Western Swing

The mini trip out west ended up being a microcosm of the season. The team dropped two of three and finished up the trip by allowing edmonton to net 5 goals in the third. Huselius was activated for the first time this year in that last game. Clearly he will need many games to get himself in game-shape, as his -2 attests. Hate to see a gritty come-from-behind win at Calgary get followed up by the collapse in Edmonton. The team gets a break until Tuesday when they travel to Montreal.

Interesting that after 26 games, Derek MacKenzie leads the team at +6. In stark contrast, the player with the worst ratio on the team? Rick Nash at -14. Hard to believe. High priced free agent Wisniewski is just behind him at -13.

Entertaining

The team has earned points in the last five games including a 5-1 win against the Sabres. Admittedly it was against the Sabres without Ryan Miller, but we will take it. Seeing Nash, Carter and Lupul heat up is a good sign. It won't last forever, but at least they're entertaining.

Oh by the way, I guess the Sanford for mayor campaign kicks off soon. Don't break a leg jumping off the Mason bandwagon, folks. Remember it's a long season.

A good night

The first goals of the season from Carter and (the game-winner from) Wisniewski lead to the first win in Nashville in five years. Sanford is again in net. Two days after a tough 2-1 loss in Boston, finally something to cheer.

Almost

Good to see young Johansen step it up and score both goals in a 2-1 win. Mason stops 35 of 36 shots. Jeff Carter is activated and plays 20+ minutes. Niktin, received in a Friday trade for Kris Russell, gets an assist. 0 for 4... on... the... power play! Sorry, held off for years but had to do that at least once (c:

Not fast enough

I wasn't fast enough as I got home from jumpstarting a friend's car to find the Jackets down by 5. By mid-second period, it was 8-0. Obviously the team wasn't fast enough either. Steve Mason again did his best Swiss cheese imitation and had to be pulled before the end of period one.

The only major question left is why do the coach and GM still have their jobs? If ownership wants us to believe that they don't care, well take my word for it - we're convinced. The Hitchcock countdown is officially running. For those of us who never understood why he was fired in the first place, his rehiring can't happen soon enough.

Sinking deeper

On home ice the team dropped another game in a disheartening fashion. The first period ended with the Leafs up 2-0... on four shots. What do you say when you have to pull your star goalie? Well Coach Arniel had a few choice words, ""Their goaltender was better than our goaltender. Plain and simple. Their guy made a lot of big saves. One end was good and one end wasn't. That's the end of that story." Indeed.

Aggressive

The Jackets win again on home ice against a solid opponent. The team downed the Kings 4-2 in a chippy, fight-filled game. Mason faced only 19 shots as the team has hunkered down. Hopefully the inspired play will continue as Columbus has a long way to go to even get to a competitive level in the tough Western conference.

Coach Scott Arniel "When we play with a little bit of any edge, when we play like we're pissed off, when we play in the hard areas and go there first ... that's usually when better things happen for us."

4-2 loss in Buffalo comes down to special teams. While the hapless Blue Jackets went a horrid (even for them) 0 of 6, the Sabres went 2 for 3. Conveniently, the margin of victory. Columbus is an unworldly 10% with the man advantage on the season. Despite peppering Ryan Miller's stand-in for 43 shots, the team just cannot score on consistent basis. Jeff Carter is still out. What a mess.

Off the schneid

The Jackets outhit, out hustled, out scrapped and outscored the Red Wings to earn their first victory of the season. The home crowd was given the rare opportunity to see a focused squad playing with a determination unseen this season. The team wwas desperate and played like it.

It was a game of firsts:

• Wisniewski made his debut after serving an eight game suspension and logged an impressive 27 minutes on the blue line.


• Umberger scored only 21 seconds into the game to net his first goal of the year


• Ryan Johansen's shot knuckled off a Red Wing glove into the net for his first goal


• John Moore joined the "first" party with his goal in the second period

The worst possible scenario

Still looking for the first win of the season. The team looked outmatched, and they were, by the Red Wings. No end in sight as the team is misfiring in all possible ways. The embarrassing 1-on-4 goal given up the other day is just indicative of a rudderless team.

Still think firing Ken Hitchcock was a good idea, Howson?

The same old song

People starting talking up the Jackets based on some exciting off-season signings. The expensive and yet-to-play-due-to-suspension James Wisniewski and Jeff Carter. The signings cannot hide what people who follow the team know. The team lacks scoring punch, the power play is horrid, and Steve Mason is usually the only hope for victory. Less than 9,000 people came to see last night's game, a shootout loss to Colorado.

The power play is 0 for 5. Not in chances, in games. No conversions by the unit in the five games. O for the season... Good times!

Off & stumbling

Would've been nice to get off to a good running start, but Columbus has stumbled out of the gate heading into turn one. The loss at home to Vancouver (and Cory Schneider, not Mr. Luongo) drops the team to 0-3; a solid effort not rewarded with a win. 0 of 5 on the power play... seems vaguely familiar.

8

Free agent pickup defenseman James Wisniewski was suspended for eight regular-season games for a hit to the head of Minnesota forward Cal Clutterbuck. I have no problem with Shanahan's suspension for Wisniewski. At this point the league has to draw a line in the sand. Players who go for the head now know there will be repercussions. The test will be when a top player makes such a hit. Will they get suspended, or will the league turn its back? That is the question.

Howson on Fan Base

On the Fan 590 Prime Time Sports radio program from Toronto, Howson spoke about the free agent moves, especially the signing of Wisniewski.

In response to Bob McCown's question about the relationship between fans and this year's signings, Howson said, "We've been in the league ten years and have only made the playoffs once. And our fans have been really patient. We really needed to energize the market."

Seeing is believing, but at least they are listening. Invest in a better team to attract fans. It's not rocket science. So far it has been a good free agent period for the team. I, for one, am sad to Garon go, but the additions of Carter and Wisnewski plugged vital holes in the offense.

Post-draft

A draft that nets a proven scorer like Jeff Carter cannot be all bad. Rick Nash must feel like a kid on Christmas morning having just received his most wanted gift - a talented center to call all his own. Last off-season the team did little to boost confidence in its fan base. This move can only be seen as a move towards improving the team and its fan appeal. Hopefully Jeff comes to Columbus with a positive attitude. That much will be tough not because he lacks professionalism, but he leaves a team seemingly on the verge of playoff success. Some may argue that Philly lost too much by trading Carter and Richards. We'll see. Once they sign the goalie of their dreams, let's see what's left in the till.

For Howson, improvement is the key. Signing Carter put the fans on notice that he saw the empty seats in Nationwide. What's next?

Seven

Looks to be an exciting game seven for the Cup. Hopefully the game measures up to the moment. I'll be happy with any result. Good luck Canuck and Bruins fans.


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Just like that

Luongo gives up two weak goals followed by a third goal, of all things, a power play goal. Good night Roberto. A few minutes later another goal on a tip in of a shot from the point and it's 4-0 in the first. No chance for anyone in goal on that tip. Drive safely folks.


