Calgary goes down in 4-3 matinee
Blue Jackets Enforcer Jody Shelley pots two and dukes one flame.
By Giles Kennedy, Columbus Wired Contributing Columnist

“I think the last time I score two was at Syracuse or Johnstown,” Left winger Jody Shelley said, grinning like a school boy with a great report card. A great report of all Doug MacLean’s pupils as teamwork prevailed over the hard fought Calgary Flames. The entire game was a shining example how everyone contributed to the 4-3 win at Nationwide Arena packed with 17,957 fans.

Just because our boys in blue won don’t think it was easy. In fact, Calgary’s Steven Reinprecht fired the first goal, assisted by Craig Conroy and Jordan Leopold at 2:41.

Now the question remains, is Jody Shelley an enforcer or a scorer?

Hated former Jacket and current Calgary thug Krzysztof Oliwa was asking that very same question just 2:49 into the game. “We both knew it was coming,” Jody said of the draw, “You get in a fight, it’s a fight. More uncomfortable than I like. I could have started it better.”

Shelley proved himself to a scorer, too. With 14:22 into the first, Scott LaChance passed him a puck to which he smacked past Calgary’s goaltender Jamie McLennan for his first goal and on a Columbus power-play tying things up at 1-1.

Jody Shelley is far from done scoring rolling into the second.

The cannon from Calgary, Jarome Iginla, did get off the first goal in the second with a so-called assists from Stephane Yelle and Robyn Regehr. The puck actually bounced off Jackets defenseman Darryl Sydor’s skate. 2-1, Calgary gains the lead.

Justice would come a few moments later. A rush across the blue line had Lasse Pirjeta passing to Darryl Sydor, delivering the puck into the stick of Jody Shelley at 9:10. He slammed into the goal basket for a return of tying it up 2-2.

Within two minutes and twenty-two seconds, another Blue Jacket goal would be earned.
The Blue Jackets were most certainly taking Calgary to the school of hard knocks. Geoff Sanderson and Todd Marchant gave a little help to their friend Andrew Cassels. Andy crushed the puck in at 10:26. Another power play goal! 3-2 Columbus rises ahead.

Like this would happen again. This time Andrew Cassells played supporting role with Marchant, giving Geoff Sanderson a chance to score at 11:21. Geoff sails the puck in, Columbus retains the lead, 4-2. Yet again, power plays were improving, 3 for 8.

Don’t think there wasn’t any fighting. Calgary’s 9 for 21 minutes shown that Columbus was not going to get this win easy. Columbus was no slacker in penalty time, going 6 for 15 minutes total box time.

Coming into the third, it was quiet on the western front. At least until 1:54 shown up with Calgary’s Andrew Ference bringing in a goal with assistance from Matthew Lombardi and goalie Dany Sabourin. Wait a minute; Sabourin…wasn’t Jamie McLennan in for the first two periods? Yes, the Jackets kept the Flames at bay for the remainder of the third.

A lot of checking and boarding kept the Flames from even gaining control. That would help Jean Luc Grand Pierre, Lasse Pirjeta, and Duvie Westcott shine defensively.

Through it all, Columbus gained the win and respect. The losing streak is broken; the wins have and will come.

GK’s Prime Time 3 Stars
1- Jody Shelley(CBJ)- The two goals and solid performance overall.

2- Todd Marchant(CBJ)- Two assist on power play goals. Class act!

3-Andrew Ference(CAL)- Someone had to be the spoiler, right. His goal in the third proved that never second guess anything.

GOALS SCORED
1st 2nd 3rd Total
CBJ 1 3 0 4
CAL 1 1 1 3

FACE OFFS
CBJ-39-27 CAL-27-39

POWER PLAYS
CBJ- 3/8 12:36 TOTAL
CAL-0/5 10:00 TOTAL

SHOTS ON GOAL
CBJ-28 CAL-45