March 4, 200916 yr The future is the young goalie they have, that kid Mason is sick. That's a great point. So I'll modify my previous statement to "As long as Nash gets resigned to a long-term deal this summer and Mason stays healthy, the future looks bright for the Jackets." And because Mason has supplanted Leclaire as #1 goalie...
March 4, 200916 yr Leclaire Traded For Vermette The Blue Jackets have traded goaltender Pascal Leclaire and a second-round draft pick to the Ottawa Senators for forward Antoine Vermette. Vermette is a fast, skilled forward. Probably a third-line guy on a high-scoring club, but definitely a second-line guy -- or better -- with the Blue Jackets. He can play center and on the wing. He's very good in the faceoff circle, but tends to be more productive when he plays on the wing. Leclaire, the Blue Jackets' first-round draft pick (No. 8 overall) in 2001, has battled injuries throughout his career. He's currently recovering from surgery on his right ankle. He's off crutches now but was wearing a protective boot last night. Leclaire is set to make $3.6M next season and $4.8M in 2010-11. Read more at http://blog.dispatch.com/cbj/2009/03/leclaire_traded_for_vermette.shtml
March 4, 200916 yr The future is the young goalie they have, that kid Mason is sick. That's a great point. So I'll modify my previous statement to "As long as Nash gets resigned to a long-term deal this summer and Mason stays healthy, the future looks bright for the Jackets." A la DiPietro..
March 6, 200916 yr The Blue Jackets take one on the chin at Nashville. The Nashville Predators have really turned it up this last month - they were in 14th place at the start of February and now they're at 6th place, tied with the Jackets. The Jackets didn't play badly but facing a hot squad at Nashville was too much. The Jackets newest acquisition Antonie Vermette didn't play - his Canadian customs and visa didn't clear quickly enough. The Blue Jackets face a tough stretch in their next four games. At Detroit on Saturday, Boston at home on Tuesday, Pittsburgh at home on Thursday and at Chicago on Friday. The Jackets will need to play better to maintain their playoff position.
March 8, 200916 yr Blue Jackets 8 | Red Wings 2 Columbus shocks Detroit in Hockeytown with a blowout victory. The Jackets looked great from the beginning getting a 4-0 and 7-1 lead. Rick Nash scores a hat trick on three unassisted goals. Steve Mason grabs 44 saves. Franchise records for total goals and margin of victory!
March 11, 200916 yr Blue Jackets 2 | Bruins 0 Columbus shuts out the powerful Boston Bruins at Nationwide Arena. Mason grabs his ninth shutout of the year. The Bruins were good but the Torres sneaked one goal past the Bruins' goalie and Nash added an empty netter in the final minute. (BTW, Nash's unassisted hat trick at Detroit was the first unassisted hat trick since "Rocket" Richard did it in 1948!)
March 11, 200916 yr I am not trying to steer anyone away from UO because I love this site. However, for a little more lively Bluejackets talk check out this site... http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=267&f=2303 Anyway, BIG BIG win tonight!
March 13, 200916 yr Thanks for the tip. That's a good site (among others like the puckrackers blog, etc.) that focuses more on hockey and the CBJ. UO is primarily an urban planning and development site. But I do still like posting CBJ news here anyway.
March 13, 200916 yr Blue Jackets 4 | Penguins 3 (SO) What a rockem sockem high octane game! The Jackets take it to the red-hot Penguins in the first two periods for a 3-0 lead. The Pens come roaring back in the third period to tie it up and send it into overtime. In the shootout, the Jackets' Kristian Huselius shoots the only goal. Mason stonewalls all three Penguin shooters to save the win. The Jackets gain two points and edge within one point of 5th place in the Western Conference. The Jackets now travel to Chicago for a game Friday and return home for a Sunday rematch against Detroit.
March 13, 200916 yr Great to see the jackets getting some distance between that clusterf&ck of teams with 70-72 points (7-12 place). These last 3 games have really given me hope for a good playoff run this year. If they can beat Detroit, Boston and Pittsburgh then they can beat anyone!
March 13, 200916 yr Blue Jackets 4 | Penguins 3 (SO) Blew a 3-0 lead.. should have never got to OT and screwed the Rangers by letting Pittsburgh get a point!
