Most of the names on the Blue Jackets’ jerseys were different, but watching them frustrate and dominate the Tampa Bay Lightning to polish off a sweep sure looked familiar.
The name of Tampa Bay’s building has changed from Amalie Arena to the phonetically frustrating Benchmark International Arena, but the Jackets’ 5-2 romp there March 10 looked at times like their stunning sweep of the Lightning in the first round of the 2019 playoffs.
Despite allowing the game’s first goal and trailing 1-0 after the first period, the Blue Jackets were aggressors from start to finish. The Lightning dropped their sixth of seven games (1-6-0) since returning from the Olympic break, including an 8-7 loss March 8 in Buffalo, but they’re still one of the NHL’s best teams.
Those waiting for the other shoe to drop on the Jackets after they built a 3-1 lead, just like it has dropped most of the season, never heard a thud. The Jackets steadily gained steam, outworked the Lightning despite finishing a home/road back-to-back, until they seized control late in the third.
As a result, the Blue Jackets kept pace with the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders while gaining a point on the Pittsburgh Penguins in their quest to land a playoff spot. The knowledge and confidence they added by dominating the Lightning might be worth more.
“They now know what we look like when we’re playing well, and just as important, they know what we look like when we’re not,” coach Rick Bowness said in postgame comments published by the Blue Jackets. “We went into that third period determined that, ‘We’re playing on our toes, we’re not playing on our heels.’ “
Here are three takeaways:
Conor Garland showing catalytic chemistry for Columbus Blue Jackets
Conor Garland wasn’t expecting to be traded, especially after signing a six-year contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks last summer worth $36 million. It doesn’t start until July 1, so it’s understandable if Garland was a little upset by a March 6 trade that sent him to the Blue Jackets.
He sure looks happy now after jumping into a tight playoff chase with his new teammates. He has provided an instant spark to a forward line with Sean Monahan at center and Kent Johnson at left wing, and they’re already hot. Garland’s skills match his linemates’ talents, and their sparks have led to him scoring two goals in consecutive games for a total of four in three games following the trade.
Garland had a goal drought stretching back to Dec. 16 with the Canucks, and it lasted just one game in Columbus. The Blue Jackets were already one of the NHL’s hottest teams prior to Garland’s arrival, but he might be exactly a catalyst that gets that line roaring.
Special teams were special for Columbus Blue Jackets
The longest-running joke among Blue Jackets fans includes the phrase, “Decline it!” being shouted when a power play is awarded rather than a penalty shot. The Jackets’ power play has struggled for most of their 25-year existence, especially the past few, and the penalty kill got off to an ice-cold start to this season.
Both were needed against the Lightning, who went 0-3 on power plays and allowed two goals on four Blue Jackets’ power plays. Marchenko’s goal to cap a man-advantage was his second 5-on-4 advantage in two days, but Marchenko’s most encouraging traits are the Jackets’ improved re-entries, and their puck movement and puck hounding to maintain possession.
Elvis Merzlikins rebounds for Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets went with Elvis Merzlikins in net against the Lightning after Jet Greaves absorbed a 5-4 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings on March 9 at Nationwide Arena.
Merzlikins was 1-1-1 with a bloated 3.79 goals-against average and clunky .850 save percentage in four games (three starts) since the Olympic break. He was sharp in Tampa despite allowing the first goal off a deflection. He stopped 16 of 18 shots, including five shot during three unsuccessful Tampa Bay power plays.
Merzlikins also tacked on a primary assist for his second helper of the season, giving the puck to Dante Fabbro for a long-distance goal into Tampa’s empty net in the third.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets complete sweep of Tampa Bay Lightning: takeaways
Reporting by Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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