Game 43: Carolina Six Pack

Last night the crowd chanted Bob! Bob! Bob! and the number one star of the night came out and applauded to the crowd. Sergei Bobrovsky posted a shut out, his second of the year, in beating the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 in Nationwide Arena.  The Jackets jumped up early on rapid fire goals by Jenner and Dubinsky. Bobrovsky got a chance to settle his game, and Atkinson finished off the scoring late to seal the deal.  A very solid game by the CBJ against a hot opponent who was on a 5 game winning streak.  And now, for tonight's six pack:

Keeping Pace in the Metro

1. My first cold, clear, delicious CBJ beer of this six pack goes to Nathan Horton.  After long labor, there is nothing better than a cold beer, and Horton, who ended the night pointless, but +1, labored long and hard in making this a successful game for the CBJ.  It is true that on Jenner's first goal, the puck came off the stick of a Carolina player.  What doesn't show in the score sheet is the degree to which Horton had the player tied up, so that a slow, weak, pass right to Jenner's tape was the only option for the Carolina player.  Jenner deserves credit for not wasting the opportunity, and for pumping the goal home after Horton's play allowed him to get the puck in the low slot.  Horton is slowly getting himself into game shape, and I thought his progress showed, especially early in the game.

2. My second cold beer of the night goes to Brandon Dubinsky, who followed Jenner's goal with one of his own a mere minute and 10 seconds later.  Dubi got a path to the net, and put a shot home that seemed to befuddle the Carolina goal tender.  Assists go to Cam, who was really rolling tonight, and to Fedor Tyutin.  Dubi was all over the ice tonight and a disruptive force in addition to scoring his goal.  A good game by number 17.

3.  My third, cold, frosty, CBJ beer goes to Cam Atkinson.  With a goal and an assist, Cam is developing a lot of confidence in his game.  You don't want to give this guy time and space, because he will burn you with it.  Scoring his 12th goal of the year, Atkinson is among the 5 CBJ skaters with double digit goals at the half way point of the season, and Dubinsky has 9.  If we finish the year with 5 or 6 twenty goal scorers, we should be in decent shape.

Bobrovsky!

4.  My fourth CBJ beer goes to Bobrovsky.  I thought Bob looked a little scrambley early when Carolina was putting on a lot of pressure, but he settled down quickly and looked VERY sharp in net.  The team did a good job of  making sure that he could see the shots, and Bob took care of the rest.  A hot Bob would do a lot for our playoff position, during this stretch of play.  

5. For my fifth beer, I am going to cycle back to Boone Jenner, who potted his goal from the low slot against a red hot goal tender.  Jenner now has 6 goals, a very creditable first half of a rookie campaign.  If he maintains that pace he will end up with double digit goals, and a definite contribution to whatever success the team ends up achieving.

6.  My sixth beer goes to the fans last night.  Once again, a visceral, unplanned cheer erupted, a staccato Bob!Bob!Bob!Bob! chant when Bobrovsky made one of his several good saves.  That is a real cool thing and it is really fun to hear.

All in all, a really good game experience, lots of fun.  The CBJ claw their way back to the .500 mark.  Now they need to put together a solid run and try to get up into the playoff picture, instead of being 'within reach'.  The Metro is starting to pick up its play across the board, and the CBJ are going to need to put together a streak to stay in the hunt.

Tonight the Jackets are in Winnipeg, and there are rumors that the big buff, Dustin Byfuglien will be moved to forward from defense.  Otay.  Whatever.  Should be a fun game.

GO JACKETS!!