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On the Edge

Strong game on home ice from the Canucks led by the much maligned Luongo. Roberto shook off criticism and played a solid game shutting out the Bruins 1-0. Thomas played spectacularly to keep Boston in it, but the Canucks looked like the better team on this night. Crisp passing and quality rushes seemed to indicate that they were about to break out, but Thomas kept them at bay until Lapierre banked one in off Thomas after what looked like an intentionally wide shot off the boards. Vancouver is on the edge of a title as they fly back to Boston.

Count me as one who hates the two days off between games. They could have had a good audience on Sunday night, but we get carried over yet another day. It's more of a buzz kill than an interest build.

Game Four

Is it just me or does the Boston anthem singer look like Michael Palin? I was hoping he'd break into the Lumberjack Song in place of the anthems. Goaltending is again the difference. Boston gets a shutout from Thomas as Luongo gets chased to the bench. Scrappy game got a bit ugly at the end. Luckily an all-out brawl managed to never occur. Onto Vancouver.


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11 Seconds

Burrows took a bite out of the Bruins hopes with a gift of a goal only 11 seconds into overtime. Thomas gets caught out of position and it's over just like that. A tough loss to swallow. Luongo has played very well and lets hope he gets to shed the unfair choker label once and for all. Former Bluejacket Manny Malhotra makes the comeback from his serous injury to make the finals for the Canucks. Good to see Manny back on the ice!

Game One

Feisty first period from Vancouver. Tim Thomas continued his stellar play in goal stopping several excellent scoring chances. Fun to see Charra planted in front of Luongo on the power play.

Happiest guy in the league today? My nomination is Colin Campbell. His days as daily scapegoat for all that is wrong with the NHL is over. Good luck Shanny, you'll need it.

Period two is as good as the first. Luongo fights boredom as Thomas faces the lion's share of the action. The replay of the finger bite has gotten enough play. Shanihan will get tested on his first game. Should be a no brainer suspension. My guess is one game, but who knows?

My vote doesn't count, but I'd love to see the Jets back in the league. That or the Rough Riders.


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Boston - Vancouver

Just watched the game TB-BOS game seven. Pulled for Tampa but have no bad feelings towards Boston. Thomas carried that team to the finals. Roloson played valiantly as well, but the Bruins managed to get it done. One defensive breakdown decides a close series. Hard to imagine either team beating the Canucks, but hopefully we'll get a competitive Stanley Cup final.

The one thing

Have enjoyed the playoffs so far. Watching game 6 of the Detroit-San Jose series. Just saw my favorite moment of the season so far: the smile on the face of the serviceman when the Detroit PA announcer mentioned the soldier was back from Afghanistan. The bewildered smile after the roar from the crowd was fantastic. The squid has hit the ice and they're ready to go.

First game with the new cable receiver. HD hockey is so great.

Playoffs

Another year outside looking in at the playoffs. Sad finish to the season though there were no real hopes of competing. The simple love of hockey kept fans watching, but the team has worn its good will thin. It's time to improve the team or consider more dire changes. Hamilton anyone?


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So it goes

Like a microcosm if the season itself, the Jackets play hard but come up short against the Capitals. Former Jacket Chimera ends the game in overtime with a tap-in.

A few weak plays by Mason lead to the first three Capital goals. Okay, two weak plays and an unlucky bounce in his clearing attempt. Nonetheless Steve has to better control rebounds. The first goal arose from what should gave been a routine glove save. Nice goal by Upshall to tie the game at 3 in the third period. Nash sat out.


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The beat goes on

All you need to know: 13 shots on goal against the Devils on Columbus ice. 3-0 loss.

If nothing else Brian Burke, the truculent one, is quotable: “I think people know my feeling on the shootout generally. It’s almost the same as if the NFL decided overtime games by throwing a ball through a tire.” Amen.

The way they play the game

By now you have seen the video. Probably have watched it several times - in real time and in slow motion. Zdeno Chara rides Canadiens winger Max Pacioretty into a stanchion and Pacioretty drops to the ice. My first thought at the sight of the video before I knew the result, "Is he dead?" Chara doesn't strike many people as the type of guy who would intentionally injure someone. Intentionally ferociously check, yes. Injure, no.

Did he deserve a suspension? Let's be frank - Pacioretty will not play hockey for a long time, perhaps never again. Hockey is a tough, dangerous sport; no league can legislate complete safety. Without evidence as to intent, it's hard for me to insist on punishment despite the dramatic injury.

Is it next year yet?

Five losses in a row - the latest is a shootout loss to St. Louis on the road. Read an unbelievable stat: The Blues went 6 for 8 on the power play in three home games against the Jackets this season. Yikes.

Here's to you, Don Meredith... "Turn out the lights, the party's over."

Klesla Traded

So ends an era as the original Blue Jacket was traded to Phoenix last night. Rusty Klesla, slid defenseman who has battled the injury bug, was shipped to the Coyotes for Scott Upshall and Sami Lepisto. Upshall has offensive potential from the blue line though he an unrestrcited free agent at season's end. Lepisto adds depth to the defense. Klesla simply did not stay healthy enough in his stay in Columbus. Good luck in the desert, Rusty.

Stats

"Big" road win in Chicago as a team record for consecutive road wins is set at 6. After the game Chicago and Columbus have the same record: 29 W, 23 L, OTL 6. cynicism runs deep so I cannot shake the feeling that the champs are winning the tie, so to speak. A peek at the second level stats reveal my concern. Despite the tie in points after 58 games, Chicago have a big lead in goals for with 183-159. The Blackhawks also lead in goals against 174-164. Columbus goals by Calvert, Vermette, Stralman and MacKenzie. Chicago goals by Sharp (2) and Kane. Toews added two assists. Come stretch time, who would you rather have? Enough said.

It's undeniable that the team is playing better right now, but the history of this season tells us that the other side of the hill is coming. Downward again? Only time will tell. Still less than sanguine about the offense, but it's good to see wins.

The Captain

It was one of those games in which Nash asserted himself and carried the team to a win. On a night that marked the first game of the return of Forsberg, it was the Jackets captain who dominated play. After an Umberger turnover led to the opening goal for Colorado, Voracek's beautiful stop and pass to a steep angle shot for Nash led to the first goal. Later in the second period Nash stripped the puck from a defender and slipped a pass to Brassard who scored fronearly as steep an angle, though from the right, off-wing side. An empty-netter capped the win for a very solid Garon.

Forsberg was not much of a factor though his nifty feathered pass that led to an excellent scoring chance, foiled by Garon, gave a bit of a hint that the hands are still there. I like the way he plays so good luck to him in his attempt to stay healthy.

How the NHL is broken, example 537

Taking a deep breath before starting this post... As many Jackets fans know by now, Matt Cooke hit Fedor Tyutin from behind into the glass. The play was as plainly dirty as can be. We can only be grateful that somehow Tyutin wasn't injured. Cooke gets penalized and later suspended by the league for a paltry 4 games. Not a problem, he's done it before and he'll do it again.

