The Jackets tied up some loose ends before the nearly three week Winter Olympic break. They dropped their final game until February 27th, losing to the Sharks 3 -2 and missing out on two crucial points. Columbus now sits one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the third guaranteed playoff spot in the Metro Division. They are also a point behind Detroit for the second Card position in the East.
Ryan Johansen and Boone Jenner tallied for the Jackets and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 44 of 47 shots but it wasn't enough.
The Sharks, chasing Anaheim for first place in the Pacific and the top spot in the Western Conference, got goals from John McCarthy (his first NHL marker in over three years), Tommy Wingles and Patrick Marleau.
Columbus worked hard but the Sharks were the better team for much of the game. Todd Richards expressed that same sentimment:
"There was desperation in our game...but they were better than us. They were harder, and they played faster than us."
Right in the thick of the playoff race, it is at least conceivable the Jackets could welcome back Marian Gaborik once the club returns from the Olympic break or soon thereafter. Gaborik will not be able to represent Slovakia in the Olympics due to the broken collarbone suffered earlier in the campaign. This would have marked the third time in his career that he participated in the Winter Games. I'm sure the news is devastating to Gabby as he takes great pride playing for his home country in international competition.
Columbus also completed a small trade yesterday sending D Blake Parlett to Boston for F Carter Camper. Camper, a 5'9" 173-pound center, has made 171 AHL appearances, all with the Providence Bruins, and has tallied 128 points. He should add some forward depth for the Springfield Falcons.
The Jackets dealt from an organizational strength in moving Parlett. In addition to the trade the Jackets have also sent D Tim Erixon and Cody Goloubef to Springfield. Parlett, originally acquired by the Jackets in last year's trade deadline trade also involving Gabby, had scored 18 points and recorded 22 PIM in 37 contests for Columbus' AHL affiliate.
Next up for Columbus after the break is a match with New Jersey on February 27th against the Devils. That should prove to be a challenging affair with the Devils also fighting for their playoff lives. The Devils have one more contest before the break, traveling to Washington to play the Capitals.