Umberger's hat trick ends Jackets losing streak (11/30/09)
by Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired, photos by Tom Theodore

As the hats flew on the ice, there was a collective sigh of relief Monday in Nationwide Arena as the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the St. Louis Blues, 5-2, to break its five-game losing streak.
 
R.J. Umberger scored his second career hat trick and had an assist to lead the Jackets, while defenseman Kris Russell had a goal, an assist and a plus-three rating and Antoine Vermette added a goal and an assist. 
 
It was a game that Columbus jumped out to a two-goal lead only to see it evaporate by the end of the second period. The Jackets, who blew leads in five straight losses, regained the lead early in the third period and was able to hold off the Blues.
 
“I thought we really played well the last 10 minutes,” Umberger, whose last hat trick came Dec. 11, 2007 with Philadelphia, said. “We really clamped down and made strong plays in the crucial areas of the ice.”
 
The win came with a cost. Jackets defenseman Rostislav Klesla was injured late in the first period when the Blues’ Barrett Jackman hit him from behind. He was taken to the hospital for a MRI on his left leg.

“He’s the heart and soul of the hockey club,” Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said. “He’s the guy that blocks shots, puts his face in front of pucks. He’s been our best defenseman.”
 
The team announced Tuesday morning that Klesla had a groin pull and will be out of action four to six weeks. Mathieu Roy will join the team on an emergency recall to replace Klesla.
 
Erik Johnson and Paul Kariya scored for the Blues, while Chris Mason made 22 saves.
 
Russell scored 2:04 into the game when he walked in to the point and hit a wrist shot that went top shelf. The defenseman returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch five of the last six games.
 
“I wanted to get back on the ice,” he said. “No one likes sitting out, so I said, ‘you know if I get the chance to get back in, I have to make the most of it.’”
 
Russell’s playing time will increase, along with fellow blue liners Jan Hejda, Mike Commodore and Anton Stralman with the loss of Klesla.
 
“It’s unfortunate that players like (Klesla) goes down, but toy know guys will have to step up and play more minutes,” Russell said.
 
Umberger scored two minutes later off a nifty pass from Jakub Voracek to give the Jackets a two-goal lead.
 
Johnson intercepted Hejda’s clear attempt on the penalty kill and beat Jackets goaltender Steve Mason glove side with 10 seconds remaining in the first period.
 
The Blues tied the game midway through the second when the game became a track meet and Kariya scored off a feed from TJ Oshie on a rush.
 
Umberger scored his second of the night off a feed from Derek Brassard at 5:20 of the third. Brassard has five points in six games.
 
“(R.J.) had a huge night,” Jackets captain Rick Nash said. “It was a tough game. It’s always tough playing St. Louis and we needed someone to step up and it was their line and him and it’s what we need.”
 
Vermette and Umberger scored back-to-back empty netters in the game’s final 35 seconds. This came after Steve Mason, who had 27 saves, stopped Kariya’s wrist shot from the high slot with just over a minute remaining.
 
“We made three individual checking mistakes that resulted in plays in the back of our net,” St. Louis coach Andy Murray said. “We must have shot the puck over the top of their net six times when we had tremendous scoring opportunities.”
 
The Blues outshot the Jackets 29-27 and scored on one-of-four power play attempts. Columbus, who failed on a four-minute power play, went scoreless on five man-advantages.
 
The Jackets play in Chicago Tuesday then return home to host Toronto Thursday at 7 p.m.

 
dave.seaman@columbuswired.tv
Twitter: @daveseaman94