I really wish there was a good shot of Russell's mouth but alas this is all I could find.
The Jackets took everything the Bruins could dish out last night.... an early goal, a waived off goal, a bad goal, an elbow to the chops, a puck to the face, a bloody nose, a bloody mouth and down by a goal not once but twice!
Result?
Believe it or not a late period regulation win on the road!
STOPLIGHT GAME REVIEW
@ Boston
01.21.10
SCORE: Jackets 3 Bruins 2
GREEN
* Voracek and Russell for coming back after getting all bloodied up. Jake didn't miss a shift and I still don't know how Russell made it back after that shot he took to the jabber. Both guys cowboy'd up that's for sure.
* Best 3rd period I've seen the Jackets play this season.
* PP with a timely game winning goal. There have been many nights were the PP has failed to deliver at the critical points of the game -- tonight was not one of those.
* Umberger is finally getting rewarded for all his tough work in front of that cage.
* Vermette's sweet revenge on his waived off goal. Like Umberger he worked his ass off for that goal by getting his nose dirty in that paint.
* Russell is really starting to find his groove. He didn't make the play on the cross ice pass on the first goal (defensemen is always responsible for taking the guy without the puck and leaving the puck carrier to the shooter) but I didn't see him lose a lot of battles after that. Had a nice feed to Vermette on his goal and is really using that skating ability. Shame his potential game winner rang off the post.
* Was kind of nice to see that Jackets NOT take a late penalty and NOT lose this game in the final minute eh fans?
* Jackets dads. You gotta admit - it's pretty cool to see all those dads together drinking it up and having the time of their lives watching their sons play at the highest level. Nice touch with them all wearing the sweaters with their names on the backs.
* Love the way Hejda was giving it to Chara. Man that dude is a monster.
* Clark comes up big with -- what's that?? -- a one timer off the rush? Why yes it was. Great play by Raffi to get to that loose puck and make a pretty cross ice feed.
* Chalk up two more even strength goals.
YELLOW
* Two goal posts. It would have been criminal if they lost after those two chances.
* Mase would get a green but that 2nd goal is a goal he's got to have. He played well though and made some nice stops... especially with this legs and especially through traffic. In fact he stopped 32 of 34 shots.
* First two periods were not great. Lots of sloppy play especially in their own zone. They got a little lucky and survived it and stole a couple of points for maybe the first time this season. It's about time they had one fall their way.
* FSN Ohio would get a red for cutting away from that Boll fight but they did show two replays and made up for it. That was Boll's 2nd fight with Lucic and he fared much better this go around.
* Roy had a tough night. He got caught pretty bad out of position on that first goal and finished a team high -2.
* Nice fight by Boller with Lucic.
RED
* Two posts in the 3rd period -- are you kidding me? Fortunately they were able to sneak one through at the end there. Thanks for the PP Lucic!
3 BRIGHT LIGHTS ON THE NIGHT
1 A late regulation win on the road.
2. PP comes through with a critical goal.
3. Hockey dads unite!
Now for the downer -- according to Matt the Mask's calculations the Jackets will have to go 22-4-3 to sneak into the 8th seed.
We all know this season is lost so all we can do is enjoy each win individually and hope there is something to build from for next season.
Next up Minnesota on Saturday night.
-LTL
