Columbus Blue Jackets surprisingly grab second straight win over Minnesota Wild 3-1 -NHL Update
Columbus has had tough luck this 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season and making it even tougher is the second straight time they have been ranked as the lowest team in the league, but the Blue Jackets showed some hope on Tuesday night,
February 6, 2012, as they grabbed their second straight victory, this time over Minnesota Wild, 3-1.
The Tuesday night matchup was a much anticipated one as Columbus fans were willing to see whether their home could impress in their first game at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, to host the eighth place Minnesota Wild.
Fortunately, Blue Jackets did not fail to impress coming out of their only win of the six-game road trip against the Anaheim Ducks earlier on Friday.
Columbus has not seen consecutive victories since earlier in November of 2011.
"We wanted to come out with our best effort and get a big win," Columbus forward, Jeff Carter, said.
Rookie Blue Jackets defenseman, David Savard, picked up the first goal of the night nearly midway through the opening period for his not only first of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season, but career as well.
25-year-old Minnesota defenseman, Nate Prosser, also became a member of the scoring club with his first of the season nearly 10 minutes later, levelling both teams heading into the second round of competition, 1-1.
Fighting for control, Columbus finally got their prime chance of taking the lead as Minnesota lost Nick Schultz to a minor penalty for hooking at the 15:23 mark of the second, allowing Antoine Vermette to grab his seventh of the season.
Jeff Carter topped the scoring off with his 12th goal at the 5:38 mark of the third and final period of regulation, widening the margin way out of Minnesota’s reach.
"The reality is that I don't think we deserved to win the game," Minnesota Wild coach, Mike Yeo, said. "It's a game of one-on-one battles and they got the better of us -- by a large margin -- in that department tonight."
Columbus Blue Jackets have the next against Dallas Stars at home while Vancouver Canucks will be visiting Minnesota Wild on Thursday.
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