Columbus needed a win tonight - and they got it - big time.  The Jackets just plain took care of business with a 4-0 win over the NY Islanders.

The up-and-down nature of the NHL playoff race continues.  The Jackets entered the weekend with crushing last second loss to Chicago - then left the weekend with strong 4-0 win over the Isles.  In between, other eastern wild-card contenders dropped key games.  The wild-card standings now look like this:

 

Detroit        37-27-14  -  88 points  -  4 games remaining  - 32 ROW

Columbus    40-31-7  -  87 points  -  4 games remaining  - 35 ROW

------------------  PLAYOFF LINE  -------------------------

New Jersey  34-28-16 -  84 points  -  4 games remaining  - 34 ROW

Toronto        38-33-8  -  84 points  -  3 games remaining -  29 ROW

Washington  35-30-13  -  83 points  -  4 games remaining  -  25 ROW

 

So, the Jackets are in a good position again.  But, as always, got to keep winning or at least get points in the remaining games.  These next two games on Tuesday and Wednesday are key.  Tuesday is the final home game of the regular season.  It's against Phoenix, who is fighting for the western wild-card with Dallas - who is Columbus' opponent on Wednesday (this is the make-up game that the Jackets led 1-0).  After that the Jackets finish with a Sunshine State back-to-back against Tampa Bay on Friday and Florida on Saturday.

A lot of play with almost no rest, but only one of those teams (Tampa Bay) is a playoff lock.  Florida is second-last in the Atlantic.  The others are all right about at our level (wild card hunters).  It's going to be tight.  Also, we shouldn't just be looking over our shoulders: it would be really good to get up to the 7th seed spot.  That would most likely mean facing Pittsburgh instead of Boston.  Pittsburgh looks more beatable at the moment than Boston, though both would obviously be serious uphill climbs.

New Jersey lost a key home game to Calgary last night.  Columbus is now on the verge of clinching a playoff berth.  If the Jackets can get 2 points against Phoenix tonight (with any type of win), then it would take the Jackets losing all 3 of their remaining games and either New Jersey or Toronto winning all 3 of their remaining games for Columbus to miss the playoffs.

 

The Jackets Cannon has a great rundown of the eastern conference playoff race at http://www.jacketscannon.com/2014/4/8/5593120/playoff-update-4-8-14

Another big game last night in the Arena District.  Another roller-coaster ride for the Jackets fans.  First the Jackets were up.  Then Phoenix takes the lead.  Then the Jackets retake the lead in the third period and look like they'll win it in regulation.  Then Phoenix gets the tying goal with 14.6 seconds remaining.

 

But then ... in overtime ... defenseman James Wisniewski found Ryan Johansen open with a long pass and moving into the Phoenix zone.  Johansen had time to size up the Phoenix goaltender and blast a shot past him for the game-winning goal!  And the Jackets got what they needed - 2 points in the standings.

 

 

The above photo is the Jackets team streaming off the bench after Ryan Johansen's game-winning OT goal.  The final regular season moment in Nationwide Arena for the Jackets.  Check out the audio recording and the video gif of the game winning goal celebration in the comments section of the Jackets Cannon recap of the game at http://www.jacketscannon.com/2014/4/9/5596182/game-80-recap-agony-and-ecstacy - they're even better.  Game highlights at http://www.jacketscannon.com/videos/2014/4/9/5596870/blue-jackets-4-coyotes-3-ot-game-highlights/in/5357917

Like I said before, the Jackets getting 2 points last night wouldn't clinch a playoff berth for Columbus.  But it puts them right on the doorstep.  Here are the latest wild-card standings:

 

Detroit        38-27-14  -  90 points  -  3 games remaining  - 33 ROW

Columbus    41-31-7  -  89 points  -  3 games remaining  - 36 ROW

------------------  PLAYOFF LINE  --------------------------------------

Washington  36-30-13  -  85 points  -  3 games remaining - 26 ROW

New Jersey  34-29-16 -  84 points  -  3 games remaining - 34 ROW

 

Toronto eliminated themselves with a loss last night plus the Jackets win.  One more win would eliminate both Washington and New Jersey and clinch a playoff birth for Columbus.

