Jackets to play for 3rd in Traverse City
- Updated: September 13, 2011
The Blue Jackets will play the St. Louis Blues tomorrow at 6:30 in the 3rd place game. The Jackets defeated the defending champs Minnesota Wild 3-1 tonight in the David’s Rink which has the Wild’s championship banner hanging over center ice. Tonight despite not having any fights was probably the most physical game the Jackets have played with bodies flying all over the place. Columbus played without top prospects John Moore, Ryan Johansen and Cam Atkinson tonight as all three were healthy scratches.
The Jackets got off to a start when what I would classify the energy line took the puck down and scored on it’s first shift when Mike Thomas scored(I missed it sorry). Brandon Archibald was inserted into the lineup tonight and played a solid game starting with getting into a bit of a shoving match with Brett Bulmer with Archibald getting a few gloved punches in. The first period ended with Jacket in the penalty box for the third straight game as David Savard was whistled for a holding call. Tomas Kubalik missed a bit of time in the first when he took a David Savard slapshot off the wrist/hand.
Paul Dainton started for Jackets tonight and was solid for the entire game adding a new wrinkle as he played the puck more than any of the Jackets other two goalies. Dainton’s only mistake was in the second when he let a rebound out that the Wild capitalized on, there were three in front of the crease so one of them would’ve got it. Dainton made 12 saves in the second period many great saves with an incredibly quick glove. The Jackets missed a wide open on back to back shifts both just needing to be tapped in. Michael Chaput scored his first of the tournament when he scored a breakaway after goaltender Paul Dainton launched the puck down the rink which Chaput took and shot it over Wild goalie Matt Hackett’s shoulder, my dad and I thought Dainton deserved a assist but the scorekeepers didnt. Another minor scare for the Jakcets when defenseman Austin Madaisky took a slap shot off the ankel flopping like a fish once or twice before making it to the bench under his own power and didn’t miss any time.
The third period featured five penalties one taken in the final two minutes by each team. The Jackets got a goal from invitee Tyler Johnson when he took a Boone Jenner pass and fired into a empty net while Hackett scrambled to play it. Scrums seemed to happen after almost most saves in this game with the Wild always seeming to start it. With only 2:10 remaining David Savard took a slashing call that we disagreed with but we’re not refs, the Wild pulled Hackett to give them a six on four power play but Dainton stood taller than his 5’11’ frame. Aaron Portzline got a quote from coach Rob Riley that Tomas Kubalik will not play tomorrow and after tonight he could use the break, he took the earlier shot and with 36 seconds left Tomas took a Wild player’s stick to the face making it 4 on 4 for the rest of the game.
Player Thoughts: Kyle Ostrow made his debut and I think Chicago is gonna like what they have in him just a inch or so bigger than Cam Atkinson he plays the same style of game just maybe not as fast. The Jacket’s third D pair(I guess) of Austin Madaisky and Brandon Archibald were very solid with Madaisky leading the rush many times and Archibald keeping the Wild honest around the crease. Paul Dainton was solid as i’ve said and now probably gives coach Rob Riley a tough choice between Dainton and Allen York for tomorrow’s game against St. Louis for 3rd place in the tournament.