That's the life in the NHL and it will remain that way until The Count and his minions get serious about cleaning up the game. Apparently no one is afraid of 4 days off during a long season. Make it 10 and let's see if there is actually a deterrent created. If not, make it 20.

Idiot Pittsburgh coach Blysma, “The player looks him right in the eye and knows he’s coming and makes sure he keeps his numbers turned towards him, but Matt does hit him there and send him into the boards.” How do these words come out of his mouth without his brain stopping them? Isn't he the coach of the injured Sidney Crosby? Somehow Cooke is exonerated because Tyutin may have seen him? The onus was on Cooke and he ran Tyutin in attempt to plaster him, leaping into the defenseman's back and earning that 5 minute charging major. This hit was completely avoidable... if Cooke had respect for other players. Clearly, he respects no one.

Blysma quote from the Sporting News

Rare Win in Detroit

Steve Mason stops all shots to earn not only the first Blue Jacket shutout in Detroit, but the first win there in two years. Huslieus is a healthy scratch and his replacement earned an assist on Vermette's goal by slipping him a nifty pass for the one-timer blast. You can't stop him; you can only contain him: Boll gets his sixth goal of the season.

Coach Arniel said it best, "But for us now, it's about putting runs together. [Mason]'s a guy who, along with some other guys, needs to do just that." Dispatch

The hard-fought victory is meaningless if a lackluster performance follows tonight in Edmonton. The season's story has been to fall down at each opportunity to build momentum. We'll see what happens when they play the worst team, by point total, in the league.

Post-break Start

The offense scores four goals and the team loses by 3 at home. Defense was asleep for both Chicago and Columbus, but the Hawks will win the battle of offenses every time. They travel to Detroit on Friday. Good luck with that. I hate to be so pessimistic, but when you get lemons make lemonade. Now if only there were some sugar around...

All-Star Let-Down

Bored at the break. The team lingers slightly above .500 and has won three of their last five games. Yet no excitement based on the long-term lack of offense. 28th in power play and 2.58 goal per game. 25th in the league with 3.06 goals against shows that the defense is not getting it done either.

Stat that may only interest me: Jared Boll is at 0 +/- rating. Don't get me wrong – I think that's great. Hard to imagine really given his role. The Bollster has surprised this season with periodic scoring: 5 goals and 129 penalty minutes. Klesla leads the team with a +10 rating. For perspective, Andrej Meszaros of the Flyers leads the league with an astounding +29.

0 for 2011

Happy New Year, Jackets fans! We're celebrating the new year just not by failing to win, but the team has decided to look like a poor AHL team. Until the second period goal, the team had surrendered twelve consecutive goals without a tally in response.

They fired Hitchcock almost a year ago. I know - he was holding back Filatov. How has that gone for you, Howson?

2010

What promise 2010 had at it's beginning. Coming off of playoffs and solid play, fans were thirsting for more. What was hope later became apathy as the team's moves addressed no glaring needs and the magical ride was not repeated. 2010 sadly ends with three wins in a row and very few excited about the streak. What a difference a year makes.

Too bad the rain detracted from the annual outdoor stunt. Seemed as if the night game was poorly lit. I have never had trouble following the puck on tv before. Likely due to bad conditions. I hope fans in Pittsburgh had a better view than the home-watching audience.

6 of 7

The Jackets have now lost six of seven after tonight's 4-1 drubbing at the hands of the Blackhawks. They fired Ken Hitchcock for a slump after making the playoffs. Well perhaps it's not the coaching. The league's preposterous points system keeps the team artificially looking like it's in the race, but we should know better. Time to beat the dead horse - No offense means no meaningful playoff expectations. With no prospects for change, its already time to think about next year. Sad.

The Downward Spiral

Four in a row. Losses. Poor play, often masked by superb goaltending, rises to the surface. If the game turns on one play, the team is making the wrong choice. Klesla's gaffe leading to an easy goal in Vancouver, squandering a game full of great saves by Garon, comes to mind. Tuesday is Calgary, in a down year and a Western conference member, in Columbus and it feels like a must-win to me.

Up and Down

WIn one, lose one. The team beats the Rangers then loses in OT to Calgary. It's a maddeningly inconsistent team. Filatov to minors, Huselius off of injured list. Crowds will not return to Nationwide until the ship steadies and while I hope for success, how does one conjure the belief that the offense will get better? Based on what changes?

We'll see what happens in Vancouver. As always, pray for solid defense, a Nash goal or two and magic from the goalie, be it Mason or Garon.

Outplayed

4-1 loss in St. Louis where the team inexplicably decided to wait to the third period to show up. Power plays turned this game: the Blues went a remarkable 3-3 while the usually hapless Jackets went 0-8. Still 29th in the league in power play efficiency, the team's struggle with the man advantage is just an extension of the overall poor performance on offense. The penalty kill unit has now slipped to a disappointing 23rd place. Special teams like this will yield no playoffs.

OT Win

Last minute goal from Nash with Garon pulled ties the game in the third and the Jackets win the shootout. Great work by someone (Umberger, I think, getting mashed but holding his ground) in front of the net as Nash inched closer before netting the tying goal, his 14th of the season. Early goal for Russell, who joins the rush and converts a nice pass from Vermette. With the offense lagging, the defensemen need to step it up. Garon only faces 16 shots (and gave up a softie on Richard's shot that somehow got through his glove) as Columbus outshoots Dallas 29-16. Wilson's wrister beats Lehtonen blocker side for the win in the shootout.

Stampeded 5-0

Describing the effort against the Sabres in Buffalo as poor would understate the matter. Rick Nash said, "We just didn’t seem ready from the start. It was a poor effort.” Umberger noted, "“Too many guys on vacation. It was probably our worst effort in a while. We’re not going to win any games like that.” The Jackets managed only 19 shots on a bored Ryan Miller. A horrible, horrible showing.

Loss
After sleeping for a couple of days due to a bad head cold, I was going to write of the sweep at the hands of the Red Wings. That was until I opened my RSS reader.

Yesterday Jim Kelley died.

You'll see obits noting his Hall of Fame career at the Buffalo News and Sports Illustrated. I first read his columns when I was in college and living in Buffalo. Pick a column and you'll see what is obvious: he cared deeply about the issues around hockey and sport in general. The sport has lost a champion who never skated in the league yet managed to contribute as much as many Cup-winning players. Rest in peace.

NHL iPad app

Quick take: a good start but missing details that make a good app. For instance, full scoreboard shows all scores but doesn't link each game to boxscores. While full scoreboard scrolls nicely, the nightly one at the app's main screen required clicking to advance to more scores. Some stability issues as well. Overall I like the app but there is ample room for improvement. Updates please.

Great game against the Wings despite the loss. Howard and Mason shine in the early season playoff-intensity feeling game. The first period had a game's worth of spectacular saves. Lone Jackets goal by Vermette comes after a Umberger forced turnover in the Detroit end. Though Boll fails on the penalty shot in the 2-1 loss, kudos to the big guy for showing skills aside from boxing. With dedicated fighters approaching extinction, Boll has to pick up his overall game. If he can develop into a lesser Clark Gillies, then the Jackets will be thrilled.

