Garon, Blue Jackets stonewall Thrashers

Hockey Betting Lines

03/11/2010 - Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mathieu Garon made 28 stops to help the Columbus Blue Jackets take a 2-1 win over the Atlanta Thrashers at Nationwide Arena.

As a consequence of Atlanta's loss, the Washington Capitals became the first team in the NHL to clinch a playoff spot and a division as they have now won the Southeast Division for the third consecutive season.

Kristian Huselius had a goal and an assist while R.J. Umberger scored the other goal for the Blue Jackets, who have won their past two games. Columbus is now 13-0-2 in its past 15 games against the Southeast Division.

"It was one of those games which you throw pucks at the net," Umberger said. "There were some funny bounces tonight and one went off of a skate, too, so sometimes you work things out and tonight was one of those nights."

Johnny Oduya scored the lone goal while Johan Hedberg stopped 19 shots for the Thrashers, who have dropped their past four games.

"When it's not going for you, it's not going for you," Atlanta coach John Anderson said. "We got a little bit of a bounce with one of the goals for us but we are not getting any breaks right now. We only allowed 21 shots on goal. It is a difficult loss."

The game saw the season debut of Atlanta defenseman Chris Chelios, who was called up from the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League on Wednesday.

Chelios, 48, has now played in the NHL for 26 consecutive seasons since his debut with Montreal in the 1983-84 season.

"It's great," Chelios said. "I had a tough bounce on the first one, but like I said it is a big adjustment coming back. You have to keep things simple. Like I said, my mindset has to be just play solid defensively and the rest will follow itself."

A retaliation call on Nik Antropov led to a Columbus power play and the first goal of the game. Umberger received the puck at the right circle and attempted to swing it to the left side, but it hit off of Chelios and went into the net 6:36 into the contest.

In the second period, Columbus took a 2-0 lead as Huselius' shot from the slot off a drop pass hit off several Thrahsers in front and got past Hedberg with 4:35 to play in the frame.

Atlanta kept throwing shots at Garon in the final period and finally got on the board with 2:21 left in the game as Oduya slammed on the brakes at the left circle and sent a backhand pass to the slot that went off the skate of Fedor Tyutin and snuck past Garon.

The Thrashers skated a 6-on-4 for the final 1:25 after pulling Hedberg and a high sticking call to Jan Hejda, but Columbus was able to keep the puck out of the net for the win.

Game Notes

Umberger's goal was his 20th of the season, the third time he's reached that plateau in his five years in the NHL. His career-high is 26 set last season...The Thrashers begin a five-game homestand on Friday against the Rangers...Columbus hosts St. Louis on Saturday...The Blue Jackets have taken the past four games against Atlanta.

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