COLUMBUS \u2014 The San Jose Sharks visit the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.<\/p>\n
Igor Chernyshov (twice) and Macklin Celebrini, and the Sharks win 3-2!<\/p>\n
Period 1<\/p>\n
Mateychuk goal: Miserable start. Mayers notes that could\u2019ve been a Marchenko penalty on Eklund. But good read by Mateychuk, Sherwood was going up NZ for pass, he had Provorov with him. Four Sharks were in the DZ. Mateychuk read an opening.<\/p>\n
3 in: Huge Nedeljkovic save on Marchment off 2-0n-1. But then Marchenko prevents Wennberg from getting puck through NZ, rare thievery of Wennberg. Jackets\u2019 forecheck all over Sharks on this shift.<\/p>\n
4 in: Smith has not been sharp with the puck through two shifts, he\u2019s gotta focus up.<\/p>\n
9 in: Details matter. Mukhamadullin has it at center ice, looking to get it up. His bounce pass to a San Jose Sharks\u2019 stick, imprecise, misses Ostapchuk, leads to Jackets\u2019 counterattack and near Grade-A 2-on-1 chance. Post-game, when they talk about execution, that\u2019s a lack of execution. Mukhamadullin wasn\u2019t under any real duress. That\u2019s just pure do or do not, there is no try. He also compounds the mistake by drifting up toward the puck, leaving Ferraro for a 2-on-1, a Blue Jacket sneaks behind him. The execution thing, that happens to some degree. The drifting toward the puck and letting someone sneak behind you, that\u2019s unacceptable. If you\u2019re wondering why Mukhamadullin hasn\u2019t asserted himself in this line-up, this play is an example.<\/p>\n
6 left: Strong forecheck shift from Celebrini line, more of this.<\/p>\n
5 left: Big Merzlikins save on Toffoli, started with Mukhamadullin and Misa double-teaming Marchenko in corner, Misa skates it out. Good read by Misa, read the vulnerable player.<\/p>\n
Chernyshov goal: Chernyshov takes advantage of a Columbus execution error, Fabbro cross-ice pass was a little behind Sillinger in NZ. The big winger jumps on it, and two-man game with Smith up the ice, Chernyshov scorches the one-timer.<\/p>\n
2 left: Terrific forecheck from Graf and Toffoli, Graf has been noticeably fast and strong so far tonight, Toffoli finds Misa in the slot for a Grade-A. Big Merzlikins save.<\/p>\n
Period 2<\/p>\n
2 in: Good OZ faceoff win read by Mukhamadullin, jumps up, hits post on a shot, I think. Then Graf on top of Ferraro deflected shot in front, big Merzlikins save, good to see San Jose Sharks still rolling after solid second half of first period.<\/p>\n
3 in: Orlov-Celebrini-Smith-Toffoli-Wennberg is PP1, Dickinson-Eklund-Chernyshov-Misa-Sherwood should be PP2.<\/p>\n
6 in: Smart defense from Provorov, chasing loose puck, Ostapchuk bearing down, he lets Ostapchuk win the puck, but is right on top of him to pin him down and take it.<\/p>\n
7 in: Chernyshov and Celebrini have to stop running into each other lol.<\/p>\n
8 in: Oh man, Celebrini is snake-bitten. Maybe if he wasn\u2019t so tired, that puck would\u2019ve crossed the line. Just kidding! Outstanding shift from the line, they were on it and pristine execution, high-pace and skill, can\u2019t stop that.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, Celebrini bullies someone for the puck, like he did there, and I look up the number, No. 3, and I laugh. 34-year-old 6-foot-3 center Charlie Coyle, actually the Jackets\u2019 highest-scoring points-getter so far this season. Like I wrote yesterday, this is why I don\u2019t buy the Celebrini is worn out narrative. He\u2019s not bullying Kent Johnson. The points will come.<\/p>\n
This is why I resist the “Celebrini is worn down” narrative. <\/p>\n
This is 6’3″ 34-year-old center Charlie Coyle that Celebrini just absolutely bullied for the puck. <\/p>\n
Macklin is fine, slumps happen to everyone, the points will come https:\/\/t.co\/lLMSZh4xTj<\/a><\/p>\n