By Nathan Junk, ’19
If there are three words that hockey fans around Columbus, Ohio don’t hear very often, they are undoubtedly, “Blue Jackets win!” However, on Nov. 4 of this year Nationwide Arena and the rest of the NHL world were left with their jaws frozen to the ice in disbelief as the Jackets dismantled the undefeated Montreal Canadiens by a final score of 10-0.
The Jackets’ latest shellacking of the Canadiens represents the first time an NHL team has scored 10 goals since 2011, and also represents a new Blue Jackets franchise record for most goals scored in a game.
Part of the reason for this unusual Jackets win was the fact that the undefeated Canadiens were without their starting Goaltender Carey Price. Price, who won MVP of the league in 2015 and was in net for the Canadians during their 2016 World Cup of Hockey gold medal run, was out for the clash between the Jackets and the Canadiens in order to keep him healthy rested for future games. Instead of the four time all star Price, it was backup Al Montoya between the pipes for the Canadiens. Little did Montoya and the Canadiens know that they were about to suffer their worst loss in franchise history.
Blue Jackets Right Wing Cam Atkinson kicked off the offensive extravaganza for the Blue Jackets by scoring the game’s first goal midway through the first period. Atkinson would eventually become one of four players to score two goals in the game. The other three multiple goal scorers for the Blue Jackets were Left Wing and team captain Nick Foligno, Left Wing Scott Hartnell and Right Wing Josh Anderson.
Defensively for the Jackets, veteran Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was a brick wall between the pipes as he accumulated 30 saves and allowed zero goals on the night. The Jackets outshot the Canadiens 40-30 and evidently capitalized on many of their shooting opportunities. Blue Jackets Head Coach John Tortorella enters his second year at the helm of the team and seems to have the experienced team heading in the right direction in terms of the way the offense is flowing and how well the defense is operating. This improbable win from the Blue Jackets could be a sign of hope for the young season and could hint at the possible improvement of Columbus’ beloved Blue Jackets.