NHL Update – Columbus Blue Jackets continuing on the winning roads after defeating Minnesota 4-2
The 76th game took place at the Xcel Energy Centre, home of the Minnesota Wild. The match saw the Minnesota Wild up against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Minnesota lost the previous game played between the two teams 2 days ago and were looking to
take revenge for the lost. This was not to be as the Blue Jackets came up with a dominating performance and completed the double in the week by recording a 4-2 victory.
First Period
The first 2 goal attempts were made by the Minnesota Wilds but the period on the whole was dominated by the Columbus Blue Jackets. After the first couple of shots, the Blue Jackets were able to dominate the proceedings on the offence but also on the defence.
Coming up with excellent plays regularly enabled them to score in the 6th minute of the period through Fedor Tyutin. The 42 feet bullet shot went flying past the goal keeper and put the Columbus Blue Jackets in the lead with 1-0. The Columbus
Blue Jackets didn’t pull the foot off the gas and continued to put pressure on the Minnesota Wild defence.
The Minnesota Wild’s defence was broken once again in the 7th minute when the Blue Jackets scored credit to a 19 feet wrist off by Ethan Moreau shot. The Columbus Blue Jackets were able build a healthy 2 goal lead. The score stayed the same at
the end of the 1st period.
At the end, the Minnesota Wild managed to come up with just 4 goal attempts whereas the Columbus Blue Jackets were able to score twice out of their 9 goal attempts.
Second period
The Minnesota backed by home fans managed to respond and cut the goal deficit to 1 goal when they scored in 1st minute of the second period.
The goal was scored by Antti Miettinen after he struck a splendid 32 feet snap off. Both teams showed signs of urgency with the score on 2-1 in favour of the Columbus Blue Jackets. After this, regular goal attempts from both sides were seen but none were
able get past the goal keepers.
However, the Columbus Blue Jackets were successful in scoring in the 5th minute and take the score to 3-1 when Samuel Pahlsson netted the puck from 13 feet. Further pressing for another goal the Columbus Blue Jackets managed to score once again
in the 6th minute. This time it was Jakub Voracek who scored from 15 feet. This put the Columbus Blue Jackets in a comfortable position with the score on 4-1.
After this, the period seemed to slow down as both teams were looking to contain and maintain a strong defence. However, the Minnesota Wild was able to pull one back and take the score to 4-2. The goal was scored by Matt Cullen from 19 feet.
At the end of the second period, the score was 4-2 in favour of the Columbus Blue Jackets after they managed to score twice out of their 13 goal attempts. The Minnesota Wild also managed to score twice out of the 11 goal attempts.
Third period
The third was a totally defence dominated period and mainly by the Columbus Blue Jackets defence.
Both teams had their share of chances but neither was able to score and the game finished on the same score. During the course of the last period there was nothing much. Though the Minnesota Wild tried very hard to score but the Columbus Blue Jackets had
a formidable backline.
At the end of the last period, the Minnesota Wild was able to pile up 11 shots but none were able to find the back of the net. On the contrary, the Columbus Blue Jackets was able to come up with 5 unsuccessful shots. The match ended 4-2 in favour of the
Columbus Blue Jackets who managed to win twice against the Minnesota Wild in one week.
"It seems like we're waiting and I don't know what we're waiting for," Wild coach Todd Richards said. "It can't be something where we say, 'OK, let's go now.' By then, it might be too late."
"Everyone is still working on getting the system down, but tonight is the best I've seen so far this preseason," Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel said.
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