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Jackets notebook: Stralman takes his first swing on the ice
Monday, February 15, 2010 2:53 AM
The Columbus Dispatch
The Blue Jackets love what defenseman Anton Stralman can do with his soft hands, especially on the power play. Last night, Stralman used them for something entirely unexpected -- to make a fist. He had his first fight in 143 NHL games during the third period of the Jackets' 5-4 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in Nationwide Arena. He was challenged by Blackhawks forward Troy Brouwer after Stralman had a knee-on-knee collision with Chicago star Patrick Kane. Stralman stepped up on Kane as the right winger crossed the Jackets' blue line. It didn't appear as though Stralman stuck out his knee to make contact. He does not have a reputation as a dirty player, and he said there was no intent to injure. Kane returned to the game. "I haven't seen the hit, but it felt like it was clean," Stralman said. With Kane momentarily sprawled on the ice, Brouwer dropped the gloves and went after the Swede. The Chicago winger landed several punches before Stralman fell to the ice. Brouwer, a veteran of nine NHL fights, drew 19 minutes in penalties, including a minor for instigating and an additional minor for instigating while wearing a visor. Jackets defenseman Fedor Tyutin tied the score at 4-4 with a power-play goal at 7:58. "On a hit like that, I felt it was dirty," Brouwer said. "I didn't know that having a visor was an extra two minutes. I tried not to get the instigator. It's always tough to see a teammate go down." Stralman served five minutes for fighting. "If it's not (a clean hit), I probably deserved what happened," he said. "But it was clean, I think." Torres angeredJackets forward Raffi Torres had an eventful game. He scored his 19th goal of the season and went after Chicago forward Patrick Sharp after getting clipped in the throat with a high stick. With 1:12 remaining in regulation, Sharp swung his stick back and hit Torres in the Jackets' zone. No penalty was called, and Torres confronted Sharp, throwing several punches. The Jackets left winger received two minutes for roughing, a penalty his teammates killed. "The guy took a swing at my head; I've got to do something about it," Torres said. Jackets coach Claude Noel saw nothing wrong with Torres' actions. "I was happy with his reaction because his reaction was representing us," Noel said. Shooting woesThe shootout hasn't been kind to the Jackets this season. After winning their first two, they have dropped eight straight. Record nightThe Jackets' Antoine Vermette tied a career high with his 29th assist of the season on Kristian Huselius' first-period goal. Slap shotsThe Jackets scored the first goal for the seventh straight game, tying a franchise record from Dec. 1-14 in 2006. Scouts from Carolina, Florida, Dallas, Phoenix, Montreal, Anaheim and the New York Rangers attended last night's game. Story toolsToday’s Top Stories |
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