JACKETS DEFEAT PITTSBURGH 3-2 IN OVERTIME SHOOTOUT

By Giles Kennedy, Contributing Columnist

Jaroslav Balastik scored the winning goal during the first official overtime shootout in Blue Jacket history, giving Columbus a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in front of 13,187 fans at Nationwide Arena.

Pittsburgh did not bring 1st overall draft pick Sidney Crosby and player/owner Mario Lemieux, but showed plenty of energy without them.

Pittsburgh started the fire in the first period, acquiring two goals within five minutes. Left winger Ryan Malone scored at 3:02 with help from defenseman Ric Jackman. Minutes later, former Blue Jacket Lyle Odelein assisted fellow teammate Michel Oullet scoring Pittsburgh’s second goal at 8:39 to give Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead. Hopes quickly were fading, but the Jackets were not going to be going out quietly.

Late in the first period, on a power play; Nikolai Zherdev fed the puck to young Jacket winger Jaroslav Balastik. Balastik then passed to Manny Malhotra. Manny was able to score, despite a cross checking collision with Pens defenseman Ryan Whitney at 11:37 to make it 2-1.

Marc Denis, making his first start of the year allowed both Pittsburgh goals. Pascal LeClaire, replacing Denis midway through the second period, stopped all of the remaining 14 Pittsburgh shots in regulation. His counterpart, Marc-Andre Fleury played the entire game for the Pens stopping 35 shots.

LeClaire knows he needs to make management recognize his ability to be with the big team, especially after Columbus signed Martin Prukak in the off-season.

“I look at this as a challenge, to show what I can for the team.” LeClaire said.

Both teams accumulated numerous power play opportunities as penalties racking up like a rap sheet. The pinnacle of altercations came in at 13:57. Pittsburgh right-winger Michel Ouellet met up with Columbus’ Manny Malhotra, slamming Malhotra into the boards. The officials had to separate the teams. Ouellet got penalized for the boarding and tossed from the game given a misconduct penalty. It should have been another power play opportunity for the Jackets, but the officials decided that Malhotra earned a pass to the box for roughing.

That scrum gave a jolt of energy to the Jackets. Minutes later, Marchant tied the score at 2-2. Luke Richardson and Brandon Sugden were credited with the assists.

Scoreless throughout the majority of the third period, fisticuffs came forth again. 12:30 into the third, Pittsburgh’s Daniel Carcillo and Columbus’ Ole-Kristen Tollefsen tussled near the Blue Jackets bench. Carcillo earned had a trip to the box, 2:00 for boarding.

This gave the Jackets another opportunity, which was wasted. "If we’re going to get that many power plays, we’ve got to finish more of them off," Gallant said.

Solid goal blocking by Pascal LeClaire for Columbus and Marc-Andre Fleury for Pittsburgh gave an extremely roller coaster battle throughout the entire contest and into overtime. Cheers and jeers roared through Nationwide Arena.

After a scoreless overtime, it was time to witness one of the new rules for the NHL this year…the shootout. Even though Columbus had a practice shootout the night before against Buffalo, this one would count.

Pittsburgh head coach Eddie Olczyk sent in Ryan Malone, Rico Fata and Konstantin Koltsov.

Gallant sent in Zherdev, David Vybory and little known Balastik. Malone’s attempt was was shut down by LeClair. Zherdev scored to put the Jackets up 1-0. After Fata scored for Pittsburgh, it was up to Balastik to put it past Fluery for the win. He stepped to the line, skated and snapped a shot between the pipes. Columbus wins the shootout and comes out victorious, 3-2.

Balastik, a rookie signed by Columbus in 2002, played in the Czech Elite League last two seasons, leading the league last year with 30 goals.

“I don’t much about him but he’s a goal scorer. He snapped (his shot on goal) pretty good,” head coach Gerard Gallant said.

The pre-season road marches on to face Detroit on Thursday at Nationwide Arena. Gallant has a “win every game” mindset for the team. “We need to have that must-win attitude,” he said.

The pre season road marches on to face Detroit on Thursday at Nationwide Arena.