Game 26: "Redemption"

After a disheartening 7-2 loss to the visiting (though you wouldn't know it) Pittsburgh Penguins, the Columbus Blue Jackets bounce back in dramatic fashion to win a hard fought 3-2 shootout win over the Dallas Stars. This couldn't come at a better time, as the Blue Jackets needed to prove to the fans, the NHL and most of all themselves that they were contenders.


They succeeded in a well-played hockey game. I missed the 1st period due to a final, but the 2nd and 3rd were great. When I joined the broadcast, the Jackets were up 1-0, and looked very strong coming out in the second. Sometime mid-way through the 2nd though, the ice switched its tilt very sharply and after a breakdown trying to get the puck out of the zone by Nash, the Stars capitalized and Brad Richards unleashed a nice shot that Garon got a glove on, but the puck bounced off of his shoulder and fumbled into the back of the net.

Going back to the locker room tied at 1, the Jackets emerged confident, albeit a little drained. There were quite a few scoring chances that we just couldn't convert on. Again, a approaching halfway through the third, the Stars overloaded the net and a beautiful pass to Steve Ott stuffed the puck behind Garon to make it a 1-2 game.

The Jackets needed to strong-arm themselves this win.

With 1:50 left to play in the game, the Blue Jackets were handed a golden chance to get back in the game.
Struggling to get a good shot off, the Jackets pull their goalie. Nash is denied a few times, then magic happens:




Nash does exactly what a captain should: clutch the throttle and drill a puck almost through an impossible angle.

That was incredible. I can't put into words how exciting that was; it looked like the Jackets had come out of their Detroit stupor and wanted to win this game.

After another chance filled OT period, the Jackets went to a shootout and Mathieu Garon held up his end and became a wall.

A good win. A hard win. Best part was over 10,000 were there to see it and I bet they'll tell their friends.

Bullets:

• Good to see Nash show up again. That giveaway/goal to Dallas was bad, but that nasty wristshot PPG redeemed him and then some. 
• Garon was amazing! Dallas was missing the net a lot but Garon stood sturdy with some great late game saves that kept the Jackets in the game. With a rather good .889 SV%, Garon was a solid. I'm expecting to see him again on Thursday against the Blues. (That game could get physical).
• Anton Stralman had an assist; during a powerplay!
• The Jackets kept driving, and chipping at the net. A total 29 shots and an uncountable number of missed chances. 
• Good to see they didn't give up after that 2nd Dallas goal. This was cathartic.

The next game is against St. Louis. When we faced them, they were leading the Western Divsion and had a gaudy7 game winning streak. After the sirens stopped blaring, the Jackets routed them 8-1. Since then they have gone 4-9 and won their last game against the Canucks. It could be a dirty game with how bad things got at the end of the teams' last meeting.

It should be a good one.
~Brett