Columbus Blue Jackets defeat Phoenix Coyotes 4-3 – NHL Update
It became impossible for Phoenix to score an equaliser as Derick Brassard blocked a scoring attempt during the final moments of the third period after hitting a goal in the second to take Columbus Blue Jackets through against Coyotes, 4-3, on Friday, January
13, 2012, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, United States.
"At the end, when they pulled their goalie, I was in there", Brassard said.
"For me, it's a great challenge. I've never been in that situation and I felt when I blocked that shot at the end ... I just felt that I needed to do it for the team. I was just really excited to be there and finish the game".
Todd Richards, who is the interim coach of the Blue Jackets, got his first home game win since taking over, following the firing of coach, Scott Arniel.
He credited the players for the victory and stated that he had little to do with that.
Richards was of the view that the players would be feeling a lot more optimistic after the victory.
"I'm sure to a lot [of the players], it feels like a new start, a new beginning. I think when you get that, you're a little more optimistic", Richards remarked.
The Coyotes were the first ones to score in the game.
At 1:49 in the opening period, Lauri Korpikoski and Boyd Gordon assisted Adrian Aucoin, who slapped the puck into the nets to score his second goal of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season.
The lead was neutralised a few minutes later when Tomas Kubalik’s shot deflected off a Coyotes’ defenseman and went into the net.
Columbus’s captain, Rick Nash, who was present at the edge of the right circle, provided the lead to the Blue Jackets a minute later.
He circled Coyotes’ zone with the puck and hit the shot into the net, assisted by David Savard and Derick Brassard.
After ending the period at 2-1, Blue Jackets increased the lead early in the second period.
Samuel Pahlsson missed a shot, but his teammate, Ryan Russell, collected the puck after it rebounded off the boards and finished the job to take the score to 3-1.
Coyotes reduced the deficit when Radim Vrbata collected a drop pass from Oliver Ekman –Larsson and sent the puck to Lauri Korpikoski.
The puck deflected off Korpikoski’s skate and went into the nets for Coyotes’ second goal of the game.
The Blue Jackets increased the lead yet again.
At 18:36, Brassard got the hold of the puck and fired a wrist-shot to beat the goalie, Jason LaBarbera.
In the final period, Pheonix got another scoring move.
Korpikoski’s pass beat Blue Jackets’ defence and found Radim Vrbata, who made no mistake in scoring the third goal of the game for his team.
However, the Coyotes could not score more goals and lost the game.
It was the third straight loss for Phoenix Coyotes, who are now going to play against Colorado Avalanche on Monday.
On the other hand, the Blue Jackets, who won the game after two straight defeats, will face San Jose Sharks on Saturday.
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