Jackets Edge Blackhawks, 2-1
By Steve Sirk, Columbus Wired

Losing their fourth player in the span of a week, the undermanned Blue Jackets grinded their way to a 2-1 win over the youthful Chicago Blackhawks. It wasn’t a work of art, because the artists are going down in a heap, but what remained was a bench full of workers to chisel out a crude “W”. After losing top center Andrew Cassels on the first shift of the second period, the Jackets rode two power play goals and tough defense to their second consecutive one-goal victory.

After losing Trevor Letwoski (fractured pinkie), Duvie Westcott (bruised ankle) and Tyler Wright (hyperextended elbow) in the first two games of the home stand, the Jackets then lost Cassels in a bizarre sequence behind the Chicago goal. Cassels was leveled to the ice just seconds before teammate David Vyborny also had his clock cleaned. As Vyborny fell, he stepped squarely on Cassels’ back with his skate blade. The bruising and back spasms left the Blue Jackets shorthanded for the third game in a row.

They must be getting used to it. Undaunted, the Jackets took a 1-0 lead three minutes later on Rick Nash’s third goal of the season. It was a power play marker, in which Nash, camped out to the right of the goal, roofed the rebound of a Jaroslav Spacek laser. “I just had to tap it in,” said Nash.

Buoyed by the lead, the Jackets began to dominate the game. The majority of the game was being played in the Chicago end of the ice. “After that first goal, we were able to keep the puck out of our zone and keep it down in their zone,” said center Todd Marchant. “Simplifying your game can go a long way toward helping you protect a lead.”

It can also help you build it. The Jackets would double their advantage on another power play goal, this one from Marchant. It was a lovely sequence set up by a triangle on the right. From the right circle, Nash fed down to Marchant at the goal line. Marchant quickly played to Geoff Sanderson in the slot. Sanderson’s one-time rocket was saved by Hawks goalie Jocelyn Thibault, but Marchant was in excellent position for the put-back.

“It was one of the few times we actually got it set up on the power play,” said Nash. “I got it down to Marchant and he made a great pass to Sandy for the one-timer. Great save by Thibault, but Marchant went right to the net and had a tap-in.”

The Blackhawks would make a game of it in the third, when Brett McLean scored his first NHL goal at 7:57. However, for the second time in as many games, the Blue Jackets would not break down the stretch. Chicago mustered just 8 shots in the final period, and although they put up 31 for the game, there was little danger to be found.

“I thought it was good to get into a game like that; a grind-it-out, chip-it-out affair, where they got back within one and we needed to finish it off,” said Columbus head coach Doug MacLean. “Territorially, we didn’t give up a lot. We kept everything outside and kept our slot area clean. Even late, they didn’t have a lot of chances. (Chicago) played really hard and they were a desperate team, so it was good to get into a grind-it-out game. It was good experience to finish strong.”

Finishing strong in a tight game with yet another shortened bench is compelling testimony that this Blue Jackets team has undergone a massive mental makeover this past off-season. These muckfests were ties or overtime losses in previous seasons.

“Doug was busy this offseason bringing the four guys over, and it helps,” said Nash. “You can see it helps in the dressing room and the atmosphere. When you bring guys like Sydor, Marchant and Letowski over, it helps you win those tight defensive games.”

“It shows how much deeper we are defensively,” said Sanderson. “Not only on the blue line, but when you have someone like Marchant going up against the other team’s top center every game, it makes a difference. The last minute was a perfect example. He’s a great shutdown defensive center, and he can race around the ice and get to pucks, which prevents us from getting pinned deep in our end.”

The new guys are certainly doing their share, but MacLean is impressed by the contributions of some familiar faces during the injury outbreak. “It’s getting tense with bodies dropping like flies. I thought Grand-Pierre, Shelley, Linger and Nedorost gave us some good minutes, and they’re young guys.”

According to Marchant, it’s performances like these that lessen the sting of the injuries. “After the game, you start to wonder who we are going to lose next. But that attitude hasn’t really spread on our team. Everyone just bears down and works harder. Tonight we lost Cassels and then Dan Fritsche has a good rest of the game for us and we win the game. Lasse (Pirjeta) also picked up some minutes. It takes everyone to pick up the slack.”

Picking up the slack and winning tight games are certainly encouraging signs for a team without a history of doing either. But the Jackets are not content. They still have one major demon to exorcise…(insert ominous music)…THE ROAD. Saturday’s game in Nashville will be another barometer for a team that is quickly atoning for its past sins.

“We’re looking forward to going to Nashville,” said Sanderson. “That is our next big test. Road play is the lingering question from last year. We’ve always been a pretty good home team, but we’re excited to see what we’re like on the road.”


Sirk's Three Stars

1. Rick Nash (CBJ)- Another goal, an assist, and yet another crowd-pleasing, explosive, open-ice body-check, this one blowing up rookie defenseman Lasse Kukkonen. Plus he flashed another nifty move or two behind the Chicago net. This kid excels at bringing the fans out of their seats.

2. Todd Marchant.(CBJ)- It would be impossible to overstate his contributions to the club after just four games. Scored the game-winning goal, but more importantly, played every other shift on a shortened bench. “He was a horse,” said MacLean. Just three days after topping 23 minutes of ice time against Vancouver, he logged 26+ minutes against Chicago. If needed, it seems he would gladly play the entire game soccer-style, never subbing out.

3. Geoff Sanderson (CBJ)- Getting back in the swing of things after missing all of pre-season with an injured shoulder, Sanderson tallied two assists, moving him back on top of the Blue Jackets’ all-time scoring list. His 141 points are now one better than Ray Whitney’s 140.