Misc: 28th place power play will not carry them into or far in the playoffs. Filatov, the healthy scratch after missing a meeting, was back. The Wings may have slipped a bit, but they are fun to watch. That's the way to play hockey. 

Admittedly jaded comment: Sure they beat the Isles the other day, but it took overtime?

Four in a Row

The Jackets continue their impressive play beating nemesis Nashville 2-0 in Columbus. Nash and Commodore scored the goals and Mason earns the shutout, stopping 27 shots. I can get used to seeing Nash net those off-wing chances and Commodore join the rush to score. With Mason and Garon the team has a solid foundation that can get Mason some rest without the drop off most teams will face when playing the backup goalie. Despite the hot team, Attendance, though slowly rising, is still low as only 10,000 showed at Nationwide.

Shutout Win in San Jose

Garon earns another shutout as the red hot Blue Jackets head home after an unprecedented western road trip. Nash, who had a hat trick in San Jose, is on fire as the team heads home for a few days of rest. Nash has scored goals in his last five games. On the trip Commodore had three points in two games after missing 13.

Big Win

The Captain scored the goals to seal the 5-3 win over the Kings. This victory was needed to put a stamp on the solid start of the season. Hopefully fans will climb aboard the wagon with more wins against good teams.

Misc: Boll scores again and Commodore returns and even tallies an assist. Klesla and Murray had the other two goals for Columbus. Mason held his own against 36 shots. Methot and Klesla were both +3 on the night. Eventually the lack of scoring by Filatov has to be addressed, though the young forward is +2 on the season.

Up and Down

The Jackets continued their Jekyll-and-Hyde season last week with big victories (8-1 over STL; Voracek sheds the monkey with two goals and Boll Goal) and big losses (5-1 against Colorado; they simply cannot beat the Avalanche). After four days off, the team should be fresh for tonight's game in LA against a game Kings squad that leads their division with gaudy 12-4 record. Which Jackets team will show up?

Another Garon Shutout

Brassard's first period goal off a Nash pass is enough as Garon continues his sharp play. Methot's point blast off a face-off win and Umberger's empty netter were the other tallies. Good positioning for the forwards were a key today. Methot scored with a screen I'm front and Brassard was in position when the pass, likely intended for Voracek, found it's way to him. Nice to see hard work pay off.

Solid Effort

Another home win for the Jackets arises from a familiar pattern: good goaltending and barely enough scoring. This time it was Mason's turn to shine. He played well against the plucky younglings from Edmonton. Hall deflected a shot by Mason for his first NHL goal. Continuing the youth theme, Filatov scored the shootout winner going top shelf with the backhand.

Earlier in the game Filatov had a breakaway off a slick feed from Boll, but he failed to lift the backhand on the same stick side. Methot continued his strong play, dealing a few hard hits. Strallman had two good chances, but cannot seem to buy a goal. His blast from the point rang off the post and later he nearly squeezed one through Dubnyk's pads, leaving the goalie looking back to see if the puck made it through. No such luck. The Olier goalie has a solid game robbing Nash on two occasions (though Nash did score in the shootout).

Garon

Jackets fans should be grateful that the team has a capable backup in Garon. He was instrumental in the 2-1 victory against a tough Flyers squad. After building a two goal lead, the team held off the awakening of the Flyers in the third period. Another solidly played focused effort that gave the crowd something to cheer about.

Only one visit per year by Philly is a big disappointment for fans. Playing St. Louis 500 times doesn't make up for it.

Three unanswered goals in the second to third periods erase a 2-0 Chicago lead and provides the margin of victory for the blue jackets. An impressive road win against the Blackhawks thanks to a solid effort by Mason and a gritty resolve not to give up. An unexpected victory for the Blue Jackets who were stale on home ice, but they fought back and played an excellent game on the road. More efforts like this are needed.

Yahoo recap summed it up well: "… In two power plays over the first two periods, Columbus had no shots—and gave up a goal. " Friday's crowd was only 10,000 but luckily they were vocal during the 6-2 loss. The team is perilously close to losing the fans very early in the season. This sourness is what happens when a team underperforms in a season then do not bring in players to significantly change the team. The fans are angry and not easily fooled.

Home Sweet Home

An entertaining, close checking game in Columbus. First goal was an exciting pure hustle tally by MacKenzie who went five hole as he was being crosschecked into the ice. Nash's better to be lucky than good bank off the defenseman's skate made it 2-0. An early third period Anaheim goal made the game interesting until a Nash empty-netter iced the game. Very solid performance from Mason especially in the scoreless first period. Nice to follow the win against the Wild with a home ice win.  

Home Opener

Islanders defenseman James Wisniewski plays charades with everyone's favorite, New York Rangers  Sean Avery. I think James was trying to get across something about his favorite porn star or perhaps he was simply symbolizing the chances of the Islanders franchise this season. Going down. His punishment from the league? A two-game suspension. 

On the same day the league gave Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson a two game suspension for his hit from behind on Buffalo forward Jason Pominville.

After the off-season bluster we now know it's business as usual for the NHL. The precedent set: a hand gesture is as bad as a hit from behind against a defenseless foe. New record for disgust in a season. 

The Jackets open against the champs tonight. I'm interested to see how the new Chicago mix looks and how the Jackets compete against an elite team. Two early shots off the post by the Jackets. Stalberg beats Mason glove side. Off to watch...

Update: Blackhawks steamroll Jackets 5-1.

Shark Week

The scheduler put the Jackets in a tough spot. Open in Sweden against a tough Western team. Gaining a split with San Jose is a moral victory as a season opener. Mason looks to have hit the ground running, making clutch saves. We will see if they can keep it up especially after the short European vacation.

On the Eve of the Season

What a difference a year makes.

There was optimism at last year's opener. The run to the playoffs added some needed life to a franchise that had never sniffed the post-season. However last season ended with a thud. Lost were the gains of the previous campaign. Before season's end the GM jettisoned the only coach to lead them to a playoff series. After the magical rookie season, Mason's feet were of clay.

The Jackets limp into this year humbled and hopefully hungry. No major changes for the team that fell from race has led to soft tickets sales. Th team needs young Filatov to come back from his KHL hiatus and carry his weight on both ends of the ice. The need for a fast start is a given.

On your marks...

Preseason Blahs

Not into the training camp scene. Too few changes to be optimistic about the coming season. The plan appears to be: hope the kids step up, Filatov must star and Mason must stand on his head every game.

Same Old Song

Again with the Red Wings. Yes, they are better than the Jackets. Yes, they skate circles around them at times. And yes, the Jackets got hosed by a bad call.

The skinny: ref calls no goal, replay shows Bertuzzi in the crease angling his foot back to deflect the puck off his skate then inexplicably the call is overturned. Tough to swallow when you lose 3-2.

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Nash

With two more goals by Rick Nash you'd think it would be an inopportune time to state he is undervalued. It's not and he is. Nash capped off an all-around game by diving to free the puck in the last seconds. Yeoman work on the penalty kill, taking the body when needed and getting those goals.

