Blue Jackets 7, Islanders 0: Welp

This early evening in Columbus, the Islanders made stop numero tres on their 9-game road trip. They had won three straight coming in, including a shutout of the Canadiens on Thursday night that saw Anthony Beauvillier score the game-winner in front of loved ones.

The Islanders dressed the same lineup as the last game, and Thomas Greiss lined up against Joonas Korpisalo in the nets.

[Game Sum | Event Sum | Natural Stat Trick | HockeyViz]

First Period

After David Savard’s shot missed wide, the puck rolled out to the point. Jack Johnson took a shot and it was deflected by Nick Leddy as young Finnish rookie Markus Hannikainen driving toward the net to put the Jackets up by a goal early. Get that man some Banana Pancakes.

Later on in the period, Beauvillier’s shot was blocked right out to Cam Atkinson. Boone Jenner joined him on a 2-on-1. Atkinson ripped a shot from the hashmarks that Greiss couldn’t squeeze in his five-hole, and Jenner cleaned up the mess to give Columbus a two-goal lead.

In the final two minutes, Nick Foligno cut in toward the goal and took a pass from Alexander Wennberg. He danced around Greiss and buried the Blue Jackets third goal.

Second Period

Greiss wasn’t able to keep up his stellar performance from the other night and, having given up three goals in the first period, was replaced by J.F. Berube for the rest of the game.

The Islanders had really what was their only dangerous chance to that point, when Alan Quine and Andrew Ladd combined for an odd-man rush. Ladd sent a shot toward Korpisalo and Quine nearly buried the rebound as he rushed in, but the puck bounced away, and you know where this is going.

The puck was recovered by the Blue Jackets and Jenner wrangled the puck as he entered the Isles zone. He and Josh Anderson were able to control the flow, and despite the Islanders getting three men back, Jenner was able to set up Anderson for the one-timer past Berube and to put this one out of reach not even halfway before it was over.

Anderson didn’t have enough yet, however. With under three minutes remaining William Karlsson won a face-off at his own blue line and Anderson carried into the offensive zone and ripped it past Berube.

Third Period

Foligno managed another goal and made the game 6-0. After Doug Weight lit everyone’s ass on fire, Savard added another to give them luck no. 7. There was nothing to like about this one, folks.

Quite the stinker.

Quick Reaction

Well, that was terrible. All-around terrible. No one showed up to play tonight. Perhaps Columbus was better-rested, coming off the bye week, but not a very good showing regardless.

What’s Next

After tonight’s matchup, they won’t play until next Thursday in Dallas. They’ll fly home for a few days before their game against the Stars. Before that game, specifically Wednesday, the trade deadline will occur. We’ll see if Garth Snow makes any changes.