The Jackets were on both ends of the see saw tonight, starting low and conceding the first goal to the Red Wings, then finally sparking some offense and looking like a more composed team, if not a totally confident one, with two first period goals to put themselves back on top.
Despite carrying some solid play in the second period, they would surrender a tying goal to the Red Wings while attempting to kill a 5-on-3 disadvantage, and worse, would lose Josh Anderson to a very nasty high hit from Brendan Smith that went uncalled, which would take the forward out of the game. (Don’t be shocked if Player Safety takes another look on that one.)
The third period could be best described as tentative, but things boiled over when Scott Hartnell engaged Smith at the end of the period, though the linesmen would break them up before more than token blows could be thrown, and the teams would head to OT, trading end to end chances several times before a bit of puck luck, what probably should have been a slashing penalty going uncalled, and Seth Jones picking his corner and slamming the OT winner home, while the home crowd at the Joe booed and chanted abuse at the officials and the Blue Jackets alike.
Not a bad way to close out their last regular season game at the Joe at all.