March 13, 200916 yr last night was the first time I've ever watched the Blue Jackets... Rick Nash is amazing!
March 13, 200916 yr Blue Jackets 4 | Penguins 3 (SO) Blew a 3-0 lead.. should have never got to OT and screwed the Rangers by letting Pittsburgh get a point! I know! And after the Rangers helped us out by beating Nashville! :wink:
March 14, 200916 yr BLUE JACKETS 5 | BLACKHAWKS 3 Columbus goes to Chicago and gets their fourth straight win. New acquisition Vermette gets two goals. Voracek gets three assists. Backup goalie Wade Dubielewicz gives Mason some much needed rest. Nash gets an empty net goal to finish off the Blackhawks. Can you feel the playoff fever?
March 16, 200916 yr Well, the Detroit Red Wings got their payback for our 8-2 thumping of them last weekend by dominating the Blue Jackets 4-0 yesterday in Nationwide Arena. Detroit was definitely on its game yesterday and had Columbus on its heels from the start. After four straight wins against Detroit, Boston, Pittsburgh and Chicago, this loss is no shocker. It was the Jackets third game in four days and fourth game in six days. And it showed. Despite the loss, the Jackets remain solidly in sixth place - four points ahead of Dallas in seventh. The Blue Jackets only play two games this week - Wednesday at home against Chicago and Saturday at Florida. Three games the following week - 3/24 at Tampa Bay, 3/26 at home against Calgary and 3/28 at St. Louis.
March 18, 200916 yr Blue Jackets' Howson makes overhaul quietly Despite lack of eye-popping deal, GM builds winner Tuesday, March 17, 2009 - 3:10 AM By Aaron Portzline, The Columbus Dispatch Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson doesn't hunger for the spotlight, and he's not one to rattle off a daily sound bite for the media. That was Doug MacLean, whom Howson replaced in June 2007. Instead, Howson has gone about cleaning up MacLean's oil spill in a quiet, deliberate fashion, while coach Ken Hitchcock and the players have mostly shared the credit for being one of the NHL's up-and-coming teams. http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2009/03/17/jackets_3-17.ART_ART_03-17-09_C1_8QD8TD2.html?sid=101
March 18, 200916 yr Blue Jackets' Howson makes overhaul quietly Despite lack of eye-popping deal, GM builds winner Tuesday, March 17, 2009 - 3:10 AM By Aaron Portzline, The Columbus Dispatch Enjoyed that article very much. Long-time Jackets beat writer Aaron Portzline is a thoughtful and perceptive reporter. I really do think that GM Scott Howson is doing a extraordinary job. As was said in the article, "We've made a series of moderate moves that have made our club a lot better, and we haven't traded away any of the young players who make the future here so bright." And that's what is so encouraging about the Blue Jackets. Even though it looks like we could make the playoffs this year - this is still only a transition year. The team struggled in the first half of the year until the lineup gelled in the second half of the year. Almost the entire team will return next year. Nash is due for a big resigning and midseason pickup Williams' contract expires. But everybody else is locked up contact wise. Can you imagine what this CBJ team with Mason at the net and with their other young studs could do for an entire season? This year's playoff push will be fun. Next year's season will be even better.
March 19, 200916 yr BLUE JACKETS 4 | CHICAGO 3 (OT) Columbus grinds out another key win. Vermette scores the OT goal on a sweet pass from Umberger. This win ties the Jackets franchise high of 80 points. But 11 games are still remaining in this season. Still on course for the playoffs!
March 22, 200916 yr BLUE JACKETS 3 | FLORIDA PANTHERS 1 If you think the Jackets had a easy win at Florida last night because of the final score, you are wrong! With only three minutes left in the game, the Jackets looked to be going down to defeat 1-0. Fighting for their own playoff spot in the east, the Panthers were playing lockdown defense and stopping every CBJ charge to tie the game up. Then lightning in the form of Raffi Torres struck. Torres scored the game-tying goal and then the game-winning goal within 73 seconds. An empty net goal with 18 seconds left clinched the win. Big, big win on the road for Columbus!!! LET'S GO JACKETS!!! Here's the complete rundown from the Dispatch at "Improbable late rally lifts Jackets".
March 22, 200916 yr WOOT! I haven't been to a game this year. Let's get a group together. Let me know when we can do it and I will schedule the night off of work!
