“That was simply an instance of it,” Del Bel Belluz mentioned. “Only a grindy, greasy objective. JVR simply backhanded it to the web there and I used to be fortunate sufficient to get a stick on it, and it discovered its well beyond the road.”
Head coach Dean Evason mentioned final week that Del Bel Belluz’s play, each offensively and defensively, was deserving of a call-up however the Blue Jackets didn’t have an open spot within the lineup. That got here Thursday, with facilities Sean Monahan (higher physique damage) and Cole Sillinger (sickness) out of the lineup, and Del Bel Belluz confirmed simply how he earned that recall together with his play towards the Kraken.
He was on the ice for Seattle’s first objective – Shane Wright knocked down his clearing try and shortly fed Eeli Tolvanen for a one-timer dwelling – however that was the lone blemish on his document. Del Bel Belluz performed 11:16, added an help on Mateychuk’s objective, gained 7 of 13 faceoffs and centered what may need been the group’s finest line with van Riemsdyk and Kent Johnson.
This seems more likely to be his first prolonged look within the NHL, and Del Bel Belluz aced his preliminary check.
“He didn’t cheat the sport,” Evason mentioned. “He was on for that one objective (for Seattle) – tried to do the precise factor and chip it out, their man will get stick on it – however so far as the way in which he competed and his consideration to element, his skill-set is admittedly good, however he has to play in all areas of the sport to assist his group have success.”
3. The CBJ leaders did their factor on and off the ice in the present day.
Whereas a lot of this evening was in regards to the children – and we’ll group 27-year-old Owen Sillinger in that as he made his NHL debut (extra on him tomorrow) – the group’s veterans did their half as properly. Zach Werenski had a objective and an help, van Riemsdyk had the 2 helpers, Sean Kuraly opened the scoring and Kirill Marchenko notched his team-best 18th objective.
However maybe their greatest contribution got here earlier than the sport in the way in which they welcomed the brand new blood to the locker room. Del Bel Belluz and Sillinger are not any strangers to the group, having been in coaching camps and across the group for some time, however each mentioned they have been struck by how comfy they felt upon arrival at Nationwide Enviornment.
“Proper after I walked into the locker room, I noticed everybody’s smile on their face, how welcoming they have been,” Sillinger mentioned. “They mentioned, ‘We’re going to have one tonight.’”
“All the blokes made it really easy for me. They have been simply very welcoming,” Del Bel Belluz mentioned.
It would sound like a small factor, however it goes a good distance. The Blue Jackets proceed to shock the hockey world with their play, and one of many keys to the success has been simply how tight-knit the locker room is and the way good the group’s chemistry has been.
When you’re going to do one thing particular within the NHL, it’s a must to have it, and the Blue Jackets do.