 

The Jackets play their March 10 make-up game tonight at Dallas.  That game ended with the Jackets up 1-0 at under 7 minutes remaining in the first period because of the heart attack to Dallas player Rich Peverly.  Per NHL rules, tonight's make-up game at Dallas will be played for the entire 60 minutes.  However, the Jackets goal from the previous suspended game will be credited.  So the game will start with the Jackets leading 1-0.  Ironically, that goal will be credited to Nathan Horton, who reinjured himself last night and will not be playing in tonight's Dallas game.

I was at the game yesterday and man was it loud. I kept thinking to myself,this is how it can be when the blue jackets are consistently winners.

Huge day for the Eastern Conference last night. Detroit clinches the playoffs (for the 23rd straight year) with an OT appearance (losing in a shootout to Pittsburgh) and Columbus clinches a playoff spot with a 3-1 win against Dallas. Now all that's left to be determined is what position each team will fall into when the season ends.

Huge day for the Eastern Conference last night. Detroit clinches the playoffs (for the 23rd straight year) with an OT appearance (losing in a shootout to Pittsburgh) and Columbus clinches a playoff spot with a 3-1 win against Dallas. Now all that's left to be determined is what position each team will fall into when the season ends.

 

You are absolutely right.  Before I celebrate the Blue Jackets playoff berth, let me once again commend the Red Wings.  This 23rd straight playoff appearance is a real testiment to their organization's farm system and their culture.  With all the injuries Detroit suffered this season, it looked like they wouldn't make it.  It's good to see both Columbus and Detroit clinch on the same night.

But now ... for the team I root for ... and for the team this thread is devoted to ... the Columbus Blue Jackets!!!!

 

The Blue Jackets NHL history has been the flip side of the Red Wings NHL history.  This is only the 2nd playoff appearance for Columbus in 13 seasons.  Here's the rundown of the Jackets history at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Columbus_Blue_Jackets_seasons

 

Columbus started in 2000-01 as a typical expansion franchise.  Excited fan base, enthusiastic players but poor on-ice results.  It was like this for the first seven seasons, interrupted by the 2004-05 season lost to a labor lockout.  But then, in the 2008-09 season, the team caught fire.  They made the playoffs with a 41-31-10 record.  Led by their up and coming young forward Rick Nash and a dazzling rookie goaltender Steve Mason.  Combined with a head coach that had previously won a Stanley Cup, it looked like the franchise had truely turned the corner.

 

But then all the good feelings from the 2008-09 playoff season blew up in the next season.  The dazzling rookie goaltender turned into a sophomore bust.  The team tanked in the standings and the head coach got fired.  A new head coach to start the 2010-11 season only made things worse and by the 2011-12 season, the Jackets were right back where they started in 2000-01 - dead last in the league.  At the same time, Rick Nash, the face of the franchise, the team's best player, asked to be traded.  In the summer of 2012, Nash was traded.

 

At this point, fan enthusiasm was at an all-time low.  But then - in the middle of the 2012 NHL lockout ironically - things started to turn around again.  It started with the hiring of respected NHL veteran John Davidson to take over the Jackets hockey operations - see the original post here.  Also ironically, the turnaround was helped by Nash's trade to the NY Rangers.  The players the Jackets got for him helped build-out the depth of the new Jackets roster and helped change the culture of the team from "soft" to "gritty".  But the biggest trade turned out to be another summer 2012 trade to acquire goalie Sergei Bobrovsky from Phiadelphia.

