores to end it. #CBJ gets back in the win column with 4-3 win, via shootout.
– Brian Hedger (@JacketsInsider) October 31, 2017