Drive to the Net: Johnson steps up taken in Columbus, Ohio (Penguins)

Jack Johnson. -- MATT SUNDAY / DKPS

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- I haven't shied away from criticizing Jack Johnson this season.

It's only fair to also acknowledge when he's doing things right.

Johnson has been back on his natural left side of the ice for seven games now. Some defensemen will say that they're comfortable on both sides, coaches will say the player is capable on both sides but, ideally, they'd be better playing on their natural side. While Johnson's play this season hasn't been great, there's no doubt that a part of that has come from him playing on his off side.

The advanced stats during these past seven games still aren't spectacular. Johnson's Corsi For percentage over the last seven games is 43.72, actually a decrease from his season average of 45.58.

His Goals For percentage (essentially plus/minus in percent form) have improved though in this short seven-game sample, and that's what really matters. Johnson's Goals For percentage at five-on-five throughout the season is 42.53. In these past seven games, that number has risen to 70 percent, the second-highest among Penguins defensemen who have played in at least two of those games. Only Marcus Pettersson has seen a better percentage, clocking in at 75 percent.

When the Penguins' lost Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin, both members of the top defense pairing, early on in Saturday's Stadium Series game in Philadelphia, the remaining four members of the blue line had to step up. Leading the way was Johnson, who registered 31:08 of ice time in the loss.

Tuesday's game in Columbus was a big one for Johnson.

It was an emotional one, for sure. This was Johnson's first game back in Columbus, his home for six seasons, since signing with the Penguins.

Johnson received the tribute video treatment during the first television timeout. It was met with mixed reactions from Blue Jackets fans:

Again, Johnson was expected to step up for the Penguins' depleted defense. He and Justin Schultz were the Penguins' top pairing, and Johnson again led the team with 26:50 of ice time. When Chad Ruhwedel was lost to injury in the second period, Johnson and Schultz were again tasked with picking up more minutes. Looking at the game's shift chart, you can see how often the pairing was on the ice after Ruhwedel went down:

And Johnson contributed. He did. He led the team with two takeaways and four blocked shots. He was credited with one hit and one shot.

Johnson got off to a great early start, preventing a Seth Jones chance just seconds into the game and then regaining possession for the Penguins seconds later:

Johnson also earned his 12th assist of the season in the game, the lone assist on Sidney Crosby's empty net goal.

"I knew there was a handful of seconds left," Johnson laughed. "If I high-flipped it, it would just kill some time hanging in the air. I just knew if I got it up high enough, the game would be over."

Johnson wasn't on the ice for either of the Blue Jacket's goals in the Penguins' 5-2 win. He was on the ice for just as many shots for as he was against during five-on-five, eight apiece. Not great, but not bad either.

The win spoiled the debuts of new Blue Jackets acquisitions Ryan Dzingel and Adam McQuaid. Those two were just a part of the buzz surrounding the new-look Blue Jackets, a team that also acquired Matt Duchene days before the deadline, and goaltender Keith Kinkaid, who is still awaiting his Blue Jackets debut.

Following the game, Johnson was asked about the excitement surrounding Blue Jackets' deals, and if this was a "statement" win due to people forgetting about the Penguins after the trade deadline.

"I didn't forget about us," said Johnson. "We have a hell of a team in this room."

Perhaps the "Jack Johnson effect" won't be so much of a drag moving forward.

Loading...
Loading...