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CBJ P39– Forsberg’s Fortress: How is He the Starter?! |
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Columbus does Columbus things when it comes to teams on Columbus level. Columbus loses to Columbus draft pick Anton Forsberg and the Ottawa Senators at the Columbus home rink by the final score of 2 for Ottawa and 1 for Columbus.
Last night’s loss extended their home losing streak to 3 games on the season, making them 11-8-1 at home. In this slide, they have been outscored 11-5 by the visitors, with two of the teams being lower in the league standings and both being out of division foes.
Out of the 5 goals scored, they all came from 3 players, and 2 of the 5 were short handed goals. The only 3 players to score have been Gustav Nyquist, who scored both short handed goals; captain Boone Jenner; and fourth liner and hometown boy Sean Kuraly. This leads to many questions and shocks:
Where is the production from the rest of the roster?
Are those players worth their contracts?
How is Gus carrying the penalty kill, and leading the league in shorthand goals with 4, after missing a whole year?
Who else will follow the players that want to play here and the captain?
Will there be a turnaround?
Ottawa opened the scoring in the first period with an Artem Zub snapper for his 4th of the season; Adam Gaudette and Tyler zen is got the helpers.
In the dying seconds of the first, Sean Kuraly’s tip knotted the game with his 6th of the season. Jakub Voracek’s 26th assist has him in the top 25 in league assist production. Werenski’s 16 puts him first on the team, breaking the tie with fellow draftee Vladislav Gavrikov.
The German stud Tim Stuzle got the game winner late in the second for his 7th goal of the season; Alex Formetton got the lone helper.
Anton Forsberg was the first star of the game, stopping 35 Columbus shots for a 0.972 save percentage. What. The. This guy, just a few years ago, could’ve easily said the worst goalie to have ever watched in a Columbus jersey, with goals against seasons in 4.69/3.03/4.10 with save percentages of 0.866/0.907/0.852 from 2016-18, prior to the Artemi Panarin deal.
Yes.
You’re reading right!
He went with Saad in the deal. You’re welcome Ottawa. He’s also the reason you have Lassi Thomson to root for, plus your unsigned Euro prospects Jonathan Davidsson and Vitaly Abramov. To have now surpassed Matthew Murray as the starting goalie, the seventh round pick in the 2011 draft has a 0.912 save percentage with Ottawa!
And he’s a pending UFA. Ottawa will get picks for him if they sell hard and properly at the deadline. How is he the starter? Bad money management, the waiver wire, and magic. From summer of 2020 to spring of 2021, he was with Chicago; Edmonton; Carolina; and Winnipeg; before being the last claim by Ottawa. Maybe they match his contract to Murray and Melynk cries a river. Or maybe Scott Howson is doing cartwheels as the AHL President saying he can draft NHL talent.
Elvis stopped 31 of 33 shots for a 0.939 save percentage. This game wasn’t Merzi’s fault as he is the last player the puck goes through; his team in front has the yips or their talent must’ve forgot hockey as part of the new year resolutions in 2022.
CBJ Three Stars of the Game
1. Sean Kuraly— goal (7)
2. Elvis Merzlikins— 2GA on 33SH; 93.9 SV%
3. Jakub Voracek— assist (26); 765th career point in 1,005th career game
Thoughts? Calgary is next… uh oh…
Fans! Follow me on Twitter @ZakMacBuzz. If you want more Ottawa content; follow Kevin Francis @Kr655525204; and follow Ek @Eklund!!
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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