Facing a team on the second game of a back-to-back and eager to rebound after a tough loss Thursday night, the Blue Jackets talked about getting back to their identity and doing it for the length of a hockey game. Aside from a five-minute span in the first period, they were awfully close to assembling their most complete effort of the season in a 4-2 win over the Red Wings Sunday night at Nationwide Arena.
Detroit scored first but the Blue Jackets played like they heard the words of Ryan Johansen earlier in the week — if they give up a goal, forget it, let’s go get it back. Johan Franzen’s rebound goal seemed like just a blip on the radar tonight and the Blue Jackets scored four unanswered goals to put this one in their back pocket.
James Wisniewski (more on him shortly) let go a one-timer from the middle point that screamed over Jimmy Howard’s shoulder at 18:17 of the first period, tying the game at 1-1 after a terrific read by Fedor Tyutin to set it up.
Wisniewski left the game early in the second period after crashing hard into the end boards while going back for the puck. He lay motionless on the ice for several minutes before skating off with the assistance of his teammates. The official word is an upper body injury, and he did not return to the game.
Shortly after the scary incident with Wisniewski, Artem Anisimov went to work. Niklas Kronwall turned it over behind his own net right to Anisimov in the low right circle, and he snapped a quick wrister over Howard’s shoulder to give the Blue Jackets their first lead at 2:32. Later in the second period, it was Anisimov again, but this one was even better. The Blue Jackets were swarming in the Detroit end and the culmination was a great pass by John Moore down low to Anisimov, who skated around Kent Huskins and backhanded it past Howard to give Columbus a 3-1 lead at 17:18.
The Red Wings got their chance with 6:48 to play in a two-goal game, but the Blue Jackets’ penalty kill took advantage of a mistake and made it count. Detroit turned the puck over in neutral ice and Brandon Dubinsky started a 2-on-1 with Mark Letestu jetting toward the net. Dubinsky feathered a perfect pass to Letestu, who re-directed it between Howard’s legs to make it a 4-1 game and turn the lights out on Detroit.
Steve Mason was finally rewarded for his strong play and picked up a deserved win, making 32 saves and holding down the fort in the second and third periods.
After Anisimov scored his second goal, the Red Wings never looked the same. The Blue Jackets got them chasing the puck in their own end and wore them out with some quick movement of the puck, and Moore’s heads-up play set the stage for Anisimov’s slick finish.
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