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In a memorable debut for the Columbus Blue Jackets, veteran goaltender Cam Talbot secured a 3-2 shootout victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 9, and in doing so, etched his name into the NHL record books. With the win, Talbot became the first goalie ever to earn a victory for nine separate franchises. Fittingly, he achieved the milestone while wearing a mix of gear from the Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings, the team he played for the previous two seasons.
After making the final save in the shootout, Talbot flipped the puck into the air and swatted it with his paddle as the cannon at Nationwide Arena fired a victory blast. The climactic stop came when he slid to his right and gloved a shot from Pittsburgh's Ben Kindel. "It felt great," Talbot said. "Those always feel nice when you can seal a win like that, and obviously, we deserved to win that game. So, to let these guys down would've been hard for me to do after the way that we played. So, I'm just glad that I could seal the win."
Talbot, who is currently living in a hotel with his family, signed a one-year contract with Columbus on the eve of training camp. His mask still bears a Red Wings design, covered by stickers applied by the Blue Jackets' equipment staff. His glove, blocker, and leg pads are also carryovers from Detroit, though they happen to pair well with the Blue Jackets' color scheme. New gear ordered three weeks ago is reportedly in Toronto awaiting approval from Kay Whitmore, the NHL's goalie equipment czar. Talbot is also expecting two new masks.
At 39 years old, Talbot has defied the odds by remaining relevant in a league that often chews up careers quickly. He has now won games for nine different NHL organizations, starting with the New York Rangers. While becoming the ultimate journeyman wasn't his intention, it's a testament to his durability and adaptability. "There's a veteran," Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness said. "Knows how to play, knows how to keep himself in the game, right? He's been around. He played outstanding for us, clearly, but that's when you draw on your experience to keep yourself motivated, keep yourself focused on the game, and he was able to do that. Good to see. I'm very happy for him."
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Talbot's performance was particularly impressive given the lopsided nature of the game. After nearly a week without playing, the Blue Jackets dominated the Penguins, outshooting them 45-22 and out-attempting them 82-49. In the second period alone, Columbus held a 25-7 shot advantage, including a 15-1 margin over the first 10:21. Despite the sporadic action, Talbot maintained his focus, making 20 saves in regulation and overtime before stopping all three shootout attempts, including one by former Blue Jackets forward Egor Chinakhov. His ability to stay sharp when not busy is a hallmark of his longevity.
The Blue Jackets will conclude their first back-to-back set on October 10 in St. Louis, where Jet Greaves is expected to start against the Blues. Talbot's record-setting debut provides a memorable start to his tenure in Columbus and adds another chapter to his remarkable career.
Originally reported by yahoo.