Columbus Blue Jackets Do It Again, Defeat Anaheim Ducks in Overtime
By Sean
April 17, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Fedor Tyutin (51) reacts after scoring the winning goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the overtime period at Honda Center. Columbus defeats Anaheim 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Anaheim, CA – The Columbus Blue Jackets have found a way to win yet again. After they defeated the Anaheim Ducks in overtime last matchup with a Mark Letestu goal, tonight they did the same with a Fedor Tyutin deflection under the right pad of Viktor Fasth. The Blue Jackets take the season series, 2-1, and with the Detroit Red Wings falling to the Calgary Flames, the Jackets are now in 8th place in the Western Conference.
The Blue Jackets almost scored first when Cam Atkinson made a beautiful redirection which hit the right post behind Fasth and out through the crease. Shortly after that, Tyutin would get called for interference when he interfered with Emerson Etem as they raced after the puck deep into the Columbus zone. Etem would get a cut on his face, but would be fine. Columbus would successfully kill off the penalty and get the best chances during the two minutes. Including a breakaway attempt from R.J. Umberger who would try to beat Fasth’s five hole, but to no avail. The Jackets would take a second penalty just past halfway through the period when newcomer Blake Comeau would get called for holding. This time, the Ducks would capitalize and quickly too. Ryan Getzlaf would win the faceoff right after the penalty and get the puck back to rookie Sami Vatanen who would laser one by the glove of Sergei Bobrovsky for his first career NHL goal. The period would end with a score of 1-0 Anaheim.
April 17, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie Viktor Fasth (30) blocks a shot against Columbus Blue Jackets center R.J. Umberger (18) during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
In the second period, things would start to get pretty chippy. Including a scruff between Corey Perry, Francois Beauchemin and Nick Foligno. Bob stoned Andrew Cogliano on a backhand one-timer about five and a half minutes into the period, which would probably be the Ducks best chance of the period. The two teams would trade chances and hits through most of the second period until with just under four minutes left, the aforementioned Comeau would redirect a James Wisniewski pass by Fasth to tie the game. Comeau was uncovered a few feet in front of the crease. There would be some more rough stuff right after the puck went in, when Sheldon Souray and Jared Boll would both get called for roughing. The second period would end at a 1-1 tie.
Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. That can be applied to what happened almost five minutes into the third period. After Kyle Palmieri tries to stuff the puck right next to the post, the puck finds its way to the stick of David Steckel who shoots one that hits Wisniewski’s skate, bounces way up in the air and falls right into the crease and rolls into the net. I literally started bursting out laughing. Once again, there would be some rough stuff right after the puck crosses the goal line. This time Steckel and Wisniewski would get the two roughing minors. Perry would take another minor shortly after that to give the Jackets some 4-on-3 power play time. Fasth would make a nice glove save on a Jack Johnson slap shot to help the Ducks keep the lead. The Ducks would kill off the power play time, but the Blue Jackets would strike soon after the end of the PP. Brandon Dubinsky would drive hard to the net and the rebound would find its way to Matt Calvert who beat a badly positioned Fasth who couldn’t follow the rebound. After penalties against both teams, the game would end tied at regulation. The overtime was kind of rush after rush without many decent opportunities, but the Jackets would get one almost halfway through the period. After a failed clear by the Ducks, Foligno would work into some open ice and flick one towards net that got redirected by Tyutin underneath the right pad of Fasth for the game-winning goal.
At times, the Ducks just didn’t seem to be into this game. In a way they kind of worked into the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Ducks would have stretches where it just seemed that nobody was working hard and nobody was moving their feet. So, at points, it seemed like the Blue Jackets were going to take control of the game. Fasth would see to it that that would not happen. It certainly wasn’t the sharpest game for the Ducks in any aspect, but they did get a point. Which brings their magic number to clinch the Pacific Division down to 4 points. I don’t want to say this, but lately it just seems the Ducks continue to look towards the playoffs. If that’s the case, they’re going to have figure their…..stuff….out because if they don’t focus for the rest of the regular season, they’re going to find themselves in the middle of the pack in the conference and not in the #2 seed. Something needs to be done about this team’s focus, in my opinion.
Three Stars:
The Ducks have a day to try and get their heads fixed before they start their Western Canada road trip before the season finale at home. They play the Flames (17-22-4) in the Saddledome on Friday night. Then, they travel to Edmonton for two games in two nights in Rexall Place against the Edmonton Oilers (16-19-7). Finally, they finish the road trip off against the Vancouver Canucks (24-12-7).
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