Blue Jackets Lose to Blackhawks in Shootout

November 5, 2008 by Kayleigh Harlan

In the first shootout of the season, the Blue Jackets lost to the Chicago Blackhawks with a final score of 4-3 in front of 14,680 fans Nov. 1.

Cristobal Huet, the net-minder for the Blackhawks, had an impressive 48 save outing. "It's pretty much a case of a guy coming in here and stealing the game," said right winger Raffi Torres. It was Torres’ first game playing with the Jackets after suffering a shoulder injury.

Chicago got on the board first. Patrick Sharp fired a shot intended for the net, but instead ricocheted off of the glass behind the net. The puck took a wicked bounce and ended up back on Sharps stick and he was able to bury the rebound.

The Blue Jackets were able to get a tally on the board shortly after, but of course it came with some controversy. While enjoying a man advantage, Jakob Voracek made a nice pass from the top of the faceoff circle to R.J Umberger, who kicked his right leg out to stop the puck, and then used his stick to put the puck in the net.

The goal was reviewed to see if Umberger had kicked the puck into the net. However, the goal was allowed. This was Umberger’s fiftieth career goal, and his first as a Blue Jacket.

The Blue Jackets had a massive window of opportunity to take the lead in the game. Midway through the second period, Kris Versteeg was assessed goaltender interference and unsportsmanlike conduct, which put him in the sin bin for four minutes.

With seventeen seconds left in Versteeg’s penalties, Duncan Keith committed a slashing infraction, which made the power play nearly six minutes long. However, the Jackets were unable to capitalize on this glorious opportunity.

"You spend that much time on the power play, you’ve got to score," said Blue Jackets center Michael Peca. To make matters worse, with thirty-five seconds left in Duncan Keith’s penalty, the Jackets were assessed a bench minor for having too many men on the ice.

Brent Seabrook of the Blackhawks took their power play opportunity and capitalized on it with a one-timer from the top of the faceoff circle, making the score 2-1.

During the third period, Fedor Tyutin also scored his first goal as a Blue Jacket. While on the penalty kill, Michael Peca was able to make a cross-ice pass to Rick Nash in the neutral zone.

Nash was able to deke out the Hawks defensemen in order to make the pass to Tyutin. He fired the puck right between Huet’s legs, tying the game once again.

However, a mere thirty-three seconds later, the Blackhawks regained their one goal lead. While still on the power play, Duncan Keith blasted a shot from the blue line. Jackets goaltender Fredrik Norrena made the initial save with his chest, but Martin Havlat gobbled up the rebound and stuffed it into the back of the net.

Now it was time for a comeback. In the Jackets offensive zone, Derick Brassard cycled the puck in the corner to Kristian Huselius, who then moved into the slot and fired the puck to Huet’s high glove side.

With the score tied, the third period ended, and the teams entered into overtime, earning them each a guaranteed point for their efforts.

The extra session did not solve an anything and the game went to the shootout. Blackhawk’s captain Jonathan Toews was the only player to score a goal in the shootout, earning Chicago the victory.

"I think we overwhelmed them for the most part of the game, but lost the special teams game. They scored two on the power play, we scored one. And they won the shootout special teams, too," said Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock.

Before Umberger scored his power play goal, the Jackets were 0 for 19 attempts on the power play. Against the Blackhawks, they were 1 for 10. The Blackhawks were 2 for 4.