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RJ Umberger, Christian Backman and Michael Peca celebrate an OT win over the San Jose Sharks Saturday at Nationwide Arena
In front of a sell-out crowd of 18,144 at Nationwide Arena Saturday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets had their best game since the All Star break. Knocking home a free puck, Christian Backman scored the game winner 1:33 into overtime. This game had all the signs preceding it of being another loss; depleted line-up, another back-up goalie and against arguably one of the best teams in the league.
The day started with Dan LaCosta (emergency call-up from the Syracuse Crunch) being told after the morning skate that he would get the start in goal against the San Jose Sharks that evening. Rookie sensation Steve Mason lasted 10 minutes into the morning practice before heading off the ice. He was placed on Injured Reserve, retroactive to February 4th. Defenseman Mike Commodore and right winger Jake Voracek get scratched from the game. Defenseman Marc Methot is out with goaltender Wade Dubielewicz playing back-up with the flu. The recipe for an ugly home loss was there.
What a difference a day makes. Less than twenty-four hours after losing 4-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Blue Jackets took to the ice and played their game. Derek Dorsett got it all started early in the 1st period by dropping the gloves with the Sharks Ryan Clowe. The crowd was fired up from that point forward. The Blue Jackets got on the board early with a goal from Jason Williams and Rick Nash scored on a breakaway to make it 2-0 in the 1st. Devin Setoguchi netted a goal in the 2nd and Christian Ehrhoff tied the game at 2-2 in the 3rd.
Blue Jackets goalie Dan LaCosta stops the Sharks Joe Thornton in overtime
The last time these two teams met in Nationwide Arena, RJ Umberger scored the game winning goal in overtime to beat the Sharks. Fast forward to last night. Tied at the end of regulation, they go to overtime… again. Blue Jackets netminder Dan LaCosta stones the sharks Joe Thornton to keep them in the game. Later Blue Jacket Christian Backman, who’s been ridden pretty hard by the fans and the local media for lack-luster play, taps in a loose puck that the Sharks Evgeni Nabokov can’t get a handle on. The Blue Jackets win by a score of 3-2 (OT).
The Blue Jackets team that showed up to play reminded everyone in the house of the depleted team that played their heart out every night. This is what Blue Jackets Coach Ken Hitchcock had to say (Puck Rakers):
This was a playoff game, it was heavy and physical,” coach Ken Hitchcock said. “They were starting their road trip and they wanted to be off on a good start and we were trying to turn things around, so there was a good competition level between the two teams. We responded the way we needed to respond. We had much better play by people. We played with a high level of emotion and intensity. I like the way we played the whole game. We managed the game the right way.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Carry The Flag!!!
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