It doesn’t matter if you’re playing the New York Rangers or the Columbus Blue Jackets — you have to pay attention. This is the NHL, and even the least likely goal scorer on a bad team can still get the puck into the net. Jared Boll tonight was the example of that:
It wasn’t even on purpose, and was directed by Boll’s skate probably on accident (not kicked in, however), but that’s not the point. The puck still went into the net, and the goal still counted.
David Backes was unhappy, and we all know how Backes gets when he’s unhappy. He scored 17 seconds later on an easy tap in. He faked Columbus goalie Allen York into thinking he was going to re-direct Kevin Shattenkirk’s shot. He didn’t, and put the puck into the net with York out of position:
Unfortunately, Chris Stewart’s season hasn’t been getting better. His silly turnover at the blue line led to this R.J. Umberger breakaway and goal:
Stewart is already on the fourth line, with guys like Ryan Reaves in the pressbox. If he continues this sort of plays, Reaves’ll be in the next game, and Stewie’ll be sampling the press box popcorn and pretzels.
The Blues’re outshooting the Blue Jackets 12-5, but if they continue playing like this, the shot count won’t help one bit.