Youth Continue to Develop

Karlsson Gets A Goal

The Blue Jackets fell to the New York Islanders tonight 5-2 in the Barclay's Center, as rookies across the lineup continued to gain experience.  While Forsberg struggled with tidiness around his net, and seemed to give up lots of rebounds, it was giving Brock Nelson time and space that did him in, as Nelson placed some pretty nice shots on him when provided with the aforementioned time and space.

Karlsson was all over the ice tonight, hustling to pick up a rebound goal off a Jack Johnson shot, and drew a couple of penalties as well as killing penalties effectively.  Later in the game Tortorella was playing an all rookie line of Rychel, Anderson and Karlsson, which looked fast and effective.  Naturally there will be learning moments for them, but they still looked good.

The power play did not produce a goal, but boy oh boy is it coming.  When Wennberg, Murray, and Seth Jones are on that power play, they can really move the puck.  They haven't buried the shots, but this is something with real top end potential.  Jones made some fantastic saves at the blueline, and that power play unit developed real pressure.  Some more play together and they are going to start burying some shots.  Young players will have ups and downs, but there was a lot of up in the youngsters collective game tonight.  So there it is.

Toronto tomorrow, should be interesting.

GO JACKETS!!