 

Armed with a revamped roster, a new head coach, a new management team, and a hot goalie, the Jackets caught fire again in the second half of last year's lockout shortened season.  They went on a remarkable 19-5-5 run to finish the season just a tiebreak point out of the Western Conference playoffs.  This season, Columbus and Detroit moved into the Eastern Conference.  And everyone wondered, was last year's CBJ a fluke or for real?  The 2013-14 Jackets have now answered that.  They are for real.

 

This year's team (with 2 games remaining) has set single-season team records for wins (42) and goals (221).  They've got a Vezina-winning goaltender in Bobrovsky.  They've got a budding superstar in Ryan Johansen who has 32 goals this season at 21-years-old.  They've got a deep core of talented veterans with Wisniewski, Johnson, Tyutin, Horton, Dubinsky, Foligno, Anisimov and Letestu.  They've got a wave of talented youngsters in Murray, Jenner, Atkinson and Calvert.  They've got good prospects in their farm system.  They've got solid coaching from Todd Richards and his staff.  They've got steady leadership on the top from John Davidson and GM Jarmo Kekalainen.  Oh, and one more thing, they'll be hosting the 2015 NHL All-Star Game!

 

COLUMBUS IS IN THE PLAYOFFS AND THE FUTURE IS NOW!!!

The eight teams playing in the Eastern Conference playoffs are set.  But the playoff status of three of those teams - Columbus, Detroit and Philadelphia - are still to be determined.  All three teams have 91 points with 2 games remaining.  Philadelphia holds the 3rd Metro Division spot, Columbus holds the 1st Wild-Card spot and Detroit holds the 2nd Wild-Card spot due to the ROW (Regulation and Overtime Wins) tiebreak.

• Philadelphia  41-30-9  -  91 points  -  38 ROW 
  -- games remaining - Sat. @ PIT / Sun. CAR

• Columbus    42-31-7  -  91 points  -  37 ROW
  -- games remaining - Fri. @ TB / Sat. @ FLA

• Detroit        38-27-15  -  91 points  -  33 ROW
  -- games remaining - Fri. CAR / Sun. @ STL

- Philadelphia and Columbus each have a chance to gain the 3rd Metro Division spot or one of the two Wild-Card spots.  Detroit cannot reach the 3rd Atlantic Division spot and can only get one of the Wild-Card spots.

 

- The 3rd Metro Division winner would face the New York Rangers in the opening playoff round.

 

- The 1st Wild-Card winner would face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening playoff round.

 

- The 2nd Wild-Card winner would face the Boston Bruins in the opening playoff round.

^ Both Columbus and Detroit lost last night, so there’s no change in the Eastern playoff standings.  Philadelphia plays the first of their final two games today.  If the Flyers win either of these two games, they'll clinch the third divisional spot in the Metro.

I almost forget to post this.  But there was some big injury news the Jackets announced yesterday.  Nathan Horton had abdominal surgery and will be out six weeks.  More about it at http://bluejackets.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=714018

 

Normally this would be huge news for a player like Horton to be out for the playoffs.  And it is disappointing to not have a player with the playoff experience he has.  But Horton hasn't been a key part of this year's Jackets.  He was out the first 40 games recovering from summer shoulder surgery.  Then he seemed to struggle when he first returned in January.  Then looked better in February just before the Olympic break.  But then struggled again in March before being set down with a "lower body injury".  He returned to play the first period in last Wednesday's Phoenix game - even providing the primary assist on a Jenner goal in that period.  But then he reinjuried the "lower body injury" later in the first.  He returned for one shift in the second, but it was clear he couldn't go.

 

Horton was only able to play 36 games with 5 goals and 14 assists this season.  In NHL-speak, "lower body injury" combined with "abdominal surgery" means Horton had a pulled groin.  In retrospect, it is clear that he tried his best to play through it, but ultimately needed to be shut down.  In future seasons, Horton might be a key contributer for the Jackets.  But this season, he didn't add much.  So his loss isn't too bad for the Jackets playoffs hopes.

