We were expecting a lot, because last year the team scored 50 victories and scored 108 points for the first time in its history.

However, the road to the Stanley Cup playoffs wasn't as smooth as the Blue Jackets had hoped.

Columbus got off to a strong start, going 17-8-1 in their first 26 games, but then went through a three-month streak of instability and injury, with key players such as center Alexander Wennberg and Brandon Dubinsky, forward Cam Atkinson and defenseman sidelined for extended periods. Ryan Murray.

The Blue Jackets lost 2-4 to the Anaheim Ducks on March 2, 32-28-5, and tied for second wild card with the Carolina Hurricanes with 69 points. They beat the San Jose Sharks 4-2 two days later, completing a three-game away tour of California, after which they began a 10-game winning streak and significantly strengthened their position in the fight for the playoffs.

On Thursday, "Columbus" (45-29-7) in overtime (4:5) lost " Pittsburgh Penguins", but thanks to one point earned, he received a place in the playoffs. The Blue Jackets earned a ticket to the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in 17 years of existence in the NHL, and the first time they did it twice in a row.

"Losing is extremely unpleasant, but I'm happy for the team," said coach John Tortorella. experience".

Here are five factors that led the Blue Jackets to book a playoff spot:

1. Bread bears fruit

On June 23, 2017, Artemiy Panarin was traded by the Chicago Blackhawks and provided the Blue Jackets with an extra-class offensive game. The 26-year-old left winger leads the team with 27 goals, 55 assists and 82 points and shows that his performance in Chicago didn't depend on Patrick Kane. The number of assists and points Panarin is a record, “Columbus”.

Rookie Pierre-Luc Dubois is the second most productive Blue Jackets forward with 48 (20+28) points.

"I had no idea how complete a player he was," Tortorella said of Panarin. "It didn't take long for me to realize that it wasn't his environment. He makes others better."

2. Jones and Verensky

The scariest fact about Columbus' first pair of defensemen is that Seth Jones is 23 and Zach Werenski is 20, so they can play together for a very long time and keep progressing. Jones' 57 (16+41) points is second on the team. Verensky is in sixth position with 37 (16+21) points.

Jones leads the Blue Jackets in game time, averaging 24:36 minutes on the ice. Verensky is second with 22:34.

Tortorella believes that the figure of Jones should be considered as a contender for the Norris Trophy.

"Forget his points, his speed and his control," Tortorella said. "I want to see a video of another defender who is better than Seth Jones. Because there aren't many."

3. What about Bob?

It was extremely difficult for Sergei Bobrovsky to repeat the result of last season, when he won the Vezina Trophy for the second time in his career. That year, he led the league with a 2.06 goals conceded and 93.1 percent saved percentage, while also finishing third in wins (41) and tied for third in shutouts (seven). However, the 29-year-old was once again a key player for the Blue Jackets: 37-22-6, 2.42 goals conceded, 92.1% saves and five clean sheets.

4. Most earned

After the first 42 games, the majority of Columbus took the last place in the NHL with the implementation of 11.4 percent (14 of 123). In 39 games since Jan. 7, sales have been 24.3 percent (25 out of 103) and 26.8 percent (15 out of 56) in 20 games since Feb. 24, which is the sixth best in the league in that span.

Jones is the top scorer for the Blue Jackets with 24 (7+17) points. Including 18 (5+13) points since January 7th.

"We've become a confident team," Blue Jackets forward Nick Foligno said of the powerplay. "We've had some very good plays and some great goals. There's no need for more."

5. Acquisitions in Deadline Exchanges

Other teams made more high-profile signings in the February 26 trade deadline, but the Blue Jackets were filled with veterans who came to court.

Forward Thomas Vanek has scored 15 (7-8) points in 18 games since joining the Vancouver Canucks and has been a solid offensive addition for the Blue Jackets. With Vanek's help, Columbus scored the most goals in the league since the trade deadline, with 77 goals in 19 games.

Acquired from the Nashville Predators (who previously traded him from the Edmonton Oilers), Marc Letestu was a worthy reinforcement in the form of a two-way center forward, and two-time Stanley Cup winner Ian Cole, acquired from the Ottawa Senators (and before that from Pittsburgh Penguins"), gave stability and rigidity to the defense (24 blocks and 25 power moves in 19 games), and also brought surprisingly little offensive value (two goals, five assists).

"We love bread!" Why Panarin should be NHL Rookie of the Year

The official website of the NHL said that Artemi Panarin is the main favorite in the race for the Calder Trophy.

The official website of the NHL said that Artemy Panarin is the main favorite in the race for the Calder Trophy. The Chicago forward may become the seventh Russian who is recognized as the rookie of the year.