March 25, 200916 yr The Blue Jackets grabbed a point in the standings at the Tampa Bay Lightning last night. Unfortunately, they gave away a point with a 2-1 overtime loss. Doubly unfortunate because the Jackets got a 1-0 lead early in the third period - only to see Tampa tie it later in the third and then win it in overtime. Tripley unfortunate because the Jackets dominated the lowly Lightning all game - the final shots-on-goal count was 34-17 in CBJ's favor. (May the curse of Barry Melrose's mullett be on Tampa's head!) The Jackets return to Nationwide Arena on Thursday for a possible first round playoff preview against Calgary. Followed by two straight back-to-back home-and-away series against St. Louis and then Nashville. Both Nashville and St. Louis are Western Conference/Central Division rivals to the Jackets. And with Nashville in 9th place and St. Louis in 10th place, you know they'll be geared up to knock down the 6th place Blue Jackets. Only 9 games left and the playoffs are in sight. But the Jackets need to keep winning. Coach 'em up Hitchcock! Go Jackets!
March 27, 200916 yr BLUE JACKETS 5 | CALGARY 0 Nash and Huselius get four assists each. Mason gets his league-leading 10th shutout. Rick Nash reaches a career high in points. Kristian Huselius matches a career high in points. And the Blue Jackets set a season high record for total points - with 8 games remaining. A great game to watch if you like the Jackets, goals and fights!
March 28, 200916 yr Bizarre story of a local Calgary fan phoning in threats against CBJ goalie Mason and the Nationwide Arena during last Thursday's game against Calgary! And then the "fan" gets traced down and arrested before the game is even over!! WOW!!! TARGETS: BLUE JACKETS, ARENA Fan's threats no game for law enforcement Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 5:53 AM By Aaron Portzline and Theodore Decker, The Columbus Dispatch As a loud, passionate crowd celebrated one of the Blue Jackets' most emphatic victories in franchise history Thursday night, some scary moments played out behind the scenes in Nationwide Arena. Two threats to shoot the Blue Jackets' rookie goaltender, Steve Mason, and another threat to bomb the arena led to an arrest on the Northwest Side before the game ended. http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/03/28/jackets_threat.ART_ART_03-28-09_A1_JFDCL8N.html?sid=101
March 29, 200916 yr HOCKEY FAN’S ARREST Caller left threats as messages Sunday, March 29, 2009 By Rita Price, The Columbus Dispatch It’s tough to get a real person on the phone, even when you’re calling with a bomb threat. But that didn’t deter an angry man who dialed up Nationwide Arena last week. Investigators say he left messages. “We actually have recordings, which helps us,” Shawnda Martin, assistant city prosecutor, said after a hearing yesterday in Franklin County Municipal Court. Judge Carrie E. Glaeden granted Martin’s request for a psychological evaluation of 52-year-old Peter Stenzel, a Northwest Side man accused of phoning in threats to blow up the arena and shoot the Blue Jackets’ rookie goaltender, Steve Mason. Glaeden also set bail at $50,000 for Stenzel, who posted bond yesterday and was released from jail after pleading not guilty to misdemeanor charges of menacing and inducing panic. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/03/29/STENZEL.ART_ART_03-29-09_B1_EGDCRIC.html?sid=101
March 31, 200916 yr The Blue Jackets are still in sixth place...but the trailing teams are getting closer. The St. Louis Blues continue have the Jackets number this year. CBJ drops two straight in back-to-back games last weekend. 4-3 shootout loss in STL and 5-2 drubbing in Columbus. The Jackets hope to rebound in back-to-back games against Nashville starting at Nationwide Arena tonight. C'mon Jackets, let make that final push to the playoffs!
April 1, 200916 yr Blue Jackets get a key win last night against Nashville (2-1). The win keeps CBJ in sixth place with 88pts and lengthens our lead over 7th place Nashville at 84pts and 8th place St. Louis at 83pts. The Jackets go on hiatus until they play at Nashville on Saturday. Then they travel back to Columbus to face the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday - followed by a Wednesday, April 8 rematch at Chicago. Friday, April 10 at St. Louis and Saturday, April 11 at home against Minnesota. And that's the end of the regular season! Only five game left until (hopefully) the playoffs!