Beautiful feed from Umberger led to Nash's second tally. Nice to see RJ give it up for the setup. Back to .500.


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After the pressure lifts

Now that the games don't matter for this year, the team gets it rolling. We're left with some questions that spring forth from this puzzling season:

• The team is 9-5-4 since Noel took over for Hitchcock. Is he the answer for next season?


• As of late Steve Mason has been playing well, defeating the Blackhawks twice down their stretch run. His goals against average is still almost a point higher than last year. Is it the sophomore slump or is this late run what we should expect next year?


• Is this the year that Russell turns the corner and realizes his potential? His plus/minus is at even over the course of the year. In years past, he was well below break even. Will next year see him push into the positive side?


• Brassard must come back stronger next year. He has 8 goals in 73 games this season after having 10 goals in 31 games before injury.

Wait Til Next Year

Howson cleans house by trading a few expiring contracts. Good luck to Raffi Torres in Buffalo. Now the team plays out the string to what will be dwindling crowds. So much for building on last year's playoff run.


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Indicative

Canada hosts the U.S. on Sunday in the biggest game so far and it is decided to put the game on MSNBC. I look for the deeper, more talented Canadian team to win in the game after the scare from the Swiss. Miller hasn't been tested yet, but he could be the X factor.


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Solid Win

First period only yields one goal: despite tight coverage by a defenseman, Nash outmuscles the defender and redirects a pass to put the Jackets into the lead against the Sharks. Mason looks sharp, making several stops on close chances. Steve Mason finishes with another shutout and now three straight wins bringing visions of last season. Spectacular save on Lalime late in the game with another glove save after a left-to-right slide across the crease. Beautiful. Wake the kids as Voracek scores for the first time since last year! Vermette scores an empty-netter. When asked about tonight's win during the post-game interview, Mason said, "It's huge. You want to play your best agains the best teams in the league." Amen.

Too bad the Olympics are coming. It will be interesting to see if the team can build on this new found momentum. No playoff dreams at this point, but the team is playing hard, exciting hockey.

The shoe drops

Hitchcock gets canned and the death watch ends. Not sure celebration is in order as we watch the only coach to lead the team to the playoffs walk the plank. No question the team is floating seemingly rudderless. However is it the coach or the players or the GM? Hard to fire the players. Good luck Ken.


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Treading Water

Another week that the Jackets end marginally better in wins by going 2-1. At this rate they will qualify for the playoffs by 2013. Wins against St. Louis should not excite at this point. The slowed schedule leading to Vancouver begins and the team can soon reorganize and see if the staff can recharge the troops over the break. Coming out of the break without hard-charging will signify the true end of the season. We'll see if Hitch and Howson are up to the task.

Near the break the Jackets are 22nd in attendance.

Something to build upon?

Even if this victory leads into a loss, a Jackets fan must savor even a home ice victory against Nashville. Their arch nemesis, Nashville has owned Columbus since the inception of the Jackets franchise. It was the same story line we grew familiar with last year: Mason toes the line and keeps the wolves at bay. Goals by Brassard, Huselius and Modin were enough as two third period Nashville goals were too little, too late. Shots on goal: Nashville 31, Columbus 17. 17?

Signs of the apocalypse #783: +/- for the year has no one in the team's top 15 in scoring on the positive side (Nash -13, Huselius -13, Vermette -8, Umberger -16).

Wait 'til next year

Another week set to gain ground ends with a loss. 2-2 last week after a weekend loss to Minnesota. The hard play of last season simply is not there. There is no magic in goal and the team still lacks scoring weapons. No news there. 180 goals allowed! Only Toronto has allowed more goals. Tough to get excited about the team these days.

....

The decision to suspend Patrice Cormier for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs by the QMJHL for his hit on Mikael Tam hopefully will send s signal to players. Let's not downplay the suspension by labeling it merely a beacon: Cormier deserved a long suspension for such an obvious attack. Hopefully the NHL will take heed and learn from the juniors about how to handle such shenanigans. I applaud the Devils for announcing that they won't try to skirt the suspension and dump him into another league.

Fail

Three games to show where they stood. Three losses. Getting close to games becoming less interesting than considering who is available in the next draft. From playoffs back to doormats in six months.

Three in a Row

Winning three in a row a week after not winning for a month is a bit like Packer fans celebrating the offensive show in Arizona today. Okay, the offense did great... but you lost the game. Kudos for the Blue Jackets putting together a solid run of wins... though their slot at fourteenth place in the conference has not changed. Streaks have to start somewhere, and for that I am grateful. And skeptical.

The positive signs are there: solid goaltending, veterans playing tougher and good special teams. Raffi Torres scored his 13th goal in a solid season and managed eight shots on goal. Mike Commodore hit the ice and logged 20 minutes. Garon is doing his best Steve Mason impersonation, shutting down Dallas . The penalty unit is doing its job, allowing no goals in 16 chances during this three game streak.

Road games versus divisional rivals this week will be the real barometer: Tuesday in St. Louis and Thursday in Chicago. Two wins this week and then we can call the recent play a trend.

Chimera, Commodore and a Win

Haven't had a chance to comment on Jason Chimera's trade. I have mixed feelings about the trade as Chimera was a hard-skating, lunch bucket sort of player that was easy to cheer for by fans. Admittedly he never seemed to stay healthy long enough to utilize all the potential that he showed in glimpses. Stabilizing a team in free-fall was an obvious need. I'm wait-and-see if the trade of a popular, tough and skilled player will be a good thing.

Why the Jackets are having trouble reason #357: Mike Commodore - "My legs aren't there. I will go for any type of explosive stride to close on a guy, and there's nothing there." Not exactly the sort of quote you want to read from your best blue-liner.

Solid win on the road in Edmonton on Wednesday. Goals by Umberger (14), Huselius (14), Vermette (12) and Hejda. Hard to believe that on a team that does not score often that they may have four guys who score 30+ goals. Odder that Garon's GAA is better than Mason's. Yikes...

Hitchcock

So how did Hitchcock go from playoffs to rumor mill grist? Losing does such things. What this season hasn't done is invalidate the team's run last year. Ken didn't slip into senility in the off-season. Coaching is overrated in most sports, and hockey is no exception. Players carry the day and coaches sometimes make a difference over the long haul.

The biggest difference year-to-year from 2009-2010? Mason. It's as simple as that. To put that pressure on a young person is tough, but the conclusion is inescapable. The Jackets rode his cape into the playoffs and they occupy the bottom now based on the absence of magic. Firing Hitchcock or blaming Mason as the sole source is as easy as it is unfair. Howson has to face the fact that the dearth of scoring is on him, not Hitch. To expect Mason to work under the pressure of shutout or loss is untenable.

Awry

I moved and have not seen a game in over a month. Good thing because the Jackets have hit the wall. After the great start, the team has won three times in 23 games and, even more frightening, hasn't scored more than two goals in their last 10 games. Mason should sue for non-support. Not sure it's a good thing, but the cable guy installs a line this week.

