National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Columbus 4, Detroit 2
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
Referees: Don VanMassenhoven, Dean Morton
Linesmen: Pierre Racicot, Derek Nansen
Attendance: 12432

BLUE JACKETS 4, RED WINGS 2: R.J. Umberger recorded a goal and an assist while Allen York made 29 saves for his first win in his second career start as Columbus topped Detroit to earn a split of their home-and-home series.

Vinny Prospal, Derek Dorsett and Derick Brassard also scored and defenseman Nikita Nikitin added two assists for the Blue Jackets, who posted their third win in 10 games.

Prospal opened the scoring 6 1/2 minutes into the game when he put his own rebound past Ty Conklin. Dorsett doubled the lead less than eight minutes later as he buried a backhander from alone in front to end his 16-game goalless drought.

Henrik Zetterberg halved the deficit with 3:37 remaining in the first, but Brassard and Umberger scored 87 seconds apart late in the second to give the Blue Jackets a 4-1 advantage.

Brassard took a long breakout pass from Nikitin and fired the puck between Conklin's pads with 5 1/2 minutes left, and Umberger tallied from the left circle during a 2-on-1 rush for his fourth goal in as many contests.

Defenseman Niklas Kronwall added a power-play goal midway through the third, Pavel Datsyuk notched two assists and Conklin stopped 27 shots for the Red Wings, who have lost seven straight road games. Detroit remained one point ahead of idle Nashville for fourth place in the Western Conference.

GAME NOTEBOOK
: Columbus signed University of Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick to an amateur tryout contract earlier in the day after Steve Mason was injured in practice. Hunwick, who is a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, dressed as York's backup but did not see action. ... Dorsett has scored 11 goals in 72 games this season after netting 12 in his first 179 NHL contests. ... Detroit has lost seven of its last nine matches overall and 10 of 11 on the road.
Top Game Performances
 
Detroit   Columbus
Pavel Datsyuk 2 Points R.J. Umberger 2
Niklas Kronwall 1 Goals R.J. Umberger 1
Pavel Datsyuk 2 Assists Nikita Nikitin 2
Niklas Kronwall 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Ty Conklin .871 Save Percentage Allen York .935
Ty Conklin 27 Saves Allen York 29
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Detroit 31 2 2-4 3-3 8 36
Columbus 31 4 0-3 2-4 10 33
Upcoming Games
  • Columbus will play their next game at home against Florida. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .200 after a win and .385 after a loss.
  • Detroit will play their next game at home against Nashville. The Red Wings have a W/L % of .702 after a win and .433 after a loss.