The Jackets beat Florida 3-2 last night to clinch the 1st Wild-Card position and will face Pittsburgh in the playoffs.  Last night's win (the 43rd of the season) also set a franchise record for the most points during a regular season at 93 points.  The previous record was 92 points during 2008-09, the last time the Jackets reached the playoffs.

 

The win in game #82 at Florida came in somewhat typical Jackets fashion for this year.  Columbus took an early lead - then lost that lead - only to regain the lead in the third period and hold on for the win.  The game-winning goal came about six minutes into the third on a power-play goal from Ryan Johansen.  Johansen's goal (his 33rd of the season, which is a team-high) was set up by a great cross-ice pass from Wisniewski (his 44th assist of the season, which is also a team-high).

 

Full recap at http://www.jacketscannon.com/2014/4/12/5609282/blue-jackets-tame-panthers-hunt-penguins and game highlights at http://www.jacketscannon.com/videos/2014/4/13/5610648/blue-jackets-3-panthers-2-game-highlights/in/5372093

The Playoff Game Schedule has been released for the Blue Jackets-Penguins series:

 

Game    Date              Time (ET)    Eastern Conference First Round    National TV

1          Wed, April 16  7:30 p.m.    Columbus at Pittsburgh                NBCSN, CBC

2          Sat, April 19    7 p.m.        Columbus at Pittsburgh                NBCSN, CBC

3          Mon, April 21    7 p.m.        Pittsburgh at Columbus                NBCSN, CBC

4          Wed, April 23    7 p.m.        Pittsburgh at Columbus                NBCSN, CBC

5*        Sat, April 26      TBD          Columbus at Pittsburgh                CBC

6*        Mon, April 28    TBD          Pittsburgh at Columbus                CBC

7*        Wed, April 30    TBD          Columbus at Pittsburgh                CBC

 

In this season's new playoff format, the eastern wild-card teams stayed within their own divisional brackets.  So the winner of the CBJ-PENS series will face the winner of the NYR-PHI series (all Metro Division teams).  The survivor of the Metro Division would then face the survivor of the Atlantic Division for the Eastern Conference championship.  Full NHL brackets at http://www.nhl.com/ice/stanleycup.htm

TeamStream just told me that Foligno and Umberger are going to be out for Game 1, in addition to Horton who's out for the season.  The Jackets had been reasonably healthy in the latter half of the season, so this is definitely not the best time for this to be happening.  Considering that we're playing in Pittsburgh, against a team we haven't beat yet this year, and are going to be three people down, Game 1 could get ugly quickly. :-(  Here's hoping that if it does, we can shrug it off; Foligno and Umberger are also both expected to be back later in the series, hopefully at least by the time we're coming back to our home ice.

I've been hearing the same thing about Foligno and Umberger.  Out for Game 1, but a possibility for later games.  It's too bad Horton is down for the count - he's a proven playoff guy you want on your roster, even at less than 100%.  The same to a lesser extent for Umberger.  Although Umby hasn't really been a big part of the Jackets playoff push (he was a healthy scratch in multiple games prior to his injury), his style of play is well suited for the typical rough tough playoff style games.  Of the three injured players, Foligno is the one who has been most impactful to this year's team - logging big ice time with the top two lines.  Getting him back in a reasonably healthy state would be big.

 

Of course this is only the 2nd playoff appearance for the Jackets franchise.  But the Jackets Cannon had a interesting piece showing the playoff experience on the current Jackets roster at http://www.jacketscannon.com/2014/4/14/5614190/playoff-experience-the-blue-jackets-have-some.  It's more then you'd think.  Of the 2009 Jackets who made the playoffs, only Umberger, Tyutin, Boll and MacKenzie are still on the 2013-14 roster.  Despite this, MacKenzie is one of the Jackets without any playoff experience.  He was a healthy scratch in all 4 games against Detroit in 2009.  So it's got to feel good for D-Mac to finally play in the playoffs after 307 games of NHL experience.  Blake Comeau too because he has played 422 NHL games before reaching this year's playoffs - the most of any current CBJ player.

