Blue Jackets Take Preds In Shootout Opening Night

The game started like an extension of last season for the Blue Jackets, but they quickly figured out how to score and made it an exciting game.

Something I didn't know about the Columbus Blue Jackets:  The name of the blue hue of their jerseys is, at least according to George Matthews (their play-by-play guy), is Union Blue.  I know, I know.  The team itself is named after the Union Blue Jackets (not a bug), so this shouldn't be a surprise, but still.  Being from the South, it makes me pause.  Not because of some "South will rise again!" thing, but I just never thought that Northerns might use terms like "Union".  I expect that (and hear it) here in the South, but it just caught me off-guard.  Union Blue.  Huh...

Not the point.  That's not why we're here. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets opening night in Smashville.  Winner in overtime:

Columbus 3-2 (SO)

The Jackets started off in a hole thanks to an early goal on the first shot of the game from Nashville's Martin Erat at 0:35.  Columbus eventually tied it at one each thanks to a tip in by Nick Foligno near the end of the period at 16:08.  It looked like Columbus would have some momentum heading into the locker room, but that tie was short lived as the Preds notched another tally quickly.  Ryan Ellis scored less than two minutes later at 17:55.

NHL.com

The second period was an uneventful period until big Russian Artem Anisimov evened things up at 2 at 12:05.  That tie held through the remainder of the second bringing up a knotted up start to the final regulation period.  A big help for the Jackets in the second period was the Boll / Weber fight because it took Weber off the ice for seven consecutive minutes (five for fighting and two additional ones for roughing). 

A nail-biter game continued into the final period.  Neither team would give as they traded blows through the entire period as both sides fought hard for 20 minutes.  Both squads certainly kept their heads about them and remained disciplined as they did not commit any penalties in the final 30 minutes of the game.  This game would not be decided in regulation.After being down twice in the game, the Blue Jackets struggled back to force the only overtime of opening night for the 2013 NHL season.

The 4-on-4 five minute overtime would not be enough time to decide this winner at the game progressed into overtime.  Both goalies were outstanding throughout the game as Nashville's Rinne stopped 26 of 28 shots while Columbus' Sergei Bobrovsky faced 34 shots, only allowing 2 goals. 

NHL.com

In the shootout, it was Bobrovsky who emerged victorious as the Blue Jackets came away with two hard-earned points leaving the Predators with a well deserved point to start the season.  David Legwand of Nashville scored on the last chance shot of the first three skaters to even up Columbus' Anisimov lone shootout regulation goal, forcing sudden death. In the fifth round, Derick Brassard and it was up to Nashville's Craig Smith to keep the Preds' hopes alive.  His shot hit the post wide giving Columbus an opening night win.

The lack of love between these clubs is obvious when one looks at the penalties on the box score.  Two fights and three roughing calls in the first two periods alone kinda tell the tale.  Other than those penalties, the Jackets did a good job at staying out of the box.  Unfortuantely, the first penalty kill of the night for the Jackets did not go well as the Predators scored on a backhand shot.

The Jackets held their own against the Predators, but still have some work to go.  Pekka Rinne was not on his game tonight as one of the better goaltenders in this League for Nashville.  He left a good number of rebounds and was more out of position tonight than normal, but luckily for the fans in Bridgestone Arena, those mistakes more often than not didn't harm the Predators on the scoreboard.

The defense for the Jackets was very good.   Fedor Tyutin, defenseman for Columbus, had an assist on both Jacket goals.  They certainly seemed to have improved since last season.  This brings them to a 5 -5 -2 all time opening night record.

NHL.com

The Blue Jackets' next game is their home opener on Monday at 7:30 against Detroit.  This game will be nationally televised on NBCSN.