Game Recap
Wow. Just Wow. Columbus, a team that has one of the lowest power play rankings in the NHL, managed to convert on two out of their five power plays. Not only did Columbus do better than their normal power play percentage, but they played an amazing game as well. With this a potential playoff match, Columbus made sure to prove a point; odds are that the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are currently 6th in the Western Conference, will be playing the third-place Calgary Flames in the first round of the playoffs. The Blue Jackets came out skating, and were striving to show that they will not be intimidated before these two teams meet in the playoffs.
To prove this, Columbus started the game with passion and desire. Quickly controlling the puck, the Blue Jackets started their task of pouring water on the Flames. Just four minutes into the game, Manny Malhotra scored on an easy shot, giving Columbus a lead of 1-0. For the next nine minutes, the Jackets played a control game, as they took shots that just barely didn't make it to the net. However, during the twelfth minute of the game, Jason Williams scored on a power play, to give Columbus a strong 2-0 lead. After killing off their third man-down of the game, the Blue Jackets headed to the locker room content with this lead.
Period two of the game was, quite simply, a penalty period. Columbus had 12 penalties, and Calgary had 13. Additionally, this period was filled with shoving, fights, and even a full team fight at the very end. Of the 25 penalties, seven were awarded after the period ended, as both Calgary and Columbus engaged in several individual fisticuff matches at the same time. As for scoring, Columbus added two more to their school when Raffi Torres scored in the 3rd minute and R.J. Umberger scored in the 15th. After Torres scored, Calgary pulled their goalie.
The third period started off with the Blue Jackets playing like it was still the first; they pounded players into the boards, played a control game, and worked on every opportunity they could. Calgary, on the other hand, played dejected and looked like they were shell-shocked. With several of the players on both teams sitting in the sin bin (due to the after-period fight from period two), the Jackets were able to start on a power play. Jason Williams was able to convert during the power play, and in the 2nd minute scored the 5th and final goal. The last 17 minutes of the game was filled with puck control by Columbus and nice saves by Columbus goalie Steve Mason.
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