Jackets Crown Kings, 3-2 in Overtime
NHL Goal king Nash scores game winning goal, Sanderson starts scoring rally

By Giles Kennedy, Contributing Columnist

After a seven game road trip extending two weeks, Columbus returned home to Nationwide Arena with a new head coach and a changed attitude. Gerard Gallant stepped up for his home debut as Blue Jackets interim head coach. Rick Nash continued to dominate as the NHL goal-scoring leader, potting two goals, including the game winner in OT to lead the Jackets over the Los Angeles Kings 3-2.

“We played two solid periods. It’s was a great game and a big game for us first one back. (Nash and Zherdev) both played really well,” Blue Jackets interim head coach Gerard Gallant commented, “I thought we should have 4 or 5 goals.”

Jackets winger Geoff Sanderson, just getting over his scoring drought, got the 17, 238 fans at Nationwide Arena roaring early.

At 4:11 of the first period, Jackets defender Scott LaChance saw an opening between two L.A. defenders and Sanderson open going in full stride. Sanderson faked a backhand and came back with a forehand, lighting the lamp and staking a 1-0 lead.

“It was really good to take some pressure off Nash,” is how Sanderson, who is just getting over a major scoring slump, replied when asked about his contribution,” We played really well keeping the line together.”

Gallant doesn’t like naming or numbering his lines, but was pleased with the overall team effort. “Our whole team played well tonight; they worked hard and competed. I thought we had a lot of good scoring chances.”

The Kings, who gave up a game-tying goal in the final moments to the Minnesota Wild the night before, would not go into quietly into the night. The put in two scores in the second and third period; giving Jackets fans a bit of nervousness.

The Kings tied it 1-1 with 11 seconds left in the second period on Joseph Stumpel's stuff past Denis from next to the right post.

Nash, who leads the NHL with 27 goals put Columbus ahead 2-1 early in the third period, but the Kings' Alexander Frolov tied it 2-2 about a minute later. It appeared it would wind up like the Jan. 10th 2-2 tie at the Staples Center.


However, in with two mintutes remaining in overtime, Darryl Sydor poked the puck away from a King’s attacker at center ice, up to Rick Nash who skated in alone and chipped a shot over Roman Cechmanek's right shoulder to give the Jackets their first home win of the new year.

“It was pretty amazing,” Nash smiled, “All we wanted is to get two points in the last period. We kept it going into overtime.”

“Fortunately, we got into overtime and had a big goal by Nash,” Gallant said.

Efforts by both goaltenders were solid. The Kings top net minder Roman Cechmanek stopped 29 shots, many of them great scoring opportunities. Marc Denis made 22 saves, including 10 in the third period to earn the victory.

“We wanted to make a statement with this home stand,” Denis stated, “We want to be a dominant team; we want to get that back at home. We brought a little of the road trip home and we got a win out of it.”