 

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!!  The Stanley Cup playoffs begin tonight in Pittsburgh for the Jackets.

 

SBNation has a Penguins vs. Blue Jackets preview at http://www.sbnation.com/2014/4/14/5612078/stanley-cup-playoffs-2014-nhl-blue-jackets-vs-penguins-preview

 

The excellent Jackets Cannon website digs deeper and looks at the how the Penguins and Blue Jackets match up offensively at http://www.jacketscannon.com/2014/4/14/5612864/blue-jackets-vs-penguins-comparing-the-offenses and defensively at http://www.jacketscannon.com/2014/4/15/5615764/blue-jackets-vs-penguins-tale-of-the-defensive-tape

You can read the analysis of both teams in the above post.  But I think these first two games at Pittsburgh hold the key.  If the Jackets can manage to "steal a game" in the Steel City, then they might have a chance to take the series.  It's not going to be easy - or even likely - since the Jackets will be a heavy underdog.  But we caught a break in facing Pittsburgh rather than Boston in the opening round.  Boston looks as close to unbeatable as an NHL team can get right now.  Plus Boston's previous playoff success and having a team that's built for the playoffs is daunting.

 

On the other hand, facing Pittsburgh holds some hope of success.  Despite the Penguins regular season record and their impressive five-game sweep over the Jackets this season, Pittsburgh has some vulnerabilities.  After winning the Stanley Cup in 2009, the Penguins had three straight disappointing early exits.  Last year, Pittsburgh made it to the Eastern Conference Finals - only to be swept by the Bruins.  In all those early exits and the sweep, hard physical play seemed to knock the Penguins off their game.  And hard physical play is something the Jackets can do.

 

But the Penguin's biggest vulnerability is their goaltender, Marc-Andre Fleury.  Fleury was Pittsburgh's starting goaltender when they won the Stanley Cup in 2009.  And he's been great in the regular season.  But since 2009, Fleury's had some epic meltdown games in the playoffs.  So who knows what he might do in this series?

 

Despite those two vulnerabilities, its still only a slim chance for the CBJ.  The Jackets will need to play as mistake-free as possible and hope that the Penguins slip up.  If that happens, the Jackets might get their first ever playoff win.  And if they get it in one of these first two games at Pittsburgh, then there's some hope for some more wins back in Columbus.

Columbus came very close to stealing Game One in Pittsburgh.  Looking better than the Penguins in the first, swamped by power plays goals in the second and overwhelmed by the Pens in the third for a 4-3 loss.  ---  If the concern was that the Jackets playoff inexperience would lead to nervousness or being intimidated - that concern was unfounded.  The Jackets came out the gate was energy.  6:20 into the first period, Dubinsky led a counterattack.  After gaining the Pens defensive zone, he held the puck, did a 180 and found d-man Jack Johnson rushing open to the Pens goal.  JJ deked out Fleury for the opening goal.

 

The Pens tied it up at just under 3 minutes left in the period.  Then they committed the game's first penalty less than a minute later.  Only 13 seconds into that power play, the Jackets regained the lead on a jam play by Jenner, then Johnson that deflected out to Letestu who scored against his former team.  The Jackets committed a penalty with 15 seconds remaining.  So the Pens would start the second period on the power play.

 

However instead of the Pens scoring, Jackets penalty killer Derek MacKenzie got the puck on a breakaway to put the Jackets up 3-1 at 43 seconds into the second.  Unfortunately, the Pens remained on the power play and scored a minute later to make it 3-2.  Another Jackets penalty a minute later led to another Pens power play goal to tie it 3-3.  ---  The Pens held the puck possession advantage into the third period until they eventually cashed in on an even-strength goal with 11:42 left in the game.  The Jackets pulled Bob with a minute left and put some pressure on for the tying goal but couldn't get it.

