• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Zherdev, Blue Jackets stay hot at home

Jan 16, 2008 - 3:58 AM By Dave Holstein PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) - Nikolai Zherdev keeps producing at home and the Columbus Blue Jackets keep winning at Nationwide Arena.

Zherdev had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets en route to a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

Columbus won its franchise-best sixth straight game at home, thanks once again to Zherdev and the team's potent power play. The fourth overall pick in the 2003 draft has scored 11 points during the team's home winning streak and scored on both of the team's first-period power plays.

"Zherdev was the best player on the ice," Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said. "I think he's a top player in the league. Someone told me once, 'The toughest player on the ice is the player who got the puck,' and he's got the puck a lot right now and he wants the puck; that's a good sign."

"The winning streak at home is nice," Blue Jackets captain Adam Foote said. "Now, we've got to bring it on the road."

Defenseman Ron Hainsey scored just 2:07 in the first period after taking a pass from Zherdev wristing a shot past netminder Roberto Luongo through traffic for an early 1-0 advantage.

"The power play was really good moving it around," Hainsey said. "It was important scoring on our first power play and getting off to a good start - and we hung on."

The Columbus power play struck again at the 6:50 mark when Zherdev scored his 18th goal of the season just two seconds into the man advantage. After Michael Peca won the faceoff, Zherdev's wrister from the left circle beat Luongo between the pads giving the Jackets a 2-0 lead.

"They had two power-play goals off the bat," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said. "Our penalty kill has to be better."

"(Defenseman) Sammy (Salo) had it on his stick and the next thing you know, he didn't have it. And as soon as it landed on the other guy's stick, he shot it right away," Luongo said. "I didn't have much time to get prepared or react and it was a hard shot and (it) beat me five-hole."

The Blue Jackets entered the game 1-for-15 on the power play against the Canucks this season, but finished the first period 2-for-4 and ended the game 2-for-7.

"We followed the game plan to a tee," defenseman Rostislav Klesla said. "Everybody was on their game. We did a good job on the power play and didn't give them much."

"Our first period was really good," Hitchcock said. "We managed the puck and the game the right way tonight."

After Daniel Sedin tied at the game at 2-2 with 6:42 remaining in the second period, Jason Chimera gave the Blue Jackets the lead 3 1/2 minutes later.

Chimera took a pass from Dan Fritsche while going to the net and directed the puck between Luongo's pads.

"A great pass by Manny (Malhotra) to start the play," Chimera said. "Then, I went to the net and it was a great pass by Fritsche and I was able to get my stick on it and put it in."

Pascal Leclaire finished with 25 saves for the Blue Jackets to notch his third straight win. Luongo had 18 stops for Vancouver.