Blown leads have been something the Columbus Blue Jackets have done far too often this season, especially in the last five games. After going 0-3-2 in the last five games, the Blue Jackets answered on Monday with a three goal third period to defeat the St. Louis Blues 5-2.
R. J. Umberger got his first hat trick as a member of the Blue Jackets. Umberger also added in with an assist. Umberger was on a line with Derick Brassard and Jakub Voracek.
“The line is really coming on,” Blue Jackets head coach Ken Hitchcock said. “There is confidence and good chemistry there, they've got great energy. Derick is starting to really play, he's strong on the puck and he's really starting to elevate his game, which is a good sign. Jake (Voracek) had energy tonight and R.J. likes playing with the two kids.”
Two nights after blowing a late two goal lead to Calgary, the Blue Jackets let yet another two goal lead slip, this time not as early. Columbus had an early 2-0 lead in the first 4:13 thanks to even-strength goals from defenseman Kris Russell and Umberger.
"We had some good efforts tonight,” Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash said. “Umberger's line obviously stepped up. You know we are back at it tomorrow and we've got to get over this win and start focusing on Chicago."
St. Louis scored at the end of the first period when Erik Johnson scored on the power play when he intercepted a bad clearing attempt by Columbus defenseman Jan Hejda and fired the puck past goalie Steve Mason from the blue line.
The Blues tied the game midway through the second when Paul Kariya scored on a two-on-one break out.
Columbus was not to let a two goal lead slip two nights in a row.
Umberger scored his second of the game and the eventual game winner 5:20 into the third period. Umberger scored after redirecting a centering pass from Brassard.
Antoine Vermette notched his seventh goal of the season when he fired the puck into an empty net with 35 seconds remaining in the game. Umberger notched his second career NHL hat trick 16 seconds later also into an empty net.
“Third period, after we scored, I really thought we played well,” Umberger said. The last 10 minutes, we didn’t give them too much, we really clamped down, made strong plays on the crucial areas of the ice. I thought our defense did a great job on the one on one battles down low.”
Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason stopped 27 shots and allowed two goals against. Steve Mason’s counterpart Chris Mason stopped 22 of Columbus 25 shots he faced.
Blue Jackets defenseman Rostislav Klesla went down with an unspecified injury. He is getting an MRI and is not making the trip with the Blue Jackets to Chicago for their game on Tuesday night against the Blackhawks. Mathieu Roy was recalled from Syracuse immediately after Monday’s victory.
"Yeah (he's been our best defenseman),” Hitchcock said about Klesla.”He's the heart and soul of the hockey club. He's the guy that blocks shots, puts his face in front of pucks… This was a very gritty win. You lose a player, and the whole bottom fell out when Rusty (Klesla) went down. We just had to find a way to play a little bit better and we did, we played a lot better in the third. We needed this game badly."
Comments