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Nash nets hat trick as Blue Jackets blitz Red Wings

Mar 8, 2009 - 4:42 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Captain Rick Nash notched his fourth career hat trick as the Columbus Blue Jackets cruised to an 8-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday in a battle of Central Division rivals.

R.J. Umberger recorded two goals and an assist, Jason Williams had a goal and an assist and Andrew Murray also tallied for Columbus, which recorded its most goals in a game in franchise history.

Rookie Steve Mason finished with 44 saves for the Blue Jackets, who have alternated wins and losses in their last six games.

"We came in here needing the win," Nash said matter-of-factly. "We needed this win tonight to stay in the race and determine our own fate."

"He's doing what most captains do this time of the year," Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said of Nash. "He's trying to help his team get into the playoffs."

Henrik Zetterberg scored and Aaron Downey netted his first goal of the season for Detroit, which fell to 6-3-0 in its last nine games.

"You get mad. You don't want to play like this, especially in front of your home fans," Zetterberg said. "You just have to look yourself in the mirror and come back and do a lot better job."

"I'd trade the goal for a win right now," Downey said.

Chris Osgood turned aside 16 of 23 shots before being relieved by Ty Conklin, who made four saves for the Red Wings, who were handed an 8-0 thrashing by fellow division foe Nashville last Saturday.

"We didn't give ourselves a chance. We hung our goalie out to dry - both of them," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said.

"We got out of sync by turning the puck over early and we never really got it going. When the play comes, you've got to take care of the puck. We didn't do our part and the bottom line is you don't feel very good leaving the building."

Nash also had a hat trick in a 3-2 win over the Red Wings on January 27. On Saturday, the All-Star scored with 4:20 remaining in the second period, 15 seconds into the third period and with 7:44 remaining in the contest.

"He's an extremely talented player," Mason said. "It's nice to have a guy like that who can come up big for us when it counts the most."