Game 44: Winnipeg Six Pack

Tonight the Columbus Blue Jackets exploded for 4 goals in the first half of the second period to pull away from the Winnipeg Jets to win the game 6-3.  In playing their first regular season game in Winnipeg, the Jackets parlayed a short handed goal, a power play goal, an even strength goal, and a penalty shot to turn back Winnipeg and win their third consecutive games.  The Jackets fly back to Columbus tonight to be ready to play the Tampa Bay Lightening on Monday.  And now for our six pack!

Points, beautiful points!

1. For my first, CBJ brewski is awarded to Mark Letestu for his 2 goal game.  The first critical goal was a short handed goal after the CBJ took an early penalty in the second period.  Derek MacKenzie brought the puck down the ice on the 2 on 1, and made a sweet pass to Letestu for the shortie.  For his second goal Letestu picked up a rebound off a shot from the point by Wisniewski to snuff out any hope the Jets had on making a comeback.  A real nice game for the Test Tube.

Boone Jenner

2.  My second CBJ beer goes to Boone Jenner, for HIS 2 goal game.  Jenner's first was a penalty shot, earned by blocking a shot and getting hauled down on the subsequent break away.  He looked very decisive and quick on the penalty shot, which provided that all important 3 goal lead.  Even though Winnipeg kept trying to climb back into the game, the CBJ answered their goals, and Jenner's second was a punch in of a rebound in the low slot.  Good play, going to the hard places. Jenner now has eight goals, and looks like he is serious about joining the ranks of the double digit scorers on the team.   Boooooonnnnnnnnnnneeee!!!!

3.  My third CBJ cold one goes to the second goal, a really nice give and go by Cam Atkinson, who entered the zone with speed, dished the puck to Ryan Murray, who quickly passed to Wisniewski, who found Cam streaking to the net for a wide open look and the goal.  A real nice tic-tac-toe play by the boys, that put the CBJ into the lead for the first time.  Take a couple of good slugs on this one, and pass it around to your teammates Cam.  Atkinson now has 13 goals, his lucky number.  If he can maintain this pace he will put together a very nice season.

4. My fourth CBJ beer goes to the getting points on the road.  The time is now to make a push in the Metro.  The team has accomplished its first half of the season objective of staying in the hunt until Horton was back.  Now he's back, and slowly but surely getting rolling.  You can see how much he adds, and I think he has more to offer when he achieves mid-season conditioning.  Now is a time to shove our way up into playoff position.  The CBJ have eight of their next ten games at home, so its a good time for a push.

5.  My fifth CBJ beer goes to the Metropolitan Division.  The Metro is so tight, this is going to be a great hockey season, and it will be tons of fun down the stretch.  I wonder if because it is so tight, that a lot of Metro teams are going to be playing really good hockey, and if the relative meekness of these Metro teams early in the season turns into something else during the last half of the season.  That will be fun to watch unfold.

6. My sixth CBJ cold one goes to team work.  Tonight, McElhinney played in goal to give Bobrovsky a break after last night's shut out.  CMac didn't have his best game, and was fighting the puck a bit early, but he kept the team in the game during the awful first period.  His teammates helped him out by exploding for four goals early in the second, giving him the cushion he needed to play a little more loosely.  Good stuff.

The CBJ bring home an important road win, but have to turn around and go again Monday night.

GO JACKETS!!!!