 

Full recap at http://www.jacketscannon.com/2014/4/17/5622628/experience-matters-penguins-edge-blue-jackets-4-3 and a box score at http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=400552530

 

It was a good performance for the Jackets.  In the regular season this would be called a moral victory.  But in the playoffs this is called "good but not good enough".  The team was quite good overall - with standout performances from Dubinsky, Johnson, Murray, Jenner, Letestu and MacKenzie.  Bob was good but not great in goal.  The only weak links were the two forwards on the 4th line, Boll and Tropp.  Boll in particular really looked out of his depth.  If the Jackets could get Foligno and Umberger back in the lineup, Boll and Tropp could get bumped down to healthy scratches.  This could really help in Game Two on Saturday.

By the way, if your team reaches the playoffs - this is how you want them to start. (Below is a gif of the Jackets first goal - Dubi to JJ)

 

If the Jackets could get Foligno and Umberger back in the lineup, Boll and Tropp could get bumped down to healthy scratches.  This could really help in Game Two on Saturday.

 

According to the team website, Umberger is a go for Game 2 - but Foligno is not.  Also according to the team website, Foligno is likely a go for Game 3 on Monday in Columbus.  So either Boll or Tropp will sit down for Game 2.

 

There was a interesting piece about Umby in today's Dispatch.  He grew up in Pittsburgh rooting for the Pens.  He talked about remembering watching the Pens back-to-back championships in 1991 and 1992 at his grandfather's house (Umby would have been 9 & 10 years old) and about how he grew up wanting to play for the Pens.  Instead, he started his NHL career with the Pens bitter in-state rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers - then was traded to Columbus in 2008 and scored the Jackets first ever playoff goal in 2009.  --  In the article, Umby says he no longer longs to be a Pen.  But playing a Stanley Cup playoff game in his hometown was definately a motivating factor for him in his injury rehab.

 

 

First playoff win in the books. A double OT vs the Penguins to boot!!

^ Thanks.  That was an amazing way to get the franchise's first playoff win!

 

The historic victory for the Jackets came in a game that was the flip-side to Game 1.  In Game 2 last night, it was the Pens that got off to the good start and the Jackets that needed to mount a comeback.  In fact, things couldn't have started much worse for the Jackets.  The Pens got their first goal 3:30 into the first period - then added a second via the shorthanded variety one minute later during a CBJ power play.  Fortunately, the Jackets did convert on that same power play on a Johansen slap-shot in trim the lead to 2-1.  But the Pens regained a two goal advantage late in the first on a power play goal.  The period ended with the Pens up 3-1.  The Jackets were outshot 15 to 4 in the period.  And, to make matters worse, veteran d-man Fedor Tyutin got injured late in the first and was out for the remainder of the game.

 

Ironically, the Jackets comeback began on another Pens power play seven minutes into the second period.  During that power play Savard poked the puck free to Anisimov who then found Matt Calvert skating free into the neutral zone.  That became a 2 on 1 rush in the Pens defensive zone that saw Calvert hold ... and hold ... and then zip the puck over Fleury's shoulder into the net!  That was a huge turnaround.  Instead of the Pens going up by three (and probably burying the Jackets) the lead was down to 3-2.  And the momentum was on the Jackets side.

 

The Jackets tied it 3-3 with 6:01 remaining in the third on a power play goal.  Ryan Johansen used his albatross-like reach to send a loose puck over to a wide-opem Jack Johnson, who drilled the puck past Fleury.  And the game went to overtime.  Unlike the regular season, playoff OT's are played 5 on 5 until someone scores - no matter how long it takes!

 

In the 1st OT, the Jackets got the first great chance to win it when the Pens commited a penalty 1:50 into it.  But the Jackets couldn't cash in on the power play.  The Pens likewise couldn't cash in a two separate power plays later in the 1st OT period.  After 20 minutes of extra hockey, it went to the 2nd OT. 

