Jackets win 4-3 in OT shootout

By Giles Kennedy, Contributing Columnist

The crazy, early December downpour of snow and sleet was the perfect backdrop for the match up between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Islanders Thursday night as the hometown heroes had to work their way into an overtime shootout with a 4-3 victory.

CBJ veteran David Vyborny and newest Jacket-NHL veteran Sergei Federov collected two Columbus shootout goals. Columbus goaltender Pascal LeClaire not only held his own throughout the game; but during the overtime shootout, shut down all three Islander attempts by Alexei Yashin, Miroslav Satan, and breakaway man Mike York. LeClaire made 37 saves for his second NHL win and first on home ice.

“Both teams played well,” LeClaire said, “We both had a lot of penalties, but a lot of power plays.”

Newly appointed CBJ captain Adam Foote teammate Nikolai Zherdev added to the game with a goal each in the first. Both goals were on power plays.

The first goal saw defenseman Duvie Westcott passing the puck over to Jackets center Jan Hrdina. Hrdina saw an open Zherdev, who quickly put the puck into the net.

The second goal came on the heels of yet again another Hrdina assist. This time, he started the puck rolling; passing to defenseman Bryan Berard. Berard then slid the puck to Foote. Foote pinched in and nailed the shot to give Columbus an early 2-0 lead.

“You want to chip as much as the next guy,” Foote remarked humbly, “Hockey is more of a sport that if you work hard, want to do the little things, you’ll prevail.”

A goal in the second by New York’s left wing Mike York at 1:04 irritated fans like no snow trucks on I-270. More missed plays and slams into the Plexiglas ensued. It really started to look like a 10-car pile up at the I-70/71 split.

Answering the call like AAA, the Jackets returned fire at 16:52. Vyborny attempted a shot on goal; getting clobbered to the ice surface. An inverted pass from Vyborny gave the puck to recent call-up Geoff Platt. Platt was able to get the puck through the Islander defense to Sergei Fedorov. Fedorov’s shot and his first Blue Jacket goal clinked between the glove of New York goalie Rick DiPietro and the southern pipe of the goal giving the Jackets what one would think a comfortable 3-1 lead.

But just as the second period was ending, New York right-winger Trent Hunter got a breakaway and slammed the puck past Columbus goalie Pascal LeClaire to narrow the score 3-2.

With less than three minutes remaining, Fedorov was called for a questionable penalty. And with 37-seconds left in the game, Islander speedster Mark Parrish slapped in a goal. Can anyone quote that famous cartoon character with the round head? Good Grief! 3-3 and off to overtime.

“Mentally, it’s hard work,” Fedorov commented, “When you let the game almost go; that is what kills all the moments. We were able to come over the adversity.”

With no goals in OT, it was time for the shootout. Yashin was first up for the Islanders. His shot pinged off of the goalpost. Vyborny stepped up for the Jackets and flicked his shot to the top left of the goal to give the Jackets the upper hand. Fedorov also chimed in with a goal, while LeClaire stopped the other two New York attempts.

Thus, a rough night on the corners of Nationwide Blvd. and Front Street came to the end. The weather-tough 15,728 fans saw a tough and great game. 4-3 the final, get your snow shovels ready. This hockey season and winter is far from over.