Jackets find a way

The roller coaster ride has officially begun.

The good news, if the 1st and 3rd periods are indicitive of how the Jackets are going to play this season then we are all in for a real treat. The bad, if the 2nd period is any inditaction than this game could be a nasty trick.

Bottom line though is despite big time penalty trouble in the 2nd and despite blowing a two goal lead with less than 4 minutes remaining in the game, the Jackets found a way to win this game in OT off a nasty Rick Nash snap shot.

STOPLIGHT GAME REVIEW

GREEN

* Even though he didn't show up on the score sheet I though Kris Russell played absolutely lights out. He was all over the ice. He finished with a +2 and over 18 minutes of ice time. If he can sustain tonight's level of play its going to be a great year watching this kid.

* The kids were indeed alright. They didn't get as much ice time as I would have liked but its a start and they continued to show up on the score sheet. Brassard had a goal with 12+ minutes of ice time. Voracek notched a goal and an assist with just 9 minutes of ice time. Was nice to see Hitch give Brass some time in OT....but I would have liked to have seen Voracek out there as well.

* 5 goals.....for real? If you think for a second that this team only scored 5 goals just 5 times last season that should excited you. When you think that this team did it against an elite goalie like Turco and against a seasoned team like Dallas on their home opener it should thrill you.

* Commodore's hits. The one on Ribeiro was a sweet one but that one on Avery was priceless. Even though he showed up as a -2 I thought he played a real solid game. He's going to be just find filling the deserter's role. This dude does need to hold onto his stick better though.

* I thought Pascal Leclaire was phenominal. In that 2nd period this game could have easily turned into blood bath but he kept us in it. Sure he gave up a suspect goal in the 3rd but we aren't in this game without him. Must be a nice feeling to get goal support.

* Nash comes through when his team needed him the most... Hell of a way to cap off his first game to his first full season as captain. He led all forwards in ice time and played major minutes in every situation. He seemed fairly quite until then but he was doing a lot of the little things that win games.

* Two Jacket fans behind the away bench. Way to represent folks!!

* The Jackets got some nice bounces tonight. Notably Brassard's goal that caromed off a Stars d-man and in the net and Umberger's blocked shot went right to Huselius who then scored. We also can't forget that post save on Morrow's wide open net in the 1st.

* I wonder what that loud mouth Brett Hull thinks about the Jackets now? I haven't forgotten him dogging this team and franchise on national TV a couple of years back.

* Jackets were excellent at even strength.

YELLOW

* I know Peca got tossed but quite frankly the display of emotion tells me alot about his comittement to this team... and he was right, he got slew footed by Morrow...everyone saw it but the guys who make the calls.

* Huselius was pretty quite but then comes out of nowhere and scores a big timely goal for us. Umberger was the same way but made the initial play.

* I thought both Tyutin and Klesla were just okay tonight. Tyutin had a really bad turnover early but then played okay but I expect better. I thought both had trouble with the breakout passes.

* Jason Chimera was all over the map. He had some bad turnovers but also had two great assists and finished a +3. I liked the way he got up in Avery's grill after he agitated Leclaire with his stick after he covered the puck.

* Considering all the penalties and 2-man disadvantages...the Jackets only gave up 1 PP goal. They were hemmed in after a penalty in which Dallas eventually scored though.

RED

* Rick Nash said in the post game what probably most of us are thinking... he's glad they got the win but you cannot give up a two goal lead at the end of the 3rd period. We did something similar in preseason as well. This team has to learn quickly how to shutdown games.

* Waaaaay to many penalties and 2-men down siuations. It was a problem in the pre-season and it was in this game as well. The penalty trouble put the Stars right back in this game.

* My boy Boller did not have a good first game. A couple of ill advised penalties which hurt the Jackets and I didn't really like the timing of the fight -- speaking of, what gives with those linemen not breaking that sucker up sooner?

* PP had a flash here or there but lots of work to do.

3 BRIGHT LIGHTS ON THE NIGHT

1. Strong play on the road. This was the first game the Jackets ever won on the road to open a season. This used to be a game that was DOA.

2. Kris Russell. I thought he was just unbelievable last night. He could be a tremendous asset for us this season.

3. Pascal Leclaire. This game is 3 or 4 to 1 if Leclaire doesn't play the way he does in that second period.

While it was a bit dissapointing to give up that 2 goal lead and subsequently give Dallas a point they shouldn't have gotten to come out of that game with 2 points is absolutely huge. Especially when you consider Phoenix and San Jose are next on the docket. It was also a very good sign that the new faces in Huselius, Umberger, Brassard and Voracek factor into the scoring.

The boys are right back at it tonight in Phoenix. Can the make it two in a row? On paper the Coyotes aren't as strong as a Dallas but the Jackets have a tendancy to play down to their opponents so they certainly can't take them lightly.

-LTL