When the final horn sounded tonight, the Columbus Blue Jackets rejoiced. They broke their winless streak with a 2-1 victory against the Winnipeg Jets. Though when they walked back to the locker room, it was all business for the 3-12-1 team.
“We have to build on it,” said Jeff Carter “ We have to learn from the things we did tonight."
Columbus set the tone early in the first period when Ryan Johansen swept across the blue-line and unleashed a heavy slap shot over the blocker of Jets’ goalie Ondrej Pavelec.
The early lead instantly provided the Blue Jackets with the momentum they have lacked in previous games. With the extra boost, Columbus started to play like the team many expected it to be heading into the season.
Speedy transitions, tape-to-tape passes and fluid rotation on the attack highlighted the first 20 minutes of play. The ‘Jackets moved up the ice without a hiccup and worked the puck using every inch of their offensive zone.
In the second period, the Blue Jackets picked up where they left off. Neither team scored, though Columbus made its presence known with physical play. Mid-way through the period, Jared Boll dropped the gloves with the Jets’ Chris Thorburn. Boll bullied his partner landing countless punches in just his second game back from injury.
Leading 1-0, Johansen, perhaps fueled by being scratched last game, scored again in the third period. Unlike the first goal, Johansen’s second goal was less of an individual effort. Vinny Prospal streaked down the left-wing boards, evaded a diving defender then dished a beautiful pass across the slot to Johansen’s backhand.
“Vinny made a great play by having good patience going around the defensemen in the corner area and throwing it to the net. I happened to get wood on it,” said Johansen.
With less than four minutes to play Winnipeg’s Mark Stuart spoiled the Blue Jackets’ shutout with a shorthanded mark. Stuart’s shot marked the third shorthanded tally the Columbus has allowed this season.
This goal proved to be the only flaw in Steve Mason’s otherwise perfect game. His quick recovery and vision for the puck helped him turn aside 35 of 36 shots.
Mason had assistance from newly acquired Nikita Nikitin who logged nearly 25 minutes of ice time and picked up an assist on Johansen’s second goal.
“I was very impressed with him,” said Mason of Nikitin, “very poised out there. He’s a big strong body. Its nice to have that back there. He brings that physical presence and he’s got a real big shot from the point too”.”
Columbus returns to action Tuesday, November 15 against the Minnesota Wild.
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