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Expected

These days when Tampa Bay comes to town, you should expect a win. The Blue Jackets played a hard-nosed game on home ice and put away a game Lightning squad. Hard to dismiss a team with St. Louis and Lecavalier, but the former league champs are a shadow of their former selves. Two third period goals clinched the game and Novotny sealed the deal with an empty netter.

No crowing over this victory. With only 60 points, Tampa Bay staggers to the end of the season, hoping for a good draft pick. The Jackets hover just above the good draft slot and just below playoff level. Like all fans I see the utility of a high pick. However I do not like seeing the guys not try and, to their credit, they have not given up.

Misc: The Jackets finally got the monkey off their back by scoring a power play goal. Vyborny and Chimera had PP goals. Klesla was +4 for the game. The team needs one point to tie their franchise best of 74.