The Blue Jackets know all about disappointing losses after big win streaks. They, after all, put a 10-0 smackdown on the Canadiens to end their eight-game winning streak at the start of the season.
NHL scores 2017: An ode to the Columbus Blue Jackets’ broken streak
Even without history, it’s still a run to be celebrated.
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
Unfortunately for Columbus, their clunker of a game came right when they were on the cusp of history. The NHL record of 17 straight wins set by the 1992-93 Penguins stays unbroken after the Capitals dealt the death blow to the Blue Jackets’ win streak with a 5-0 victory on Thursday night.
There’s something to be said for how full circle the Blue Jackets have come. That 10-0 win started the Blue Jackets’ upswing, as they’ve been no worse than .500 since winning against the Canadiens on November 4. In fact, Columbus hadn’t trailed by two or more goals at all during the two-month win streak until stepping into Washington on Thursday.
It’s easy to pick apart all that went wrong for Columbus in the loss, but there’s really no point. The Blue Jackets were going to come down sometime, either now, two games from now, or a month from now.
Sure, we didn’t get history, but the Blue Jackets are by far and away the best story of this NHL season. Columbus is scrappy, fun, and a delight to watch. They’re leading the NHL and have certainly cemented themselves a playoff spot while playing in the league’s toughest division.
It’s a learning experience for a young team. And a test run for us all when we hit April and really see what these Columbus Blue Jackets are made of.
Scores
Capitals 5, Blue Jackets 0
Oilers 4, Bruins 3
Predators 6, Lightning 1
Hurricanes 4, Blues 2
Blackhawks 4, Sabres 3 (OT)
Red Wings 4, Kings 0
Wild 5, Sharks 4
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Three Things We Learned
1. Connor McDavid will not be denied
At this rate, we won’t find out the NHL’s leading scorer until the day before the playoffs. Connor McDavid snatched the title back from Evgeni Malkin with a pair of points in the Oilers’ 4-3 win over Boston.
What a race this is going to be.
2. Tampa Bay was lights out
The Lightning have a problem. First, their injury list has some pretty significant players on it long-term. Second, they’re underperforming like mad and it’s costing them points in a key playoff race. Andrei Vasilevskiy has allowed five goals twice in his last two starts and their call-up, Adam Wilcox, has no games of NHL experience. With starter Ben Bishop out for a few more weeks, the Tampa Bay defense has given no relief for Vasilevskiy in the Predators’ 6-1 victory on Thursday.
3. The Blackhawks keep pace, but the Wild are catching up
A key overtime win for Chicago, despite a Wild win in San Jose, has put Minnesota just one point behind the Blackhawks. Chicago remains above the Wild at the top of the Central, but the Wild have four games in hand with the potential to catch Chicago at the top.
Impact Moment
The Red Wings needed two minutes into their game against the Kings to seal away a win, as Detroit blanked Los Angeles 4-0 with Thomas Vanek getting the game winner real early.
Stat of the Night
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