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Jackets notebook: Fight leaves Dorsett with broken hand
Sunday, December 13, 2009 3:18 AM
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Neal C. Lauron | Dispatch
Fredrik Modin taking the ice was a welcome sight for the Blue Jackets. The winger played his first game of the season after being out because of a sprained knee. During the Blue Jackets' recent 1-5-3 slide, players and coaches remarked how much Derek Dorsett's energy and determination had been missed. Just three games into his return from a concussion, the winger has been lost again. Coach Ken Hitchcock confirmed that Dorsett suffered a broken hand during a first-period fight with Mike Brown of the Anaheim Ducks last night. "It's too bad for him because he was really playing well," Hitchcock said. Dorsett might have hurt the hand several minutes earlier when he and Brown collided at 6:45 of the first period. Dorsett appeared to break his fall with his left hand. He was seen flexing it again after the fight at 10:51. He did not return. It's the second straight season Dorsett will miss time because of a broken hand in a fight. He missed nine games because of a broken bone in his right hand. Top line 'not working'On a night Rick Nash led all players with six hits, Hitchcock said his captain "looked tired." Hitchcock said the top line, which features Nash, center Antoine Vermette and left winger Kristian Huselius, is "not working" and he will contemplate changes. "For us to get to the next level, we need better play from our top guys, bottom line," Hitchcock said. He said the blame falls on all three forwards, who are the club's leading point producers. Nash has just two goals in his past 12 games. But Hitchcock's assessment of a fatigued Nash seemed curious on a night he helped set up the team's only goal and drew a penalty after a big hit on Sheldon Brookbank. Corralling the captainForward R.J. Umberger thought the Ducks got away with some restraining fouls, especially on Nash. "There was a lot of clutching and grabbing," he said. "There could have been a lot more calls, but that's the way it goes sometimes. They were definitely trying to frustrate Nasher. Somebody was holding him, grabbing him, putting a stick on him every time." Modin returnsLeft winger Fredrik Modin made his season debut after missing nearly three months because of a sprained knee. He played 12 minutes, 16 seconds and had four shots. Modin played on a third line with Sammy Pahlsson and Jason Chimera. "I felt pretty good," Modin said. "Obviously, there were a few situations where I felt a little off having only practiced a couple times with the team. That's going to take some time." Chelios not a targetVeteran NHL defenseman Chris Chelios told ESPN this week that he declined an offer from an NHL club recently and will remain with the minor-league Chicago Wolves. The Jackets are known to be looking for a defenseman, but the offer to Chelios did not come from the Blue Jackets, an NHL source confirmed to The Dispatch. Dispatch reporter Aaron Portzline contributed to this story. Story toolsToday’s Top Stories |
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