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Jackets Find a Way, Down Colorado in OT

March 4, 2013, 9:07 AM ET [16 Comments]
Glen Miller
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
In case you happened to take in the Columbus-Colorado contest on this lazy Sunday afternoon, chances are the action on the ice did little to interrupt your nap our get you out of your comfy recliner. It may not have been great entertainment, unless you are a Jackets fan perhaps, but surely Columbus will take the 2 – 1 OT win over the Avalanche and not look back.

The Jackets did a terrific job of controlling the tempo of the game, slowing the pace and limiting scoring chances against. Columbus held Colorado to just 19 shots total, just a few of good quality. The Blue Jackets also did a good job of staying out of the penalty box taking only three minor penalties and allowing just two PP opportunities against, both of which were successfully killed off.

Artem Anisimov was the hero for Columbus Sunday as his wrist-shot beat Colorado goaltender Semyon Varlamov high to the glove side 2:26 into OT. With the Jackets on a 4-on-3 PP following a hooking call to P.A. Parenteau 0:42 into the extra session, Anisimov patiently held the puck waiting for the right moment. After a quick glance to the left and with R.J. Umberger stationed in front of Varlamov, Anisimov let go of the shot that beat the Avalanche netminder.

Vinny Prospal had drawn Columbus even with his 8th goal of the campaign scored at the 4:04 mark of the third period. On a 5-on-3 man advantage, Prospal entered the offensive zone on the RW and threw a centering pass toward the front of the goal. The puck fortunately redirected off the stick of Ryan O’Reilly and into the goal.

Parenteau had the lone goal for the Avalanche. He floated a shot on net from the top of the circle that sneaked in over Bobrovsky’s shoulder. The goal was reviewed because as the puck sailed by Matt Duchesne appeared to have possibly tipped it with a stick that was well above the crossbar. The puck did seem to dip as Parenteau’s original shot looked like it was going to go over the net but replays proved inconclusive and the tally stood.

The Jackets played their seventh straight game decided by a single goal, including three consecutive settled in OT. Columbus has won just two of those seven one-goal contests.

Here are some of my thoughts on the game:

Ryan Johansen – He looks a lot more confident and was active in the offensive zone creating scoring chances for. He was also very effective in the faceoff circle winning two-thirds of his draws.

Nikita Nikitin – As if the Jackets don’t have enough injury problems on the blue line. Nikitin left the game in the second period after Sebastian Bordeleau bumped him along the LW boards. Nikitin fell awkwardly into the wall and didn’t return with what was described as an “upper-body injury.”

The Jackets can ill-afford losing another regular from an already depleted defense corps. Jack Johnson is getting close to returning but the last two games Columbus has played without JJ, John Moore and James Wisniewski all out due to injury. Cody Goloubef, Tim Erixon and Dalton Prout played extensively today and not one of them was in the lineup on opening night. Hopefully Nikitin is just a little sore and will return Tuesday.

Tim Erixon – Speaking of the rookie defenseman, Erixon saw 24:38 of ice time, down from the 25:13 he got Friday night against Chicago, recorded an assist and was a minus-one. He assisted on Anisimov’s game-winner and had two terrific chances of his own earlier on the PP. He looks to be settling in well and is becoming a valuable piece on the Jackets blueline.

Dalton Prout – At least he knew this morning he was playing today as opposed to Friday when Columbus had to rush him into the fray when Moore was injured in pre-game warm-ups. Prout was solid playing nearly 15 minutes and getting into his first NHL scrap with Cody McLeod.

The Power Play – Well now, two PP goals in five chances; that’s a welcome sight for a team that has struggled all season on the man advantage. There were some rough patches for sure as they failed to convert on the first of two, two-man advantages but at the end of the day anyone would take two power play goals.

Now that The History of Howson series is complete, I plan to begin a series of articles identifying and analyzing several Columbus players who I anticipate to draw interest from playoff teams in as the trade deadline nears. Look for the first piece later this week as the Jackets near the halfway mark of their season.
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