Vancouver makes most of its chances, defeating Columbus 4-0
by Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired

Goaltender Pascal Leclaire looked to remain perfect at home on Sunday when the Blue Jackets faced the Vancouver Canucks for the first time this season. But two goals by former Ohio State Buckeye Ryan Kessler and another by defenseman Kevin Bieksa ruined that streak as Vancouver defeated Columbus 4-0 in front of 12,665 at Nationwide Arena.

Leclaire already has a league-leading three shutouts in his four games this month. He ranks among the NHL leaders in goals-against average (1.26) and save percentage (.953). He had stopped all 60 shots in home wins over Anaheim and Phoenix. Tonight he as 15-18 in saves.

It started out rough as he let the first shot on goal by Kessler get through him. It looked as though he was screened by defenseman Adam Foote. Alex Burrows and Matt Cooke assisted on the goal.

"That's a save I have to make," said Leclaire.

Vancouver started Curtis Sanford in his first game of the season. Roberto Luongo was given the night off after losing to L.A. on Friday. Luongo has been struggling this season so far. Sanford was acquired as a free agent over the off-season. He spent the last three seasons bouncing back and forth between St. Louis and its affiliate teams, only playing 31 NHL games last season, which was cut short by injuries.

At 13:17, Bieksa scored on a one-timer from the left circle. His shot found its way through five players in front of the net.

The second period belonged to Columbus. The Canucks did not register a shot on goal, while Columbus racked up 14 shots, including Nash’s power play goal. But that was all they could muster.

“We spent a lot of time killing penalties in the second period and it kind of wears you out a bit,” said Sanford, who stopped 35 shots. “But you just focus on the next save. The next save is always the biggest one.”

It was a beauty as Nash caught the cross ice pass from Vyborny with his forehand and slipped a backhand past Curtis for his 5th goal of the season to move the Jackets closer, 2-1. Vancouver spent more than half of the period on the penalty kill.

Vancouver put themselves up 3-1 at 8:51 of the 3rd period, when Markus Naslund took control of the puck in the Jackets zone. Naslund beat everyone across the ice which slowly developed and put his wrist shot past a sprawling Leclaire, beating him low on the right side.

For Naslund it was his 18th goal against Columbus in 24 games and 3rd goal of the season. Everyone was down and he waited until he could see the open net and fired.

After that goal, Vancouver was content to just let the clock wind down, cutting off the passing lanes and making things difficult for Columbus to move the puck into the offensive zone.

Kessler would add his second goal of the night late in the 3rd period, when the Jackets tried to score on a power play with the Leclaire pulled. He stole the puck from Columbus' Nikolai Zherdev and scored on an empty-netter. Vancouver (4-4-0) is unbeaten on the road this season.

Call it bad luck for Columbus and good luck for Sanford. In addition to the 14 shots taken in the second period against none for Vancouver, the Blue Jackets had three shots hit the post, but none found its way into the net.

“I was fortunate enough to have a couple of posts go my way,” Sanford said.

Scratches for Columbus were Duvie Westcott, Fredrik Modin (groin) and Jody Shelley.