Squashed

Two quick goals by the Jackets led to an early time out called by Tortorella. Whatever he said worked because the score for the rest of the game was 7-2 for the Rangers. Mason gave up three goals and was pulled in favor of Garon, who gave up four. Such was the destiny on thsi night Wasted efforts: Gordie Howe hat trick for Boll who had a goal, as assist and a fight (well, actually two fights). For the first time in seven games no assist for Tyutin. Huselius scored a goal and still was -3 on the night. Nash ended the game -4. Yikes.

Nashville Again

The Jackets lost their 5,273,356 game in a row to the Predators in Nashville. This time it was a 4-3 shootout loss. Close but no cigar. Wasted efforts by Umberger (two goals), Tyutin (two assists) and Mason (49 shots). 49 shots on goal? Dismissed as coincidence: minutes played by Boll (3:45) and Belak (3:54).

Team Winning Games, Losing Russians

After solid back-to-back wins from backup goaltender Mathieu Garon, the Blue Jackets announced that Filatov ha been loaned for the remainder of the year to a KHL team. The former first round pick simply was earning his way onto the ice. It's anyone's guess whether we have seen the last of him or not. Let's hope an extra year of gaining experience and getting stronger will yield a Filatov ready for prime time next season. Disappointing, but a move that will benefit the team down the road. Hopefully...

Kick 'em while they are down

Carolina limped into Nationwide winless in eleven games and goalie Cam Ward went down in the first period. In a dog-eat-dog world, the Jackets took care of business, netted three in the third period to shut down the Hurricanes 3-2. That's what good teams should do - beat inferior opponents. Mason played up to the level expected - unrealistically good. Goals by Nash, Boll, and Filatov powered the team; all goals were scored within a five minute span. Mason even assisted on Boll's goal: Mason to Strallman to Boll (who sped around the defenseman whose stick had broken then went top shelf on Leighton.

A win is a win, but this victory was better than the odd 4-3 win in Atlanta on Thursday. It makes for uneasy feeling when you give up two power play goals, take eight penalties - on the road no less - and only manage 21 shots on goal (compared to your opponent's 35 shots). Luckily it was the Thrashers. Torres had another high energy game, scoring a pair of goals and was generally flying around the rink. Voracek and Brassard had the other goals for Columbus.

Shark Visit
Fascinating game after two periods. In the second period, the Blue Jackets have plenty of quality chances without finding the net for most of the period. Heatley taps in an easy one for a powerplay goal after a smiling Malhotra draws a weak tripping call against Tyutin. Jackets look great on the powerplay but Nabokov holds them off for a minute and a half until Nash threads a shot from the off-wing from a steep angle.

Each time I check the World Series, Matsui is driving in runs. Not looking good for the Phillies.

With the game tied and 10:00 minutes left in the third, Pahlsson rings one off the post that cleanly beat Nabokov. One of those loud rings signaling solid iron. Boll just missed a check and landed head first into the Columbus bench. A bit embarrassing, but he'll make highlights for that gaffe. Jackets again playing well but do not get the goal.

Overtime. Mason's quick glove robs Marleau on a one timer from the top of the circle. Whew! Crossbar and a reaching toe save by Mason keeps the game tied. Shootout. My least favorite change over the last ten years. What's wrong with a tie? Filatov was up first and a Nabokov poke check stops him. Blocker save by Mason. Stralman blasts it high and wide. Boyle nets one blocker-side, top shelf. Nash stoned by Nabokov pad save. Sharks win. Yawn.

Fox Sports Ohio: the time is too hard to read on the screen. Get a better camera or change contrast. Thanks.

Weak Week

Looking back I guess it was a good thing that two games this week were preempted by Cavaliers games. The three-loss week was as bad as it sounds. For most of Friday's game against Pittsburgh, things looked great. The team was playing well and taking it to the Penguins. Then in games's last few minutes, the lead evaporated and next we see Crosb's shot trickle across the line for a shootout loss. Things do not get easier with Washington coming into Columbus today.

Competitive Week

The Jackets end the week 1-2, but each game was entertaining for fans and they have withstood an early western road swing. After back-to-back losses at Calgary and Edmonton, teh Jackets defeated the Ducks in Anaheim 6-4. It's fun to prepare to watch each game with a sense that they will win. So this is how Detroit fans feel... feels good.

In Anaheim the team continued to puck the puck in the net at a much improved rate over last year. Antoine Vermette had a goal and two assists and continues to play up to his off-season contract that was derided by many pundits. Nash had two goals (one empty netter) as did Voracek, Teh team did allow two power play goals, the first such goals allowed in weeks.


First week in hockey season that I did not see a single game on live TV. I watched everything from saved files from my EyeTV. If you own a Mac, Google elgato eyetv for more information; if a PC user, then it's like a hauppage card; if a Linux user, you know about all options already, you clever devils (c:

Good Start No Fluke

Yet another win for the rolling Blue Jackets as they down the Kings 4-1 in Columbus. Goals by Chimera, Torres (power play), Nash and Voracek (empty net). The old adage about hot goaltending being key is a wise (and easy) bit of analysis, but it does not completely explain the team's success. A quick look at the penalty killing unit is telling. Here's how the opponents have fared with a power play against the Jackets:

0-5 Los Angeles
0-1 Calgary
0-6 Phoenix
0-4 San Jose
0-3 Vancouver

Hot goaltending and good penalty killing, though obviously related, are not exclusively the result of only strong play by Mason. Let's hope the trend continues. If so, the push to the playoffs will not be as nerve-racking this year.

Costly Victory

Solid defenseman Jan Hejda will be out 4-6 weeks with a sprained knee suffered in yesterday's 2-1 victory over Calgary. Hejda was an excellent +8 so far this year and has logged many minutes (21+ against the Flames). With Commodore still out, the Jackets top two defensemen are out. Drink your coffee, Steve Mason.

Nice to see early offense from the expected sources. Nash continues to be hot as Rick assisted on both goals. Huselius netted his second of the season and Stralman's power play goal tied the game. Good to see the team outshoot the opponent (33-23). Let's see the team break the habit of scoring just enough to win because Mayor Mason is expected to shut down his net. Providing a margin of error will take pressure off the young goaltender.

Everyone's favorite bowling pin Boll was back on the ice. Let's hope he can stay clear of the concussions for the rest of the season.

Rarities

Pick your rarity: the Blue Jackets head on the road out west and win two of three vs. a sellout in Phoenix. Tough choice as both realities are hard to believe. The defense again played solidly and Rick Nash scored again to power (just enough) Columbus to a 2-0 road win. Umberger also scored again, adding an empty-netter to seal the win. Phoenix outshot the Jackets 36-19 but former Oiler Mathieu Garon was up to the task. Yep, they gave Mason a night off. After watching the young guy wear down last year (okay, admittedly mono didn't help), it looks like Hitchcock will rest him a bit more. Good idea.

No Boll or Commodore.

