COLUMBUS From Russia with love for Zherdev

Rick Nash scored his 16th goal in 24 games as the Blue Jackets beat Anaheim, 2-1.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- While Nikolai Zherdev was saying hello to the NHL, Rick Nash remained on the fast track.
Nash had a goal and an assist Tuesday to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets past Anaheim, 2-1.
Nash, who had 17 goals in 74 games as a rookie last season, scored his 16th this season in 24 games.
The No. 1 pick in the 2002 draft ran his point streak to six games (6 goals, 2 assists).
Columbus coach and general manager Doug MacLean simply called Nash "our big man."
David Vyborny added a goal an assist and Marc Denis, a late replacement in goal, stopped 30 shots. The Blue Jackets had lost their last two.
Open arms
Zherdev, an acclaimed 19-year-old forward, made his NHL debut after flying out of Russia on Sunday and arriving in Columbus on Monday night. He had a sizable following by the time he took his first shift, 40 seconds into the game.
"I felt very, very welcome. I even saw some signs that said, 'Welcome Nikolai,"' Zherdev said through an interpreter. "Columbus is great. I feel very, very great."
Zherdev, the fourth overall pick in last summer's draft, played 10:59 and had one shot on goal.
Anaheim superstar Sergei Fedorov, who moved from Russia at a similar age, said there are many challenges ahead for Zherdev.
"I don't know what's going through his head. It's pretty tough not being able to speak English," Fedorov said. "It's not going to be easy. Language is going to be an important part -- but hockey language is the most important part."
The Mighty Ducks' 11-game point streak -- dating to Nov. 2 -- was snapped.
"We have to look at our preparation and our urgency," coach Mike Babcock said. "We didn't skate and didn't manage the puck and didn't come out and go after the other team."
Vaclav Prospal scored with 31.9 seconds left -- and goaltender Martin Gerber off for an extra skater.
"We just shut down a pretty good offensive team there," Denis said.
Anaheim had tied an NHL record by going to overtime in its last five road games.
Nash slipped a defender and fed Derrick Walser at the point for a one-timer. The puck was deflected by Gerber, but bounced to Vyborny for an easy power-play putback.
"He was in my territory and I told him to stay out of there because that's where I get my goals," Nash said with a laugh. "I'll let him have that one and we'll talk about it tomorrow in practice."
Nash then scored on the power play 3:18 into the third, taking a perfect cross-crease pass from Vyborny to easily beat Gerber.
Notes
Fedorov returns to Detroit tonight to play against the Red Wings. Fedorov won three Stanley Cups and an MVP award during his 13 seasons with the Red Wings. ... Columbus RW Trevor Letowski had his point streak end at five games. ... The Mighty Ducks are 0-7-2-2 when scoring fewer than two goals.