By Zach Davis
FOXSportsOhio.com
March 2nd, 2011
Former Blue Jacket Raffi Torres spurned Columbus' chances of knocking off the Western Conference's top seed as Vancouver prevailed 2-1 Tuesday in an eight-round shootout.
"I hadn't seen the ice in a few minutes so I just wanted to make sure I got a good shot off," said Torres.
The Blue Jackets (31-24-7) had a good opportunity to grab two points while handing the Canucks just their seventh loss at home on the season, but could not capitalize on two shootout leads.
The loss brings Columbus (69 points) three points behind the West's No. 6-8 seeds in Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles. The Blue Jackets have recorded a point in 10 of the last 12 games.
"It would be nice to finish that off with both points," Blue Jackets Head Coach Scott Arniel said. "I thought we played a heck of a hockey game against a real good team in a tough building."
"It's tough to lose that second point when we are desperate for it," Rick Nash said.
Nash scored on the first attempt of the shootout. With Vancouver down to its last opportunity, Mason Raymond slipped it past goaltender Steve Mason to tie the shootout at one.
Antoine Vermette beat Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo in the fifth round but Mason could not close it out as Alexandre Burrows scored to make it 2-2.
Fredor Tyutin, Derek MacKenzie and R.J. Umberger were all thwarted by Luongo before Vancouver's eighth-round winner.
Tuesday's game was the debut of Columbus forward Scottie Upshall, who scored the team's goal in the second period and took a game-high six shots on goal. The former Phoenix forward was traded along with Sami Lepisto to the Blue Jackets for their final remaining original member, Rostislav Klesla, and minor leaguer Dane Byers.
"It's a long day but it's over with," said Upshall who had been up since 5 a.m. on his way to joining the team. "I'm looking forward to the new opportunity."
Raymond scored just five minutes in, giving the Canucks a 1-0 advantage.
Mason stopped 25 of 26 shots for Columbus, falling to 22-14-3 on the season. Luongo (29-12-7) had 30 saves for Vancouver.
Although Upshall's play was mostly positive, the newly acquired forward nearly cost his team by picking up a double-minor high-sticking penalty, giving the NHL's top power play unit a one-man advantage for four minutes in the game's final 4:53. The Blue Jackets allowed just one shot on the power play and nearly took the lead after Andrew Murray hit the post on a shorthanded attempt.
Columbus entered the game scoring on multiple power plays in the last four games but was shut out in four attempts by the Canucks third-ranked penalty kill.
The Blue Jackets will be looking for their first victory of a five-game road trip (0-1-1) when they travel to the NHL's last-place Edmonton (21-35-8) on Thursday at 9 p.m. The Oilers are fresh off of an upset victory over Nashville on Tuesday.
