Blue Jackets still have Wings’ number

Here is a quick look at which Midwest pro teams were in action on Thursday night (March 12).

NHL

Columbus Blue Jackets 3 Detroit Red Wings 1

The Detroit Red Wings were happy to move from the West Conference to the East last year, but probably not nearly as happy when it was discovered the Columbus Blue Jackets would be making the move with them.

The Wings hosted the Jackets Thursday night looking to improve its playoff positioning with second or even first in Northeast Division not out of the question. The Blue Jackets meanwhile are more concerned with Draft lottery positioning and have been more or less out of the playoff hunt for several weeks.

But the Jackets always get the better of the Wings it seems and this game was no different as commentators on the game mentioned even despite a lopsided 42-26 edge in shots, this was not one of the Wings’ better games.

Justin Abdelkader got his stick on a one-time point shot by Marek Zidlicky at the top of the crease and saw the puck change direction past Columbus keeper Sergei Bobrovsky 7:42 into the game to give his team its only lead and its only goal of the night.

Fedor Tyutin tied the game about five minutes later one timing a pass from pass from Nick Foligno into the open side as Foligno gathered in a rebound of a shot by Corey Tropp and quickly set up his teammate.

Scott Hartnell notched the game winner later in the period with a quick release on a pass in front from Artem Anisimov and the Jackets carried the 2-1 lead into the second period.

Cam Atkinson wrapped up the scoring blazing over the blue line and leaving a pair of Wings blue liners flat footed as he flashed up the left side, then fired a quick shot over the glove of Jimmy Howard to the top right corner.

The Wings will hit the road following this one on a four-game road trip to Pennsylvania and Florida. Beginning with afternoon games Saturday in Philly and Sunday in Pittsburgh, the Wings will follow that up with a three day break in sunny Florida before Thursday and Friday games against the Panthers and Lightning respectively.

For the Jackets, the win is the team’s second straight and they have a good chance of extending it with games at home Friday against the Oilers and Sunday against the Hurricanes.

Chicago Blackhawks 2 Arizona Coyotes 1

The Hawks, including newly acquired former Coyotes forward Antoine Vermette headed to the Grand Canyon State and rallied back from an early deficit for a 2-1 win.

The Hawks held a lopsided 44-18 edge in shots in this one, but didn’t own the lead until Brad Richards pounced on one of the few rebounds given up by Coyotes’ keeper Mike Smith and fired it in to snap a 1-1 tie with 7:11 to play in the contest.

The other two goals came in the opening frame, Tobias Rieder putting the home side up just 4:53 into the game before Andrew Shaw evened it a little over three minutes later. Shaw’s goal was a case of right place, right time as Duncan Keith’s point shot hit the leg of a Coyotes defender and landed right at the feet of Shaw at the top of the crease. He backhanded it home before Smith had a chance to move.

The Hawks have taken at least a point in all four of its games since the start of March and the two points were vital in keeping pace in the top half of the highly competitive Western Conference. The Hawks remain third in the Central Division, five points behind both St. Louis and Nashville and perhaps more importantly, extends its margin on the hard charging Minnesota Wild, also to five points.

The Hawks will wrap up a two game West Coast trip at San Jose Saturday against a desperate Sharks team that finds itself on the outside, looking in at the playoff picture with games running out.

AHL

Grand Rapids Griffins 1 Charlotte Checkers 2 (so)

There was only one game in the American League Thursday as the Griffins looked to continue its hot string on the road in Charlotte.

The Griffs did not get the win, but did continue to add to its points total with a 2-1 shootout loss in a game that saw goaltenders facing a lot of shots and stopping almost all of them.

Veteran Tom McCollum was doing a job in goal for the Griffs but Drew MacIntyre of the Checkers was even busier as teams played through a pair of scoreless periods to start the game.

Martin Frk finally found a way past MacIntyre 3:02 into the final period and it started looking like that would be enough for a win until Justin Shugg tied the game with just 8:46 to go. MacIntyre ended up stopping 47 of 48 through 60 minutes of regulation and another seven of overtime while McCollum was almost as busy, handling 33 of 34.

Andy Miele opened the shootout with a goal for the Griffs, but Brock McGinn responded with a second round goal for the Checkers and Shugg notched his second of the night to clinch the win in the third round.