An offensive explosion from an unexpected source and an explosive power play in the second period helped the home team grab the victory last night at Nationwide Arena.
Two goals from left wing Jody Shelley and three goals during a 2 minute, 11 second span in the second period powered the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames.
“It was good to take it home with a 4-3 win,” coach Doug MacLean said. “I think it’s a real character builder.”
Shelley, a fan-favorite for his tendency to get in scuffles on the ice, got the Blue Jackets on the board in the first period with his first goal of the season after deflecting a Scott Lachance shot. The power play goal was Shelley’s first of his NHL career.
It was Shelley’s second goal of the night that began the scoring burst in the second period to put the Blue Jackets in front for good. Shelley said he was obviously excited about his first multi-goal game.
“That’s pretty awesome,” Shelley said. “I was pretty pumped and the boys were pretty pumped to see it.”
Shelley’s teammates were excited for him and glad to see him get into the scoring column.
“It’s great to see him rewarded with a couple of goals,” left wing Geoff Sanderson said. “He does all the dirty work for us. He gives guys like me room out there.”
With the score knotted at 2-2 following the Shelley goal, power play goals by center Andrew Cassels and Sanderson followed within a minute of each other.
MacLean was glad to see Cassels and Sanderson contribute after struggling early this season .
“Cassels and Sanderson scoring for us is huge,” MacLean said. “You know it’s going to happen. It’s a matter of time.”
The power play was key in the second period and in the game registering three goals for the Blue Jackets.
MacLean said he can see good things happening with the power play in the future following last night’s performance.
“It hasn’t been in sync and we’ve got to keep developing that,” he said. “I think there is potential for it to be real good.”
The two goals by Shelley increased his career NHL total to six. In 121 career NHL games entering this season, Shelley had scored four goals and racked up 465 penalty minutes.
Eight seconds after Calgary’s first goal, Shelley tangled with Flames left wing Krzysztof Oliwa. The scuffle earned both men five-minute major penalties for fighting. The scuffle dated back to the early match up this season when the two had a run-in.
“That’s what I enjoy,” he said. “You got to feed off stuff like that.”