April 1, 200916 yr ^Oh, one more thing about the 2-1 win. Rafi Torres scored the game-winning goal. This continues an amazing stat for Torres and the Jackets: The Blue Jackets are 11-0 in games when Rafi Torres scores a goal. And Torres only has 12 goals for the season! Blue Jackets 2, Predators 1: Torrid Torres provides the spark Late-season surge continues with winning goal in third period AND THAT'S NO APRIL FOOL'S JOKE!
April 6, 200916 yr The Blue Jackets creep toward the playoffs. Columbus gets two straight regulation ties over the weekend - and one point from each game. However, they lost the Nashville game in a shootout and the Chicago game in overtime. Tough break leaving two points on the table. It would have virtually clinched a playoff spot. The Jackets are still in sixth place with 90 points. Anaheim is 7th at 88, Nashville is 8th with 86, St. Louis is in 9th place, also with 86 points. The Jackets magic number is at three points. Only three CBJ games remaining to play. At Chicago, at St. Louis and home against Minnesota.
April 9, 200916 yr OH YEAH!!! Columbus 4, Chicago 3 (SO) Nash's late goal helps Blue Jackets earn point, clinch spot in playoffs Updated: Wednesday, April 8, 2009 11:17 PM For the first time in their eight-season history, the Blue Jackets are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Columbus earned a postseason berth tonight with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Blackhawks in Chicago. Captain Rick Nash's goal at 14:30 in the third period tied the score at 3, paving the way for the point the Jackets needed to clinch a spot in the postseason. They got the victory when Fedor Tyutin scored the only goal in the shootout. The Blue Jackets, with 92 points, are in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, four points behind Vancouver. Columbus is four points ahead of Anaheim and St. Louis. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2009/04/08/0408jackets.html?sid=101
April 9, 200916 yr This is exciting. I was secretly hoping that my game on Saturday would be the deciding factor to make it more exciting. But I am really happy they have clinched the playoffs and I cannot wait for Saturday's game.
April 12, 200916 yr After clinching a playoff spot last Wednesday, the Jackets lost their last two games of the regular season against St. Louis and Minnesota. And because the St. Louis Blues won their last game today, St. Louis will get the sixth seed and Columbus will get the seventh seed in the Western Conference. So, instead of facing Vancouver, the Jackets will be facing the Detroit Red Wings in the first round. The first round schedules will be announced on Monday.
April 13, 200916 yr STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS Jackets' slide leads to Detroit Monday, April 13, 2009 - 3:13 AM By Aaron Portzline, The Columbus Dispatch The Blue Jackets' first-round opponent in the Stanley Cup playoffs was revealed yesterday on the final day of the NHL's regular season. Here's a clue: They're red and white and feared all over. The Blue Jackets, by losing their final two games of the regular season, slid to the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and a best-of-seven showdown with the Detroit Red Wings, the defending Stanley Cup champions. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2009/04/13/jackets_4-13.ART_ART_04-13-09_C1_5PDHNOP.html?sid=101
April 15, 200916 yr Seats scarce for Jackets games here, but not in Detroit Red Wings officials offer ticket deal to Columbus team's fan club Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 10:22 PM By Steve Wartenberg, The Columbus Dispatch Blue-hair guy and scores of his Jacket Backer buddies will be in Detroit Thursday night to root on the Blue Jackets - and you're welcome to join them. All it takes is $44 per ticket, and you, too, can be in the Joe, surrounded by a sea of red-clad Red Wings fans with ho-hum attitudes for yet another first-round playoff game in the franchise's long-and-storied history. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/04/14/ticket_frenzy.html?sid=101
April 17, 200916 yr FIRST ROUND STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS GAME ONE - DETROIT RED WINGS 4 | COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 1 History is made as the Jackets played their first ever playoff game after eight seasons in the NHL. Unfortunately, they had to face the 11 time Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings. Despite the Jackets breaking even in the six regular season games with the Wings, playoff hockey is supposted to be different. And the Jackets found that out last night. The Jackets played the Wings even halfway into Game One. 0-0 after the first period. 1-1 thirty minutes in the game after Detroit scored first and the Jackets quickly tied it up. But then the Red Wings connected on a shot deflected by a Jackets player and cashed in on power plays to win 4-1. The Wings capitalized on their power play chances and the Jackets did not. Especially, the Jackets 4 PP's in the first period. The Wings penalty kill was very effective and Osgood was very good in goal. Game Two on Saturday at 6:00PM in Detroit.
