First-period special-teams goals by Nash, Huselius propel Blue Jackets over Stars
By APThursday, November 19, 2009
Nash, Huselius lead Blue Jackets past Stars
DALLAS — Rick Nash scored on a power play and Kristian Huselius added a short-handed goal in the final seconds of the fight-filled opening period, sending the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.
Huselius and Raffi Torres added goals during a 5-minute power play in the second period, Steve Mason made 24 saves, and the Blue Jackets went on to win their third straight and improve to 6-1-1 in their last eight games.
Fedor Tyutin had two assists for Columbus, off to the best start in club history.
The Blue Jackets had a rare victory over Dallas goalie Marty Turco, 14-2-2 against Columbus.
Mike Modano scored his 546th career goal on a one-timer at 15:35 of the second period as the Stars avoided the shutout.
The Stars had a 3-1 road win over Detroit on Wednesday night, but Dallas was unable to follow up at home a day later and is still seeking its first two-game winning streak in regulation this season.
Nash gave Columbus the lead at 8:30 of the opening period, shooting a loose puck in the crease past Turco while Dallas’ James Neal was serving a hooking penalty.
Trevor Daley of the Stars and Derek Dorsett of the Blue Jackets got into the first of four first-period scraps at 14:26. Only 23 seconds later, Dallas’ Steve Ott and Columbus’ Jason Chimera traded punches. Krys Barch of Dallas and Jared Boll of Columbus tangled late in the period, followed by Nash and Stephane Robidas.
Both goalies were called for leaving the crease during the Nash-Robidas bout at 18:17. There were 57 penalty minutes in the period.
Huselius capitalized on a turnover during a Dallas power play, skating into the Stars zone on an odd-man rush and firing a shot from the high slot that beat Turco with 0.3 seconds left in the first period.
Neal was assessed a major for boarding and a game misconduct at 6:59 of the second period after a hit on Dorsett. Huselius capitalized on the 5-minute man-advantage at 10:23 of the period, and 20 seconds later Torres made it 4-0.
NOTES: Columbus actived Torres off IR earlier Thursday. Torres is recovering from a fractured upper jaw and is wearing a shield to protect the jaw. … Mason was coming off the worst outing of his career, allowing eight goals in a 9-1 loss to Detroit on Nov. 11. … Columbus C Sammy Palhsson was out with back spasms. … The Blue Jackets were playing their first game since rookie LW Nikita Filatov left the team to return to Russia, where he’ll play for CSKA Moscow of the Continental Hockey League. Filatov, the sixth overall pick in the 2008 draft, had two goals in 13 games for Columbus this season, but the 19-year-old was frustrated with a lack of ice time and wanted to go home. Filatov has promised teammates that he’ll return to the Blue Jackets next season. … Dallas placed LW Fabian Brunnstrom on IR with a shoulder injury, retroactive to Nov. 7, and recalled rookie C Warren Peters from the Texas Stars, Dallas’ AHL affiliate. Peters was among Dallas’ scratches.
