Blues At Blue Jackets Final Score: Sloppy Play Leads To 2-1 Blue Jackets Win

Coming into a game assuming that you’re going to win is never a good thing for a team to do. Knowing the odds are in your favor? Knowing the other team isn’t very good? That’s fine. Playing down to or below their level is not a good plan, and that’s exactly what the Blues have done all night. Own-zone turnovers plagued the team, as did not being able to clear the front of Jaroslav Halak’s crease.

Derrek Dorsett was a thorn in the Blues’ side all game long — most specifically, in Andy McDonald’s side. Of course, he would score the game winning goal by knocking in a loose puck after a great Halak save on a Sammy Pahlsson shot.

The rest of the period was a scramble to score the next goal, but the Blues couldn’t take advantage of the fact that they dominated in the face-off circle. A last second goal that apparently went in with under two seconds left was ruled pushed in by David Perron’s hand (and it was fairly clearly pushed in), and subsequently disallowed. The Blues let an easy two points slip away tonight in a playoff race where they needed them to happen. Not nearly as physical as the Blue Jackets, and seemingly much more winded, the Blues failed to capitalize on the Jackets’ ability to allow numerous third period goals.

The team also couldn’t take advantage of the excellent performance in net by Jaroslav Halak, who allowed only two goals in a game that, had the offense stepped up and the defense made more intelligent plays, could have easily gone St. Louis’ way.

Blues At Blue Jackets First Period Score: Blues And Jackets Knotted Up 1-1

The first period of the game tonight between the St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets was an interesting one, though not necessarily an interesting one from the Blues’ perspective.

Some rough and tumbleness, especially between B.J. Crombeen and Derrek Dorsett after Dorsett hooked Andy McDonald, is to be expected. After all, these two teams might be at opposite ends of the standings, but they don’t care for each other. Soccer games and accompanying fights notwithstanding, they’re in the same division, and they always play hard fought competitive games.

Maybe some of that competitiveness could have done Chris Stewart a bit of good. Some urgency in his forehand/backhand flip into an open net would have meant it going into the net, instead of James Wisniewski swatting it away on the line.

Wisniewski was a thorn in the Blues’ side all period long. David Backes’ short handed goal after Barret Jackman was called for tripping should have been a momentum booster, but instead Wisniewski decided to score with one tenth of a second left to end the period tied 1-1.

The Blues doubled the Jackets up on shots 12-6, but were unable to exploit Steve Mason’s apparent phobia of the first period. Luckily there’re still two periods left that he’s terrified of.

Blues At Blue Jackets: St. Louis Goes For Fifth Straight Win

Rick Nash trade rumors abound, but for tonight's game the Blues are going to have to shut both him and Jeff Carter down.