“Edmonton forward Connor McDavid broke his collarbone, and this made his chances of winning the Calder Trophy illusory,” they say in North America. “But there are other young players who are doing very well this season.”

Artemy Panarin, who plays on the line with Artem Anisimov Patrick Kane, is just great. Not the most dimensional forward (180 cm, 77 kg), who signed a two-year contract on May 1, leads among all newcomers in points (21), assists (14) and powerplay points (5), and on average spends 19:11 on ice per match . This is the level of the favorite in the fight for the Calder Trophy.

“Very talented striker,” adds Patrick Kane. -Great hands and great throw. Can shoot at nine or confuse the head of the defender. One of the best players that I saw at his age.

Panarin is 24 years old, while McDavid or the same Jack Eichel from Buffalo is only 18. Artemy decided to first become a KHL star, and only then leave for the NHL. And it was the right decision.

Under the age limit of 26 years, he does not fall. It was introduced in 1990 when 31-year-old Calgary forward Sergey Makarov won the Calder Trophy. He came from CSKA, and you remember what a great player he was. That season, Makarov scored 86 (24+62) points in 80 matches.

The best rookie of the season is determined by the association of professional hockey journalists. And in 1992, Pavel Bure became the winner (34+26=60 in 65 matches). The press was not mistaken. In the next two seasons, Russian Rocket scored 60 goals each.

Samsonov at the age of 16 was considered the star of CSKA. But he left overseas and immediately shot at Boston (22 + 25 = 47 in 81 games). Although Sergeyane's career was especially developed. He won nothing but bronze in Salt Lake City, retired from hockey quietly and unnoticed.

Yevgeny Nabokov was called up from the AHL at the age of 25. And in the first match he repelled 39 shots against Colorado (0:0), for which Patrick Roy played. 32 wins in 66 matches and 6 "crackers" surprised many then.

Alexander Ovechkin fought Sidney Crosby for the Calder and beat the Canadian prodigy, who was very good. But Ovi is great! 106 (52+54) points in 81 matches were amazing. This statistic also included the puck into the Phoenix gate, which Sasha threw while lying on the ice, from behind his head. This goal is often called the best in the XXI century.

Evgeni Malkin took Calder without dust and noise (33 + 52 = 85 in 78 matches), immediately showing that a big star came from Magnitogorsk to the NHL.

Until Panarin dominates like Ovechkin or Malkin. And he must not relax, especially when McDavid returns to duty. But to become the best among the equals of the Subject is within your power.

The main competitors are Arizona forward Max Domi and St. Louis defenseman Colton Pareiko. Nearby - Dylan Larkin (Detroit), Anthony Ducler (Arizona), Linus Ullmark (Buffalo).

It's real to overtake them.

All of our Calder Trophy winners

1990 Sergey Makarov Calgary

1992 Pavel Bure Vancouver

1998 Sergey Samsonov Boston

2001 Evgeny Nabokov San Jose

2006 Alexander Ovechkin Washington

2007 Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh

source: "Soviet Sport"

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Alexander Radulov - "Tasmanian Devil"

The Tasmanian Devil is a cartoon character, which is a bunch of energy, illegible expressing his thoughts. According to Radulov's partner in Montreal, Paul Byron, the hockey player got this nickname because he is a "funny guy" who does not always speak clearly.

Evgeny Kuznetsov - "Harry Potter"

Kuznetsov received this nickname not for his resemblance to the main character of the "Potteriana" and not even for his love for the saga of a young magician. The fact is that the Russian masterfully owns a stick, as his colleagues noticed, in the hands of Kuznetsov it turns into a magic wand.

Igor Larionov - "Professor"

The hockey player was nicknamed "the professor" for his game literacy and strategic thinking on the field. In addition, Larionov wore glasses with round glasses - such a stereotype.

Sergei Gonchar - "Benjamin Button"

Goalkeeper Ben Bishop said that his colleague Sergei Gonchar only gets younger with age. For that Russian hockey player and received the nominal nickname of the hero of the story, Francis Scott Fitzgerald, reports "Championship".

Alexey Kovalev - "Artist"

The hockey player was nicknamed the "artist" not at all for his passion for painting. According to colleagues, Kovalev is not just a player on the ice - he is a real creator.

Ilya Bryzgalov - "Mr. Universe"

Bryzgalov's nickname was determined by chance. Or rather, a quote from the player. "Now I'm very interested in the question of the origin of the universe - how did this even happen?" - the goalkeeper asked a question. Since then, Bryzgalov's name is none other than "Mr. Universe".

