Avs Squeak by Jackets

In the words of Adrian Dater, “Avs look like garbage so far.”  I’m not too sure about that, I didn’t get to see the game since I was at work, but for a guy who has covered these guys forever, you’ve got to take his word for it.  Also, most of this post is going to be from the highlights I got to watch on YouTube.  Here we go:

Photo by Jamie Sabau - Getty Images

The Columbus Blue Jackets opened up the scoring with a power play goal by Kristian Huselius.  It all came down during a 5 on 3 for the Jackets.  Matt Duchene was called for hooking at 11:55 and Scott Hannan for cross checking at 12:19.  It then took 9 seconds for the Jackets to capitalize and score at 12:28.  The Avs then had their own 5 on 3 power play for about 54 seconds, but spent 50 seconds of it doing what they do best in a power play: passing the puck.  That was pretty much that for the 1st period.

The second period had a bit more action in it.  Kyle Cumiskey put the Avs on the board with a nice slap shot from the top of the right circle on a power play.  Surprisingly enough, Liles read the play well enough to pass the puck onto Cumiskey.  Liles was supposedly going to be benched, but Brett Clark is having some eye problems from blocking a puck with his face during the Red Wings game.  And no, this was not blocking the high stick that scored the Wings a goal that game, but from a completely different shot.

Derick Brassard scored the second goal for the Jackets.  This goal was preceded by a fight between Cody McLeod and Jared Boll.  Boll won the fight, but also injured his hand in the process.  Cody, of course, came out of the fight with a grin.  The 2nd period ended with a score of 2-1 in favor of the Jackets.

Photo by Jamie Sabau - Getty Images

The 3rd period, however, belonged to the Avalanche.  The Avs wasted away yet another power play for goalie interference by Jakub Voracek.  Not that it’s a surprise, Craig Anderson takes more hits than some NHL defensemen.

At 5:28 of the 3rd, Chris Stewart snapped a shot past Steve Mason, tying the score.  The shot came off a pass from Paul Stastny, who was chosen to play for the USA in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.  Stewart seemed to stumble the puck up a bit, but stayed with it and got a shot over Mason, who was playing much like he had last season.  A moment of brilliance, I should say, for the one goalie in the NHL who’s having the worst sophomore slump this season.

With just over a minute left in the 3rd, most Avs fans assumed the game would be going into overtime.  Not true, however.  Milan Hejduk brought the puck into the zone and made a shot on goal.  Mason blocked, but let the rebound slide into the left circle.  T.J. Galiardi was there to snap it in on a hard angle past Mason.  The Jackets had 58 seconds to try and tie the game, but couldn’t get anything past Anderson.  The Avalanche pulled that win out of their collective rear ends, most have said.

Related posts:

1. Avs Send Blue Jackets Packing
2. Avs vs. Jackets Game Notes
3. Avs Bag Another vs. Blues
4. Avalanche Sweep Blue Jackets
5. Avalanche Make Mason Smash!