Blue Jackets 4, Islanders 1: A continuing exercise in futility

All the games are must-win at this point, but you wouldn’t know it based on the Isles play during those games.

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

First Period

It’s almost not even worth noting anymore, but the Islanders were absolutely shelled this period after starting somewhat fast. They allowed 26 shots-on-goal; I can only imagine how many more attempts were made toward the net.

And yet, it was the Islanders who escaped the period with a goal on a power play. The puck found its way to Anders Lee down low and he tried to flick one of his newly-patented backhand shots past Sergei Bobrovsky, and while that attempt wouldn’t go, the puck was sitting loose in the crease for John Tavares to poke it through.

Second Period

“The beatings will continue until morale improves” seems to be the motto for Doug Weight’s club; the Blue Jackets pushed their shot-on-goal total to 41 before the period ended.

And, as you would naturally expect, it didn’t work this time around. Oliver Bjorkstrand and Pierre-Luc Dubois stacked on a couple of power play goals to end the period in the lead.

Third Period

To their (slight) credit, the Islanders started the third on a bit of a tear. The second line, in particular, had a few strong chances, but things didn’t break the right way for them - if only Thomas Hickey had his stick down to receive Jordan Eberle’s centering pass with Bobrovsky way out of his net - and they needed them tonight against the presumed Vezina winner.

Josh Anderson and Cam Atkinson scored two goals :43 apart, and that pretty much sealed it. The most positive highlight of the period were the vocal “Snow Must Go” chants levied by the bitter that remained.

“Quick” Reaction

Something’s gotta change with this team and now. That the oaf referenced in the crowd’s only audible noise of the night sees injuries as “100 percent” the issue with what’s gone on here is both apathetic in his own abilities to actually do his fucking job and completely off-base - Calvin de Haan and Nikolay Kulemin are the sole players not present from the Opening Night roster, aside from Josh Ho-Sang (whose potentially tenuous standing with and current placement within the organization fall squarely at Garth’s feet) and their absence can’t possibly tip the scales that much.

You can’t give up 40-50 shots-on-goal a night, period. Lottery teams don’t give up that many SOGs. It’s pathetic, and the front office should be utterly embarrassed for the product they’ve put on the ice. Difficult to see a way this team qualifies for the postseason.

Up Next

Their home stand wraps up Thursday night against the Rangers, before Friday night’s critical game against the Hurricanes - critical if they think they’re a playoff team, anyway.