How do the Blues follow up their first win for new Coach Davis Payne? They return home to win their first game on Scottrade Ice since Brett Hull night on Dec 15th. That’s right folks, almost a month.
Credit the Blues for coming out with a lot of energy and jump to their game. Columbus knew it was coming and planned for it, but still couldn’t withstand the pressure. Once again the Blues were moving quickly in all three zones allowing them to get behind the defense. They won the board battles and controlled the period.
The turning point in the game came in the first period. I know, turning point that early? Really?
I say yes and it was the goal by Alex Steen. The Blues were buzzing all period but had failed to add another goal on Mathieu Garon. The Blues had power play chances (largely squandered, especially the first power play) earlier in the period but failed to score. Columbus was sticking around like a road team tries to. The Blues found a way to get get the next goal. That goal would later prove to be the game winner. That goal allowed the Blues to continue to ramp up the early pressure and finish the first off. BJ Crombeen opened up the scoring in the first with a nice rebound goal. While Jay McClement capped off the scoring with a nice rebound tally. Its nice to see the Blues establishing themselves well in the first period in three of their last four games.
Columbus came back in the second, which was expected. Teams who get run all over in the opening period usually come out flying. You can bet Hitchcock had some choice words for his Blue Jackets and they came out hard. A bad slash by Roman Polak (who also had a bad interference to end the first) and a poor “hook” on TJ Oshie lead to an extended power play chances. Sadly Columbus scored during Polak’s slashing call. Haven’t we seen enough of Fedor Tyutin (and Columbus in general) scoring up high on Mason from his right side. Its like a nightly traditional for Columbus blue liners. Fortunately the Blues survive the push and came back to take over the last five or six minutes of the period. They did not add another goal in the second, but they did take the game back over. Their speed improved in transition and they were able to get the upper hand on the boards again.
The third was going to be huge. So many collapses this year, in the 3rd period, at home, with a sizable lead. The Blues did not regress, lose their proactive play, or stop playing for the next goal. They pushed the tempo and matched Columbus. Guess what happened? The Blues held on to win. My only real big thought on the third was the officiating. Keith Tkachuk is called for “interference” on Jared Boll. I think that Boll could have been called for a dive there. None the less, Blues kill the penalty. Later in the period Tkachuk is wrapped up in the corner and taken down. Mind you the defenders stick is parallel to the ice and his left hand is off the stick holding on to Walt. In the post lock out game, that is a hook, a hold, interference…some sort of call. Hell, Oshie was called for less of a hook in the second. The ref, three feet away, “saw nothing”.
I will give Columbus credit for ringing and answering the bell physically all night. Nothing really dity, just a good hard-nosed slugfest. Fight wise?
Janssen > Boll
Backes < Nash – I only give this to him for landing more hits before it was broken up. Antoinette Vermette grabbed Backes right arm as the fight started, allowing Nash freebe’s for a while.
Erik Johnson vs Mike Commodore – Really? Was this even a fight? Erik Johnson needs to show the presence of mind to keep his gloves on and not throw punches. Being physical on the boards is his style. Fighting is something he need not engage in. Either way both players were tossed for being the “second fight”. Oh man, makes me miss the good ole days. Just let them go if they are going to go.
Player Thoughts
Patrik Berglund – Finally seems to be finding himself this season. Multiple games where he is doing the dirty work. It is going to pay off for him.
David Perron – Keeps showing the skills and is showing more ability to take the body and pucks to the net.
Brad Winchester – Andy Strickland talked about this on Hockeybuzz, but he seems to be liberated and is really showing a side of his play we haven’t seen since last spring. Wonderful job taking the body, protecting the puck. He was in a perfect place to screen Garon on the Steen power play goal.
Jay McClement – I hope he finds a way to transcend the “shut down center role”. A Goal and 2 Assists tonight certainly help. His game seems to be excelling on both sides of the ice under Payne. His hockey sense is leading to smart plays to the wingers around him, which is leading to points.
Alex Steen – Found a home on the power play point? Sure looks like it. The rest of his game is in order and adding a power play knack is huge bonus to this team with Johnson struggling of late. He is playing himself in to a nice contract extension from the Blues.
David Backes – While his goal scoring is down, the rest of his game is up. He was a physical beast all over the ice. As the Blues get healthy again, Backes will get going again.
Paul Kariya & Keith Tkachuk – Both were serviceable in their return to their line up.
Roman Polak – Solid game. Had two bad penalties, but still came back with multiple solid plays to keep plays moving or to slow down offensive pressure.
Barrett Jackman – Warrior in the true sense of the word.
Eric Brewer – Where are my haters at? Yea, that’s what I thought. Showing a little physical edge and playing well.
Chris Mason – Stopped 26 of 27 shots to get the “W”. Solid game, made the save’s he needed to.
I love the job the Blues have done shutting down Rick Nash. They get in his face and are all over him the whole game. Denying him space really hampers his game. For a bigger guy you would think he could break out stronger around the Blues defenders, he just doesn’t seem to. While he has averaged a point a game against the Blues ov er the last three seasons, his impacts seem to be marginalized, at leas tin the last two seasons.
Mathieu Garon allowed 3 Goals on 9 Shots in the first period. From how good he was playing, to tonight’s performance should be a concern for Jackets fans. If he is going to falter while Steve Mason is questionable? Not a question they want to answer. Mason did look sharp in his two periods of work releiving Garon though.
The win (and 2 points) draws the Blues even with Columbus at 45 points. Which puts both teams at 8 points behind the struggling LA Kings in 8th place. A sweep of points in this homestand and two LA losses could have the Blues as close as two points back of the 8th spot. Maybe another big run isnt likely, but starting a run in January instead of February could mean it’s easier to get back in the hunt.
Next up for the Blues is the Minnesota Wild lead by Guillaume Latendresse and his 10 Goals and 15 points in 21 games with the Wild. Minnesota is only 4 points ahead of the Blues in the standings. Closing that gap to two points is essential on home ice.
Blues Player of the Game
Chris Mason
Mason stopped 26 of 27 shots, leading the Blues to a 4-1 victory. The first home win in nearly a month.
