If you were not at Nationwide Arena for the 82nd game of this hockey season, you missed a great game. Of course it is always a great game when you win. When you win and when you score 7 goals, there are plaudits and stars aplenty. AND since this is the last game of the season, we will be making several posts on this game in he next few games to delve into several other things not covered in this post
Lets start with the first star of the game….What do you do in your next game if you are a NHL rookie and score a hat trick? Well if you are Cam Atkinson, you score 2 goals and add a VERY nice assist.
Cam has been back with the Jackets for about 6 weeks. He started slow in accumulating points after he got back to the Jackets. But in the last 6 games he has 5 goals and 5 assist for 10 points. This gives him 14 points in 27 games for the total season. But it does appear that he has figured out why and what he has to do to be an NHL player. Earlier this year he was sent to Springfield to become a total player. To improve on his game in the time when he did not have the puck and to learn the hard areas of the ice and how to cope with defensive situations. My observation is that he has definitely made strides in this area. For example late in the 3rd period, he laid out in a full length dive to try to interrupt an Islander pass deep in the Jackets zone close to the net area. Many times he is in the neutral zone interrupting passes and using his speed to threaten the offensive playmaking.
And yes, if you are wondering, everyone and I mean everyone on and off the ice was aware Cam had 2 goals. R J Umburger in particular tried very hard to feed him for shots to get his hat trick. When the game ended, Atkinson had his stick poised for a one timer and Umberger was trying to get him the puck before time ran out. Incidentally the line of Atkinson, Brtassard and Umberger looked good together. Umberger had a goal and the first assist was from Atkinson. But he and Nash also teamed up on a 2 man rush. The play started with Atkinson and Nash almost touching each other, so they had to seperate and rush. But they looked good as a pair doing it,. Nash took the shot, and by that time Atkinson was in position for the rebound if there was one. Sorry but at that time all I could think of was ” Boy that would be a future pair that could be a killer”
But the game was not just about Cam Atkinson, the game was also about Rick Nash who got the Jackets on the scoreboard with #30 Just at the end of the first period. The Blue Jackets had been back on their heals in the first period, but the goal Rick Nash at 19:25, from Mark Letestu and Vinny Prospal made the crowd happy. Then Atkinson scored his firt goal on a takaway , Then the Islanders got a goal. Then Umberger got his goal. R.J. Umberger (20th) at 11:12, from Cam Atkinson and Derick Brassard. But determined to make a game of it, the Isles scored, making the score Jackets 3 – Isles 2.
Then the flood gates opened. The season from hell went to hell and all was well as the scoring onslot started: James Wisniewski (6th) at 18:48, from Vinny Prospal and Jack Johnson. Then Cam Atkinson (2nd of game, 7th) at 19:32, from Derek Dorsett and James Wisniewski. And even more Jack Johnson (12th) at 4:41, from James Wisniewski and Derick Brassard. And still even more Vinny Prospal (16th) at 11:03, from Nikita Nikitin. Finally the Islanders scored again and the final score stood at 7 – 3.
The fans, they were happy. The season, she is over.
We Want the Cup