Split Out West

A tough road trip schedule is one that includes stops at Vancouver and San Jose. The Jackets earned a split after beating the Canucks 5-3 and losing to the Sharks 6-3.

When you visit Vancouver, one thing you never expect is to see Luongo get pulled from the net... yet that happened after three quick second period goals by Huselius, Klesla and Filatov. Hordichuk ran Boll in the boards to get a penalty. Jared did not come back; we'll see if the league will review that hit from behind. After two goals by Vancouver brought them back into contention Fedor Tyutin put the game away with a power play goal in the third. The Canucks shelled Mason with 43 shots, but the Jackets held on, on the road, for a rare win in Vancouver. A good win against a solid opponent.
...

Unfortunately, the Thursday game did not go as well. Heatley earned a hat trick in the Sharks home opener. The enigmatic player has the crowd on his side after a tough off-season trying and finally succeeding in wiggling his way out of Ottawa. Nash, Chimera and Torres scored goals for the Jackets. San Jose netted four in the second to put this game away. Bad sign: Boll was out of the lineup after blacking out on Monday after being hit by Darcy Hordichuk.

Season Opener: Klesla's Big Day

On the day that Rusty Klesla inked a new deal to stay with the Blue Jackets for four more years, he topped off a banner day with a game-winning third period goal to lift the team to a 2-1 victory over Minnesota. Not too shabby, eh? Klesla is the only remaining player from the original team and was the team's first ever draft pick. Steve Mason began the season with another solid effort, stopping 32 of 33 shots. Umberger scored a short-handed goal to open the game's scoring in the second period.

Missing the opener, Mike Commodore is out with a groin pull. He is eligible to play Sunday as he was put on the IR, so the team will miss his play in tough early games against Vancouver, San Jose and Hamilton... oops I mean Phoenix.

Tough Preseason Continues

Just saw the video of the ugly fall that Tom Sestito had at the end of his fight with Nashville's Jordan Tootoo. The league has to crack down on the chinstraps to try to prevent injuries like this one. Ten staples needed to close the gash on the back of his head. The video shows his helmet easily pop off when trying to duck under Tootoo's arm.

Add this injury to hard luck Fredrik Modin and the preseason is looking grim. Modin's right knee collided with that of a teammate and now he's out 6-8 weeks. Modin cannot seem to catch a break over the last few seasons.

Quote from Chimera abut the questionable hit that planted him face first into the glass: "(Belanger) said he’s never done that before, that he’s had only one 5-minute major (for elbowing), but the same is true if you shoot somebody. You only have to shoot somebody once to be dirty. It’s a dirty hit and there’s no need for it. My back was turned the whole way." It should be noted that Chimera's chinstrap was also loose.

Chimera Injured; Vermette's Contract Extension

Last night Jason Chimera was checked from behind and landed face first into the boards. Before being taken off on a cart, he was down for five minutes, though he gave the two thumbs up signal to the crowd before leaving the ice. This game was not broadcasted so I have not seen a replay. The league has been cracking down on these checks. Admittedly there is some gray area involved since players can make a sudden turn before being hit. Responding to a question about whether the hit was clean or not Rick Nash was quoted as saying, "From my view, it looked like he just had no chance to protect himself... But I don’t know, I need to see the replay and judge from that." Let's hope Chimera, who battled injuries last season, comes back soon.

Howson signed Antoine Vermette to a five-year contract extension through the 2014-15 season. Vermette was instrumental in the playoff push by the team last year. The CBC reported the contract is $18.75 million over the five years, making Vermette under pressure to deliver solid seasons to justify those numbers. A speedy hard-playing player, he seemed to inject energy into the team. Let's hope he can take that great end to last season and extend it over a whole year.

Brassard Gets Contract Extension

Despite the injured-shortened season Derick Brassard was given a contract extension through 2013-2014. Brassard was on his way to a great season when a separated shoulder ended his campaign. In 31 games Brassard had 25 points including 10 goals. His spark brought encouragement for eth future. Little did we know how missed that spark would be come playoff time. The large expanse that separates the Red Wings and the Blue Jackets can be reduced a bit by a healthy Brassard. Good signing at a (relatively) reasonable cost: an annual salary cap hit of $3.2 million. If teh potential shown last season is fulfilled, Howson got a bargain.

Sakic Retires

Easy to issue platitudes about Joe Sakic, the quintessential class act who played effectively as a two-way player and in the clutch. His record 8 overtime playoff goals is absolute proof of his remarkable skill under pressure. His career achievements remind me of Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier, another hard-working center who was a terror at both ends of the ice, played his best when it counted most, and won the Conn Smythe trophy.

Nash

Thank the gods, Columbus extended star Rick Nash through the 2017-18 season. Captain Rick is set to earn $62.4 million over the term of the contract. The Puck-rakers blog reports that "[t]he deal includes a no-movement clause in the first five seasons, and a modified no-trade clause in the final three."

With Nash on board, some scoring help is needed to continue on the season of progress seen last year.

Draft '09

1. JOHN MOORE    6' 2  189 D 
2. KEVIN LYNCH    6' 1  190 C 
4. DAVID SAVARD    6' 1  200 D 
5. THOMAS LARKIN   6' 5" 206 D 
6. ANTON BLOMQVIST 6' 4" 189 D 
7. KYLE NEUBER    6' 2" 220 RW

Mason Earned Calder Trophy

Steve Mason's 2008-2009 rookie statistics: 61 G, 33 W, 2.29 GAA, 10 SO, .916 SV%.

Steve Mason was awarded the Calder Trophy for the NHL rookie of the year. He had worthy competition for the award, but a strong case was made for his choice. While his stats are excellent, he added intangibles that pushed his candidacy over the top. Appearing in 61 games after taking over for an injured Pascal Leclaire, Mason carried the team to the first playoff appearance for Columbus. The Jackets were in every game because Mason was a shutout threat on any given night.

Recent Calder Winners

2009 Steve Mason, Columbus
2008 Patrick Kane, Chicago
2007 Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh
2006 Alexander Ovechkin, Washington
2005 Lockout
2004 Andrew Raycroft, Boston
2003 Barret Jackman, St. Louis
2002 Dany Heatley, Atlanta
2001 Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose
2000 Scott Gomez, New Jersey
1999 Chris Drury, Colorado

Interesting perhaps only to me - contrasting organizations Pittsburgh and Detroit: the Penguins have ridden Calder winners (Lemieux and Malkin) to Cups. Despite the recent success of Detroit, they haven't had a Calder winner for 34 years. The last Red Wing Calder winner? 1965 - Roger Crozier, goalie.

Game 4: Close, But No Cigar

game notes follow:

early power play leads to a Detroit goal. After Tyutin failed to clear the puck, the puck ends up banking off him after a point shot by a wide open Lidstrom was saved by Mason.

Huselius goal on the power play to stem the early tide. Great passes by Russell and Nash to set up Huselius, who beat Osgood top shelf blocker side.

Holmstrom scores shortly after the Jackets had tied the game. He beats Mason on a rebound cleanup after being left in front of the crease. Earlier that play Malhotra hadd been muscled by Datsyuk into losing his stick. This power is nothing new as the Wings have proven to be stronger than the Jackets all series.