Vladimir Tarasenko - "Frank"

According to one version, the nickname "Frank" is a reference to the hero of the movie "Old School" Frank Tank. And the point is not in the characteristics of the character, but in the fact that initially Tarasenko's colleagues called him the Tank for a powerful and uncompromising game, and then decided to be a little more original.

Evgeni Malkin - "Hooligan"

Malkin's teammates have long known that he is ready to challenge any opponent. For the rebellious spirit, the Russian got his nickname.

Artemy Panarin - "Bread"

Panarin is called "bread" in honor of the network of American buns "Panera", which the athlete loves. The hockey player himself likes to joke about his nickname. "In general, I'm different. At night I try to be white, and in the morning - black. On weekends I'm sweet. I'm never stale," Panarin said.

Pavel Datsyuk - "Houdini"

Datsyuk was given the nickname by journalist Chris McCosky. “He stoops a little when walking, with his gait he resembles a crab. But as soon as Pavel goes on the ice, he turns into Houdini,” McCosky wrote about the Russian.

© Reuters

Kane, Anisimov and Panarin again "cheated"

"Chicago" continued the pursuit of the leader of the Central Division "Minnesota", in a brilliant style, beating away "Winnipeg". This victory was the fourth in a row for the "black hawks", but, which is especially pleasant, the strike combination again worked for the wards of Quenneville. Recently, this bunch has been unstable - the same Panarin, who played his debut season superbly, is not so productive in the current championship and only with the onset of 2017 began to regain confidence (four points in the previous three matches).

Anisimov had a similar story, who started the season great, but then slowed down and only in January began to steadily score points for assists again. Kane looked more formidable against the background of the Russians, and it was Chicago's number 88 that was destined to be the first to break through Jets goaltender Connor Hellebike: in the middle of the first period, Anisimov fought on someone else's blue line and took the puck away, Panarin made a flank pass, and then gave great pass on Kane.

At the start of the second twenty-minute period, the "jetmen" bounced back with the efforts of Brian Little, but the guests were able to stop the impulse of "Winnipeg" in time. In the middle of the period, Kane tried to repay Panarin for a great pass, leading the Russian to throw with pure ice, but Anisimov intervened in the matter, who skillfully corrected the puck on the patch, again bringing Chicago forward.

In the last minutes of the meeting, the Jets made a desperate attempt to make a comeback, and as a result of their efforts, Anisimov's goal did not become victorious, the puck of defender Keith, which he drove into the Hellebike goal with a mighty long-range shot, was recognized as such. Closed the scoring in this match Panarin, who struck an empty net, and all the leading trio of guests earned seven points in this game.

“We are counting on this link. IN recent matches before the break they weren't doing very well, now they're on a bad streak. They need to be more efficient, better with the puck. They have moments, ”Chicago mentor Joel Quenneville said 10 days ago when his team lost to San Jose, and Panarin, Kane and Anisimov extended their goalless streaks. After a week and a half, it became clear that the mentor had taken the right measures and the leading three of the "black hawks" began to work effectively again.

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Dubnik beat Vasilevsky and beat Bobrovsky

37 saves by Tampa goalkeeper Andrei Vasilevsky did not help the Lightning extend their winning streak to three games. The leader of the Western Conference, Minnesota, loaded the goalkeeper of the southerners with shots, but she managed to score only once in 65 minutes - this happened at the end of the second period, when Nino Niederreiter successfully played on finishing moves in the majority. Three minutes later, Tampa bounced back: rookie Braden Point masterfully corrected a throw from defender Garrison on the patch, and due to this puck, the Lightning hockey players transferred the meeting first to overtime, and then to a shootout.

Wild's Mikko Koivu was the only one to convert his free throw. Finn outplayed Vasilevskiy, putting the puck on the wrong side of the hook, and the goalkeeper of the "savages" Devan Dubnik neutralized the shots of Point, Druen and Kucherov. For Dubnik, this victory was the 30th of the season, and according to this indicator, he overtook Columbus goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky. Dubnik reaches the mark of 30 wins for the third consecutive season.

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Mike Ilic dies

Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilic passed away on February 10 at the age of 87. Ilic, a native of Detroit, was rightfully considered one of the main creators of those winning traditions that were laid down by the Red Wings since the mid-1990s. It was in his era that Detroit won four Stanley Cups (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008), and Scotty Bowman's famous Russian Five delighted fans with their fantastic game.

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“My father instilled good views in both our organization and our family. He had a positive impact both in sports and in society. We will continue to work hard to continue his legacy and the legacy he started,” said Mike's son Chris Ilich, who currently manages all of the Red Wings' business. So far, Detroit continues a record streak of 25 consecutive playoff hits, but in order for words not to go wrong, Chris Ilic's team will have to seriously try: Detroit is in last place in its division, lagging behind the playoff zone for six points.