When “Energy” guys become a Scoring Line

By Rick Gethin

 

     “We played one period today and got away with it” ~ Blue Jackets Coach Ken Hitchcock

 

     For 40 minutes Saturday night in Nationwide Arena it sure wasn’t pretty and not very exciting. But when the dust settled, the Blue Jackets had dealt the Hurricanes another depressing loss. This was the third game in four nights for the boys in Union Blue while Carolina was on the tail end of back to back games. It became a game of who could last for 60 minutes.

     Steve Mason stood tall in goal; getting back to the form that earned him the Calder Trophy one year ago. While making saves that elicited oohs and ahhs from the crowd of 14,850, he managed to control his rebounds unlike in previous games. He kept this club in the game through the first 2 periods, giving them a chance at taking their record to 9-5-2. “This is four games in a row now that he’s been outstanding”, said Ken Hitchcock. “He’s seeing the puck, he’s square (to the puck), the saves he made in the 2nd period…Oh My God. He’s really tracking the puck well right now.” Mason seems to have shaken off whatever was in his head to start the season and settled into a rhythm of playing solid hockey.

      Even though they won 3-2, the coach wasn’t happy with the way they played through the first 2 periods. Ken Hitchcock was asked what was said in the 2nd intermission and he chuckled as he said, “we chatted”. When asked what had changed for the team going into the 3rd period, Steve Mason said “Hitch came in here (locker room) and really gave it to us. That’s what we needed; there was absolutely no emotion from this team in the first couple of periods. I think he really woke up the team and the players obviously responded with three quick goals.” Defenseman Mike Commodore, celebrating his 30th birthday, expounded on this theme. “In all honesty, that was an awful hockey game for two periods, just terrible. I don’t know how many icings and offsides, no energy and just dead”, he said.

     Nikita Filatov started the three goal flurry for the Blue Jackets, scoring his 2nd of the year. His defensive skills are starting to bud, as he’s learning to play within Hitchcocks’ system. While garnering 9:17 of ice time Saturday and playing on the 4th line, he’s becoming a more well-rounded skater. He knows that he has to pay his dues and become more than just an offensive skater to get ice time playing “Hitch Hockey”. This type of tutelage will make him a more effective and dangerous weapon in the Blue Jacket arsenal as he gains experience.

      Jared Boll has seen his skill level improve from his rookie season as he’s not chasing the puck and opposing skaters all over the ice. He notched his first goal of the season, with an assist from Steve Mason and Anton Stralman, by skating the puck through neutral ice and beating the lone defender to put the puck in the back of the net. “Our line seemed to being going pretty good tonight, creating alot of chances”, Boll said. “It’s really easy to play when two of your other line-mates are really going. They were both (Filatov, MacKenzie) working extremely hard.” Jared Boll has turned into a dependable 4th line skater who does some of his best work getting “dirty” along the boards.

     While Rick Nash scored another unassisted goal, it was the secondary scoring that stepped up Saturday. Hitchcock has been preaching about secondary scoring since coming to Columbus, and the 4th line delivered. “The guys were really happy for both kids, especially Filatov and Boll”, he said. “Those were big goals for those guys. I really liked how that line looked on the ice and I think we’ll keep that line together.” It’s great when the stars on the team score; it’s even more satisfying when the guys that don’t see that much ice time step up and deliver a goal.

     In addition to the three goal scorers, Derek Dorsett, Derek MacKenzie and Anton Stralman (all secondary guys) notched assists on the evening. This is exactly what the coach wants out of these players. The end result of the night now sees Columbus in sole possession of 1st place at the top of the Central Division, 2 points clear of 2nd place Chicago. With a few days of rest and practice before Wednesdays home tilt against Detroit, look for the Blue Jackets to become more focused.

     As my father always said “Winning is a good thing”.

Rick Gethin is the Associate Editor of The Hockey Writers and also the Columbus Blue Jackets correspondent.

Some Other Articles That You May Enjoy:
Can the Blues go back to Sweden?
Despite 5-1 Start, Hitchcock Sees Room for Improvement
Challenge – Find A Better Fourth Line
CBJ lose gritty Dorsett for four weeks
Interview with Caps Prospect Brett Flemming
The Blues’ Troubles Are Getting Attention

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