Game 55 Recap - Getting the monkey off our back

Whats this? A game recap? Bingo! I'll be handling the recaps until Clint makes his return. I certainly wish him and his family the very best!

Coming into last night's game, Nashville had posted a 4-0-0 record against the Jackets this season. They were also sporting a 3-game losing streak. As history has shown, it was the makings of another upsetting loss at home. The Preds have been 22-3-2 since the start of the 2006-07 season.  

The first period was awfully slow. Both teams were really trying to feel each other out. In the long run, this was great for the Jackets. The early goal trend was a habit of teams jumping up on offense fast. After the initial heart attack of Commie turning the puck over, everything settled down a little bit. The period ended 0-0 with Nashville leading with 7 shots to the Jackets' 5.

Columbus' best chances came on feeds from Voracek to Umby and Brass that missed the net. I really think Jake has been trying too hard lately to set up goals than to try and score himself. You gotta remember, he's a big kid and he can certainly bump people around.

In the second, things started slow much like in the first. At one point over the two periods, Columbus went just under 19 minutes without a shot on goal. Nashville had the best chance to break the 0-0 tie on the PP. Shea Weber fired a laser, through traffic, at the end of the penalty only to be stopped by Mason.

This is where things changed. Later, on a Jackets PP, Martin Erat had a chance short handed but was denied. On the other end Brass kicks the puck to Jake, he circles the net and tries to find Umby again but the shot is blocked. A clearing attempt went straight to Milan Jurcina and he finally used that rocket of a shot we've heard about. Brass got just enough to tip it 5 hole for his 7th of the year and Pekka Rinne could only watch as it trickled over the line.

The period ended, Jackets 1, Nashville 0.

Huselius scored and extended the lead to 2-0 on a tic-tac-toe pass from Stralman, and Nasher. It was his 7th on the PP and he now leads the team in that category.

Just 39 seconds later, the puck was sitting right in the crease and while Rinne scrambled to find it, Fredrik Modin poked it in for his second of the campaign. This turned out to be the game winner, and how fortunate because Erat and Hornqvist and scored 5 minutes apart to bring the lead down to 3-2.

Honorary Clint Clark Mancrush of the Night: Steve Mason. He definitely looked like the Mason of old, making huge stops when he needed to. This game could've gone south early and often but Mase held his ground and bailed his teammates out big time.

Not-So-Honorary Clint Clark Doghouse award: Mike Commodore. Commie still looks tentative and unsure of himself on the ice. His clearing attempt after he broke his stick early in the first almost lead to a goal.

Post game video:

Game Highlights

Hitch speaks

Mase speaks

Brass speaks

Modin speaks