While gathering my things and leaving the arena, I remembered a line from the famous chocolatier Willy Wonka that perfectly encapsulated the Blue Jackets performance.
“Its all there black and white, clear as crystal, you get nothing! You lose! Good day sir!”
It seems the only difference between the quote and the Blue Jackets latest loss is that it was all blue and white. Tampa Bay held the lead for the entire game and staved off Columbus’ attempts to comeback in the third period.
When the final horn sounded, both sides registered 28 shots but the game was more determined in periods than it was as a whole. The teams traded momentum in the first period, but Tampa Bay emerged with a pair of goals. In the next 20 minutes, Columbus surged back to make it 3-2. Then, in the final period, the Lightning went into lockdown mode and prevented all Blue Jackets advances.
Former Columbus netminder Mathieu Garon played a huge part of his team’s shutdown defense. Garon made one save more than his counterpart and former teammate Steve Mason, making him the third star of the game.
Only Rick Nash and R.J. Umberger could solve Tampa Bay’s stellar goalie. Both scored on nearly identical wrap-around goals.
Umberger’s mark came on a Blue Jackets power play that appeared to have found new life (or life at all for that matter.) Although Columbus only managed to convert on one of its five opportunities with the man advantage, the team’s special teams units, penalty kill included, played incredible games.
James Wisniewski gave the Blue Jackets’ penalty kill a pair of chances to prove its worth and they did exactly that. Led by Antoine Vermette and Derek Dorsett, Columbus made the kill look more like a power play.
Still, the Lightning took the coveted two points. League-leading goal scorer Steven Stamkos had the game-winner while center Blair Jones also tallied for just the second time this season.
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