Jackets Top Avalanche: A Clean Sweep

(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Blue Jackets 3, Avalanche 0
(Box) – Highlights

COL(25-28-1 – 51pts)
CLS(26-23-5 – 57pts)

Well, we wrote in the preview that Dan LaCosta wouldn’t get tested if the Jackets defense could step up again. Well, 31 shots is hardly “not tested,” but honestly, other than a couple of solid saves in a crazy second period, LaCosta wasn’t asked to do anything over his head tonight. Making just his second NHL start, LaCosta stopped all 31 shots for his first NHL shut-out, as the Jackets scored three timely goals in the third period to skate away with a 3-0 win and an all-important two points; for the fans, it was a sweet four-game season sweep of the Avalanche, a team that has almost always dominated Columbus since their inception in 2000 (Columbus was 4-22-2 against Colorado prior to this season, including only one win in the first 22 meetings overall). At the end of the night, Columbus had moved up to ninth place, tied in points with Minnesota (who has two games in hand, hence their eighth seed). On a more macro level, however, it was a win that served notice that the Jackets appear ready to bring their top-level effort once again, which will be needed if they playoffs are to become a reality in Columbus.

LaCosta made it look fairly easy on the back end, but this game was anything but. For the first 42 minutes, neither team could get a puck into the other’s net. Avs goalie Peter Budaj made some stellar saves on some of the Jackets’ better chances, and the Jackets also had a goal in the first period waved off after replays showed that Andrew Murray had batted the puck into the goal with his hand. Neither team could get anything going on special teams, either, as few penalties were called and both clubs went a collective 0-for-5 on the Power Play. Ultimately, it was the Jackets’ overwhelming third period effort that carried the night, as after breaking the 0-0 stalemate early, they went on to put the game away over the short span of three minutes later in the period.

The first period was almost all Jackets: they out-shot the Avalanche 16-4 in the first 20 minutes. But, Avs goalie Peter Budaj was up to the challenge, stopping a few solid scoring chances. The Jackets came out with an edge, and made it easy for LaCosta to get comfortable. Good thing… they needed him more in the second period, where the Avs returned the favor, out-shooting the Jackets by a 13-3 clip. But, this time it was LaCosta who was up to the challenge. The Jackets limited the great scoring chances for the Avs, and LaCosta picked up all of the slack from there: “The team did a great job in front of me,” LaCosta said. “Most of the stuff was perimeter stuff tonight.” In the post-game, Hitchcock was effusive in his praise for LaCosta: “He played solid again. He’s a big guy that moves around the net really well. I thought he looked better than he did the last game.”

Going into the third period in a scoreless tie, I must admit there was a feeling of dread. The Jackets peppered Budaj with shots in the first and came away empty, and they were totally flat in the second period. I envisioned a 1-0 loss that included the Avs getting a timely goal and shutting the Jackets out. But, it was not to be: “We needed this game badly,” coach Ken Hitchcock said. “The sense of urgency coming out of the third period you could feel it.” The Jackets came out and got a goal about two and half minutes in from Andrew Murray after an Avs turn-over. Murray, getting redemption for his first period goal that was (rightly) overturned, put a shot on net, and managed to sneak it between Budaj and the post. The Avs were crest-fallen. The question then became: would the Jackets step on their throats, or would they be content with a 1-0 lead and try to just ‘kill off’ the rest of the game? It wouldn’t take too long to get an answer.

Seven minutes later, the Jackets had an odd-man rush going the other way. Jakub Voracek skated to center ice, and Avs defenseman John-Michael Liles took a gamble at trying to lay him out. Voracek pulled up to avoid getting flattened (“I was lucky Willy [Jason Williams] was there to pick up the puck. I didn’t mean it to pass, but he was right there. I was lucky. It would have been pretty bad if [Liles] hit me.”), and the puck basically trickled to the right wing… where Jason Williams was streaking up ice. Because Liles was out of position going for the monster hit, Williams was able to skate in unchecked, and the Jackets actually had a 3-on-1 going to the net. Williams pumped, faked a pass to the center, and burned Budaj through the 5-Hole (yea!). It was 2-0 Jackets, and you could sense that the Avs were all but done. And, not much more than two minutes later, the Jackets made it academic with some great puck movement deep in the Avalanche zone.

(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

RJ Umberger made a great play to beat an Avs defenseman to a lose puck at the blue line on a rush, skated hard with it to the corner, and put the brakes one. He spun and fired it back to the point where Jan Hejda (who had a solid game with two assists and a +3 rating) was waiting. Hejda launched a one-timer, and Fredrik Modin—who had camped himself out in front of the net—got a stick on it and re-directed it past Budaj. At that point, it became all about whether or not LaCosta could hold on for the shut-out. Despite a late flurry of shots, the Jackets were able to keep the Avs’ scoring chances to a low number, and LaCosta stopped all 31 shots. Fredrik Modin summed it up best afterward: “Goaltenders keep coming out of the woodwork for us here. They’re playing great.”

The Jackets moved into a points-tie for eighth place with Minnesota, though the Wild have two more games remaining and are thus in eighth by default in the standings. More importantly, though, the Jackets have now won two in a row after a three-game losing streak, and appear to have gotten themselves back into the mind-set they need to be in to continue making a push for the playoffs. They have a tough game with Detroit on Friday, in which it would be great to get at least one point (they’re so far behind Detroit that it doesn’t matter really if Detroit gets points; Columbus simply HAS to, though).

LaCosta’s performance has been a pleasant surprise, and after the game last night I was overcome with a feeling of relief that the Jackets apparently have themselves a viable back-up for the short-term while Steve Mason continues to get over his mononucleosis. So, you’ll understand my disappointment when I read that LaCosta will get sent back down to Syracuse if Mason is to start Friday’s game against the Red Wings. Because LaCosta was technically an “emergency callup” to replace Mason when Mase was placed on IR, once Mason is activated LaCosta has to be sent back down. Having seen both backup netminders play two games, however, LaCosta has played much better than The Dube and deserves to be called back up to replace Dube for a shot as the backup for the longer short-term (heh) in my opinion. I don’t know how that would shake out in a roster move, but it’s something I think GM Scott Howson should consider.

It was not all good for the Jackets last night, however, as defenseman Rostislav Klesla took a monster shot from Avs forward Ian LaPerriere in the first period, and suffered what Hitchcock described as a “slightly separated” shoulder (huh?). Klesla skated a few shifts in the second period, but did not play in the third period. He is going to be evaluated on Wednesday, and more should be known about his prognosis. Klesla has already missed 31 games with injuries this season.

But, in spite of that news, there wasn’t much to be upset about after last night’s game. The Jackets made it through their three-game skid, and they haven’t faded yet. We Columbus fans are in uncharted waters, and it’s fun to be a part of.