The Bolts once again failed to play a full 60 minute game but came alive in the final 20. Meanwhile, the Jackets did play a complete game, struggled in the third, but still, it showed. The Jackets kept Tampa off their game and got up early. The Bolts started a comeback but had no such luck in finishing it. The Jackets have officially unfortunately swept the Cup favorite, Tampa Bay Lightning. Let’s take a look at how we got here period by period.

First Period

The Bolts did not get the start they wanted as just a minute in McDonagh was called for slashing, and the Bolts would head to the penalty kill. The Jackets would convert as Alexandre Texier fired one home for an early 1-0 lead. The Jackets never stopped as Pierre-Luc Dubois found the rebound and made it 2-0. An embarrassing start for the Bolts in an elimination game. The Bolts would then finally register their first shot but this game was still all Columbus, and it wasn’t even close. The Bolts then finally woke up as they made a great entry where Stamkos dangled in and put one into the back of the net to make it a 1 goal game. The Bolts wouldn’t make things easier though as Kucherov was called for a trip sending the Bolts to the penalty kill. The Blue Jackets took back their 2 goal lead as Cam Atkinson got another rebound and put it home. The Bolts then challenged the goal for offsides, and they won the challenge! The Bolts caught a break, and they would need to capitalize on it. The Bolts would start by killing off the rest of the penalty. The Bolts then looked like they woke up a little as they picked up a fury of shots. Bobrovsky and the Jackets held them off though and continued to fight them off. Time would then soon expire, and the Bolts would head into period number 2 down by 1.

Goals: 2-1 Columbus

Shots: 8-7 Columbus

Second Period

Both teams got off to a slower start then they did in the first with neither team taking control. The Jackets then picked up a big chance in front but they just missed the net, and the score remained 2-1. Columbus started to take control of this game, and then they capitalized as Seth Jones fired one into the back of the net to make it 3-1. They then continued with their newfound momentum as they peppered Vasy with shots. The Bolts then got their best chance of the night as a rebound came right to Point, but he just couldn’t put it in. The period began to fly by with the Bolts still trying to get something going and silence the crowd. The Bolts then climbed right back into it as Coburn ripped it towards the net where Paquette tipped it home to make it 3-2. The Bolts kept pushing as they looked to get this game tied before the period came to an end. They then went on a run with multiple chances but still could not find the back of the net. The Bolts would then get a huge power play chance as Werenski was called for a cross-checking.  Anderson then had a breakaway chance but fell and lost the puck, the Bolts marched back down and got a few chances of their own. The Bolts then got a huge goal as Brayden  Point snapped one home to tie this game. But the celebration was short lived as there was a delayed penalty to the Bolts. Bjorkstrand then put it past Vasy before the Bolts touched the puck and the Jackets took back the lead by a score of 4-3.

Goals: 4-3 Columbus

Shots: 20-20 Tampa

Third Period

The Bolts got off to a decent start as they picked up a few opportunities but nothing huge to start this period. The Bolts continued to push, and it seemed like the Bolts kept the chances coming. But Bobrovsky and the Jackets kept the puck out of the net and the Bolts still trailed by 1. Time quickly dwindled away, and the Bolts were running out of time. The chances just kept on coming from the Bolts but so did the saves as this game remained at 4-3 with just 10 minutes to go. The Jackets could not get anything going in the offensive zone, but all they had to do was keep the Bolts from putting the puck in the back of the net. And they had done just that. With just 6 minutes to go, it looked like things were not gonna go the Bolts ways, but they kept on pushing. Bobrovsky just kept making every save, and the Bolts now had 4 minutes left to tie this game. The Bolts would pull Vasy but the Jackets would net 2 more and the Bolts season would come to a close.

Goals: 7-3 Columbus

Shots: 33-25 Tampa Bay

 

3 Stars