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Jackets with good comeback effort + Blues-Jackets preview |
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The story of the Jackets solid, come-from-behind win over Detroit was overshadowed by the scary injury to Columbus C Artem Anisimov early in period two. After Matt Calvert beat Detroit defenseman Kyle Quincey to the puck to neutralize a possible icing, Anisimov followed the play up skating alongside Ian White. Anisimov lost his edge and slid into the legs of Quincey who was knocked off balance. Anisimov head his head on the ice when he fell and as Quincey came down on top of the Jackets forward, he extended his forearm in an apparent attempt to brace himself. His forearm hit Anisimov in the side of the head and slammed it back into the ice.
Anisimov lay on the ice for several minutes with doctors from both teams checking him out. Ultimately the medical staff brought out the board and stretcher and Anisimov was carried off the ice and taken to the hospital. He remained overnight for observation and was released the next morning to fly home.
According to reports, Anisimov didn’t lose consciousness and was alert as medical personnel checked on him. It was a scary play but it could have been worse. Anisimov should be alright though is out until further notice.
Meanwhile, with a game to play, the Jackets turned in a solid effort and after spotting the Wings an early two-goal lead scored three straight to skate away with a 3 – 2 road win over Detroit. Vinny Prospal netted the game-winner finishing off a nice passing play started by a good defensive effort by James Wisniewski.
Wisniewski blocked a shot/centering attempt by Damien Brunner with his skate and the puck ended up on the stick of Derek Dorsett who skated up the ice. Dorsett entered the offensive zone on the RW side and sent a cross-ice feed to Wiz who quickly moved the puck to Prospal in front of the Detroit net. Prospal accepted the pass on the forehand but spun to the backhand and slid the puck by Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard.
The Jackets didn’t get off to a very good start allowing a goal to Brunner on the game’s opening shift. Battling behind the net Nick Foligno tried moving the puck around the boards but Brunner moved in and intercepted the attempt. He skated toward the goal and after whiffing on his first stuff-in attempt Brunner slid the puck under the right pad of Sergei Bobrovsky. It was Brunner’s 8th goal of his rookie season and it came unassisted.
Less than 2 ½ minutes later it was Detroit again on the attack. Valtteri Filppula fired a shot on goal that Bobrovsky was able to stop but the rebound kicked out to the left circle. Brunner, crashing the crease, took two Jackets defenders with him into the slot and Brian Lashoff got to the loose puck first. He fired a shot which was blocked but he got his own rebound and threw the puck at the net. Filppula was able to get his stick on the shot and the puck knuckled by Bobrovsky giving Detroit a two-goal lead.
Just over a minute later with Columbus pressuring, Dorsett got tangled up with Wings D Jonathan Ericsson in front of the Detroit goal. Just as Dorsett dropped his gloves to engage Ericsson, Jordin Tootoo jumped in and connected with a right to the nose of Dorsett. As the two players crashed to the ice and with the linesmen trying to break up the scrap, Dorsett threw a couple of punches at Tootoo.
Dorsett would get five for fighting and a 10 minute misconduct for the extra punches while the linesmen were intervening. Tootoo was handed five for fighting, a 10 minute misconduct and an extra two for instigating. Truthfully, as the third man in he should have been given the gate but the officials didn’t see fit to eject the Red Wings pest extraordinaire.
Regardless, the Jackets would get on the board on the ensuing man-advantage. Jack Johnson fired a point shot from just inside the blue line which Cam Atkinson, making his return to the Jackets lineup, stopped with his stick while attempting to redirect it. The puck set up right in front of the crease and RJ Umberger tapped it in for just his second of the year.
Dorsett would tie the contest up in the third converting after a turnover by the usually reliable Henrik Zetterberg. Zetterberg tried to one-hand the puck up the LW boards but Derick Brassard picked it off and skated to the middle of the ice. He back-handed a shot on goal and with Howard making the initial save it was Dorsett who found the loose change putting it behind Howard.
With new GM Jarmo Kekalainen taking in his first game since hiring on with Columbus, the Jackets may have felt some extra motivation to impress and they did a good job. No one is going to mistake Columbus for the skillful Pittsburgh Penguins but the one thing they can control and the one thing they need to do to have a chance to win games is to maintain a high effort level. The Jackets competed hard all night and that is sure to leave Kekalainen with a good feeling about his charges.
Now, let’s get to my impressions from the game.
Dorsett: I’ve been critical of Dorsett recently due primarily to his propensity for taking bad penalties and putting his team down a man at inopportune times. That wasn’t the case Thursday. He did take 19 minutes in penalties but each penalty was coincidental save one. In the third he was whistled for interference of Tootoo but that was an awful call that Tootoo sold by flopping to the ice. Dorsett and Tootoo inadvertently collided away from the puck which should have gone uncalled but Tootoo drew the attention of the officials by going down to the ice.
Dorsett was engaged physically and played a terrific game. Obviously he tallied the game-tying goal and also assisted on Prospal’s game-winner. Dorsett was easily one of Columbus’ best players and a big key was not taking silly penalties.
Bobrovsky: Bob was excellent after allowing two goals in the first 2:40 of the opening period. He finished with 28 saves and was particularly strong when the Jackets were on the kill. Bobrovsky stopped all 10 of Detroit’s man-advantage shots, including a few great chances, as the Jackets killed off all four Red Wing power plays.
Prospal: The Jackets most accomplished forward, Vinny netted his team-leading sixth goal of the year and is now just one away from 250 in his career. He also needs just five assists to reach the 500 mark. Prospal’s enthusiasm in infectious and he provides a good example for his teammates with his hard work and experience.
Game Preview:
Tonight the Jackets head to St. Louis to face off with the Blues. In a reunion of sorts, John Davidson and Kekalainen each return to St. Louis for the first time as members of the Blue Jackets organization.
The Blues are 9 – 6 – 2 overall with 20 points and currently reside in fifth place in the West. They’ve lost two in a row following a three game winning streak but should be buoyed by the return of Jaroslav Halak in goal. Halak was in net for the Blues 1 – 0 OT loss to Colorado Wednesday and stopped 19 of 20 shots in his return to the lineup.
Top scorers:
Alex Steen – 15 points
Kevin Shattenkirk – 14 points
TJ Oshie – 13 points
In goal:
Jaroslav Halak – 3 – 0 – 1, 1.84 GAA, 0.902 Save %
Brian Elliot – 3 – 5 – 1, 3.57 GAA, 0.849 Save %
Player to watch:
Halak – The Blues are a very different team with Halak in goal. Last year he partnered with Elliot to win the Jennings Trophy for team GAA but Elliot has not been very good this year. Halak’s numbers are down as well but the Blues record with Halak in the net is no fluke.
Jackets notes:
Bobrovsky is in goal for Columbus making his third straight start. Is he finally starting to grab the #1 job? Another terrific outing would go a long way toward answering that question.
Drazenovic was called up again to add depth with the injury to Anisimov and two games in two days on the schedule.
According to Andy Strickland of Truehockey.com, the Jackets have hired Basil McRae as a part-time scout in Ontario. McRae had been working in a similar capacity with St. Louis and is also a part owner of the OHL’s London Knights. This might be the first of several hires by Kekalainen reuniting him with people he has worked with previously in stops with the Blues and Ottawa.
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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