April 19, 200916 yr FIRST ROUND STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS GAME TWO - DETROIT RED WINGS 4 | COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 0 Ugh! Detroit takes control in the second period much like in Game One. Once again, power plays are the key. Detroit scores on 3 of the 8 power plays surrendered by the Blue Jackets. The Red Wings have "held serve" at home in dominating fashion and take a 2-0 series lead. Now Columbus gets to host Game Three and Game Four next Tuesday and Thursday at Nationwide Arena.
April 20, 200916 yr Nationwide on alert for octopi Monday, April 20, 2009 - 3:10 AM By Rob Oller, Blue Jackets Xtra Throwing the octopus is easy. More difficult is concealing the eight-legged creature until the toss is at hand, a skill that requires determination, luck and the ability to walk normally with 4 pounds of slimy cephalopod stuffed down your pants. When Detroit drops in on Nationwide Arena on Tuesday night in an attempt to further frustrate the Blue Jackets -- the Hockeytowners have a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series -- some among the Red Wings fans in attendance undoubtedly will have attempted to enter while packing octopus. Read more at http://www.bluejacketsxtra.com/live/content/sports/stories/2009/04/20/oller_4-20.ART_ART_04-20-09_C1_V9DJTEG.html?sid=101
April 22, 200916 yr FIRST ROUND STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS GAME THREE - DETROIT RED WINGS 4 | COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 1 First, the good news: The Jackets franchise takes a big step forward and hosts its first Stanley Cup playoff game in Nationwide Arena. Standing room only, sold-out home crowd is pumped up for the game. In fact, the whole Arena District is jam packed with Blue Jacket fans. Then, the bad news: The game started. Despite a much better effort from the Jackets than games 1 & 2, the final result was the same. Strong third period can't erase the 3-0 lead built up by Detroit. Jackets finally score on a power play to cut the lead to 3-1 before a late empty net goal by the Red Wings. Now, the worst news: A wing-ding fan tossed an octopus on the ice in the game's final minute. :x
April 22, 200916 yr i thought the jackets would have put up a better fight in this series. Red wings have outskated, outmuscled and outplayed the jackets in every way possible. Still a great season in my opinion for columbus though.
April 22, 200916 yr It's a good step for the Jackets to make the playoffs, but they had no chance from day 1, Detroit is on a different level.
April 22, 200916 yr I didn't believe that going into the playoffs. But after this game, Detroit looks like a team on a mission to repeat.
April 22, 200916 yr I knew it was going to be very hard to do well playing the Red Wings, but I was still holding on to hope. Maybe things can turn around and we can do a major upset. It's happened before, right?
April 24, 200916 yr FIRST ROUND STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS GAME FOUR - DETROIT RED WINGS 6 | COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 5 DETROIT WINS SERIES 4-0 Wild and wooly game tonight in Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets didn't let the Red Wings leave Columbus without a fight. Detroit jumps out to an early first goal. Then the Jackets made the first of three comebacks to even the score 1-1. Detroit goes ahead 3-1. Jackets score two straight to tie it 3-3. Detroit again goes ahead 5-3. Jackets score two more goals to tie it 5-5 at the end of the second period. Then the Wings and the Jackets play the third period even until a very iffy "too many men on the ice" penalty was called on the Jackets with 1:30 remaining. The Wings score on the resulting power play to win the game 6-5. Tough way to lose after such an amazing game.
April 24, 200916 yr Bob Hunter commentary: Out with a bang The Blue Jackets, in their first foray into the playoffs, are swept by Detroit, but the final game was a rollicking affair Friday, April 24, 2009 - 3:06 AM By Bob Hunter, The Columbus Dispatch The Blue Jackets were down 3-1 after the first period when a playoff game, a real playoff game, broke out. It was a first for Columbus, and it felt good. http://www.bluejacketsxtra.com/live/content/sports/stories/2009/04/24/hunter_col.ART_ART_04-24-09_A1_O8DL9PM.html?sid=101 GAME FOUR SLIDESHOW
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