Rough 3rd Period Dooms Jackets
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired

After rallying to beat the Anaheim Ducks twice this season, the Columbus Blue Jackets got a taste of their own medicine Thursday night in Nationwide Arena.

Trailing 2-1 early in the third period, the Pacific Division leading Ducks scored four unanswered goals, including three on the power play, to take a 5-2 win over the Jackets in front of an announced 15,340. The Ducks sent a franchise record with 20 road victories in a season with the win.

The loss stung for the Jackets, who had a four-game win streak snapped. Columbus dominated the first two periods, but could not stay out of the penalty box in the third.

“We got into some penalty trouble there and could not kill them off,” Jackets defenseman Ron Hainsey said. “The first and second (periods) were good and we were pleased with that.”

Chris Pronger scored twice and Teemu Selanne had an empty-net goal and three assists to lead Anaheim, while Francois Beauchemin and Ryan Getzlaf each added a goal and an assist. The Ducks went three-of-six with the man advantage, while the Jackets were unsuccessful in four attempts.

Aaron Johnson and Sergei Fedorov scored for the Jackets. Fredrik Norrena had 26 saves in the loss.

The Jackets got on the board six minutes, 40 seconds in to the second period from the team’s fourth line. Jody Shelley skated into the Ducks’ zone and put a shot on net. Johnson redirected the puck into the top right part of the goal.

The puck quickly bounced out and the goal light never lit. After a short delay, the video judge ruled that the puck did indeed go in, giving the Jackets a 1-0 lead. It is believed to be the first goal given to the Jackets this season after being reviewed.

Pronger tied the game with 40 seconds remaining in the period off a feed from Scott Niedermayer.

Fedorov got the goal back 1:02 into the third period with a wrist shot that beat Ducks’ goaltender Jean-Sebastian Giguere glove side.

It went down hill from there.

Beauchemin retied the game minutes later on the power play, knotting the score at two. Getzlaf then scored, again on the power play, five minutes later off the leg pad of Hainsey.

Pronger put the game away with a power play goal at 14:53.

“We didn’t get the job done in the third period,” Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said. “We made mistakes not clearing the puck that caused us to keep it in our zone. We didn’t get the kills. (In an) intense game like this—very physical—emotions run high. When you have to kill a penalty, you have to get it done.”

Giguere had 23 saves for Anaheim, who outshot Columbus 31-25.

The Jackets play in Chicago Friday, then return home to host Detroit on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.