Just after the Jackets kill a penalty and Nash loses his skates trying to make a big hit, Cleary grabs a rebound off the back boards and slips it by Mason to make it 3-1.

Fantastic save by Osgood to rob the Jackets will less than a minute to go in the first period. The puck was floating over his shoulder and he flung his blocker and got a piece of the puck. End of 1, 3-1 Detroit.

Beautiful goal by Nash deflecting a Klesla shot past Osgood's skate. An important early goal to bring Columbus within one and keep the crowd loud.

Spectacular goal by Umberger on the power play to tie the game, sweeping in from the point and out deking a defenseman then beating Osgood low to the glove side. The play started with a long clearing pass by Mason.

The unflappable Wings come right back as Hossa scores a pair of goals to grab a 5-3 lead. Foolish penalty by Nash leads to a power play goal on the latter score.

Russell continues his strong play and finishes a coast-to-coast goal after a nifty bewteen the legs pass by Torres to free the young defenseman on the rush.

After Osgood loses a rebopund Modin pokes home a rebound to tie the score with less than two minutes left in the period. A 4 goal second period for Columbus ends with teh score tied at 5.

Win or lose, this sport is the greatest. This game has been nothing but one exciting rush after another with hits, great skating and crucial saves. The pace is swift, almost an anti-baseball focus required form fans.

Scary two minute stretch as the Wings control the puck in the Jackets end. two saves by Mason keep the score tied.

12:58 marks the spot as Mason snaps the glove and robs the Wings Franzen. Wow!

Mark me as one who does not go for the Os-good chanty. Never been a fan of negative cheers. I'd rather yell supporting my team. To each his own. The Jackets are in this game because they have played better, not because of the cheer.

FS Ohio has time to show text message polls but not the out of town scores? I guess I should just be happy to see the game after they preempted the previous game to show a Cavs playoff game.

Horrible too many men on the ice penalty against Columbus with 1:34 left. Despite the excuses offered by the commentators, you have to get off the ice. Franzen scores the go-ahead goal with 46 seconds on the clock, poking in a rebound past Mason.

6-5 final. The fans give the team a rousing ovation before they can leave the ice.

Making the playoffs was a good step this year. This series shows the gap between the good and the teams rounding out the playoff slots. The team weaknesses, well hidden by good coaching and hard work by players, have been exposed under the pressure of the playoffs. More scoring, better center play and dramatic improvement on the specialty teams are needed to improve from this season's soaring flight to the playoffs.

Playoffs are over for the Jackets. It's back to earth, flat as a pancake.

Game 3: No Doubt

At no time during the game did it appear as if the Jackets would be able to mount resistance to the dominant Red Wings. A spirited home ice crowd was little help against the giants on the ice. There is no David to stand up against a team of Goliaths. Yes, the team scored - Umberger the woozy. The goal was meaningless in a game already in hand. Osgood deserves all accolades he can muster. He has outplayed Mason.

Game 2: Crushed

The final scoe was 4-0... and the game looked worse than the score.

All you need to know was encapsulated in one TV shot. When Hitchcock called a timeout near the end of the second period, the television cameras focused on Steve Mason. The rookie goalie was hunched over at the waist with glove on his pads, breathing deeply - he was exhausted. After a 4-0 shutout against 39 shots, he should be tired. Chris Osgood stopped all 25 Columbus shots and at points was able to go minutes at a stretch without facing a credible offensive chance. So much for a Columbus goaltending edge.

Early in game three in Columbus on Tuesday night look for the Wings to throw the kitchen sink at the young host team in an attempt to crush the last vestiges of competition out of them.

Game 1: Outclassed

The Red Wings flexed their muscles at the expense of the playoff newbie Jackets, winning game one in Detroit 4-1. After a hotly contested first period, the Wings slowly turned on the jets and dominated play at times with their puck-control. A lot has been said about the own-goal by Malhotra: a potentially simple save that evaded Mason because of a deflection. I think that the play certainly was a bad break, but erasing that goal would not have changed the outcome. The Jackets need to pick up their play and force the turnovers that Detroit forced in game one.

In the battle of goalies, give Osgood a nod after 60 minutes. Mason did not play poorly (well, that last one was weak), but Osgood was not the liability that he needs to be fr Columbus to steal a game or two.

Saturday brings a big game. If Columbus can pull off the upset, it makes the games in Columbus very interesting.

It's the Wings

After dropping the last two games and see the St. Louis Blues slide on by, the Jackets finish in the seventh slot making their first round opponent the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings. After a lackluster end of the season for both teams, look for Detroit to put the screws to the Jackets from the first drop of the puck. Detroit's ability to control the puck can be intimidating, so Columbus must be ready to weather the storm. The star power Detroit throws at opponents is awesome: Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Marian Hossa, Brian Rafalski, Nicklas Lidstrom, Johan Franzen, etc. Though the star list for Columbus is Rick Nash and Steve Mason, that just might be enough.

The most interesting part of this match up is that based on play this season, Columbus has a big edge in goaltending. This season rookie Mason clearly ha splayed better than either Osgood or Conklin. How Mason reacts to the pressure of the playoffs will be crucial to the series outcome. Osgood's experience is a possible ace in the hole. Despite Detroit being the defending champs, there should be no counting out the Blue Jackets because of teh goaltending edge. Not even the most ardent Jackets fan can make the talent case for Columbus over Detroit. However playoff hockey is won with defense and Mason is a game-changer. We'll soon learn if he is a playoff game-changer.

The season series split 3-3. The series will start in Detroit this week. Columbus playoff games... sounds good, if not unfamiliar) to me. Have fun!

In

“We did it for ourselves, but most of all we did it for Mr. Mac. We know he’s up there watching. I’m sure he’s sitting in his chair and has a cigar in his mouth.” - Rick Nash speaking of the late owner of the Blue Jackets, John McConnell.

A second hard-fought game against Chicago in a few days ends on a Fedor Tyutin shootout goal to give the Blue Jackets a 4-3 win and, more importantly, their first trip to the NHL playoffs. The team battled back after Chicago jumped to a 2-0 first period lead on goals by Seabrook and Bolland. By the 8:00 mark of the second, the game was tied. Vermettes scored the first Columbus goal then set up Jason Williams. Havlat and Nash scored for each side to send the game into OT. Chicago had a power play in the overtime session, but could not convert.

It is a good thing to have won the game to earn the playoff spot. Stumbling into the post-season rarely is a harbinger of success. The pressure will be off the Jackets when they next hit the ice: Friday in St. Louis then the season finale at home against Minnesota. Saturday's home crowd should better be roaring!

The drought is over! Looking ahead, their likely opponent is Vancouver, a team that has played very well down the stretch and has the game-changing Roberto Luongo is goal. We'll see if Mats Sundin earns his keep in the post-season. They didn't sign him not to be a factor in a Cup run. Captain Nash will have to best Mats and the twins for the Jackets to have a shot at advancing.