 

AND THEN IT HAPPENED  ----  Only 1:10 into the 2nd OT, the Jackets outworked the Pens defense and got possession of the puck behind the Pens net.  Dubinsky passed it to Atkinson in front - who slap-shotted it to Fleury - who made a save - the puck deflects to Calvert on the left side of the Pens net - Calvert shoots and Fleury blocks it - then Calvert takes that rebound and SHOOTS AND SCORES!!!!!!!  JACKETS WIN!!!!!!!!

 

Full game recap at http://www.jacketscannon.com/2014/4/20/5632748/columbus-pittsburgh-game-2-recap-coming-out-party and game box score at http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=400552531

^ That was just an amazing game to watch.  The early agony made the final ecstasy even better.  After getting outshot 15 to 4 in the first, the Jackets outshot the Pens 41 to 27 in the rest of the game.  Individuals standouts among a great team performance were, of course, Matt Calvert with the game-winning goal and two goals total -- Johansen with a goal and an assist -- and Jack Johnson with a goal and a game-high 38:21 of ice time. 

 

Now with the series tied 1-1, the home-ice advantage is in the Jackets favor.  The series resumes Monday night at a sold-out and sure to be fired up Nationwide Arena.

Now I just think where we could stand if we'd managed to protect our lead in Game 1.  But obviously, we could also stand in a different kind of very different place if the Pens had protected their own lead in Game 2.

 

Of course, the real lesson of this is that "home ice advantage" may not be all it's cracked up to be, so the fact that the next two games are in Columbus doesn't mean as much as one might hope.

Although it would have been great to win Game 1 and be up 2-0 instead of tied 1-1 going into Games 3 & 4 in Nationwide, I wouldn't make too much of it.  Sure the Jackets couldn't hold their two-goal lead in Game 1.  But neither could the Pens in Game 2.  It happens.  And for some reason it's been happening with regularity in this opening Stanley Cup round to many quality teams, such as St. Louis and the New York Rangers.  The most extreme example coming last night when the L.A. Kings opened a 2-0 lead in the first and then gave up 7 straight goals to San Jose in the second and third periods.

 

And it is true that home advantage probably means less in hockey then other sports.  But if these Games 3 & 4 come anywhere close to the Games 3 & 4 playoff mania in 2009, it can't hurt.  Jackets President John Davidson uses the phrase "brick by brick" to describe the building of a quality NHL team.  In these playoffs, the phrase "step by step" also applies to the Jackets.  Step 1: win a playoff game.  Step 2: win a home playoff game.  And then see where it takes us.

Along the "step by step" lines is the Game 3 preview from Jackets Cannon at http://www.jacketscannon.com/2014/4/21/5636700/game-3-preview-columbus-blue-jackets-pittsburgh-penguins

 

On the injury front (good news):  Foligno is returning to the lineup.  Now with both Foligno and Umberger drawing in, Boll and Tropp can sit out.

 

On the injury front (bad news):  Tyutin will not play Game 3 after getting injured in Game 2.  Prout draws in on the 3rd d-line.  Allowing Savard to pair with Johnson on the top d-line.  That's kind of concerning because when Savard paired with Johnson in the regular season during Tyutin's brief injury stint, they weren't overly effective.

Yikes.

As a CLE sports fan I had a bad feeling when PIT scored to close out the 2nd period.

That Orpik goal seemed to fire them up, and even after CBJ scored early in the 3rd the Pens seemed to just get stronger.

All of a sudden the next game at NWA is a must win.

 

I'm beginning to think this Pens-Jackets series should be renamed "the curse of the two-goal lead" series.  More about that later.  But first, how about that playoff atmosphere at Nationwide?  The third-ever playoff game in Columbus had the same passion as the inaugural playoff games in 2009.  The crowd (or the 5th line as it's being called now) was into it, staying standing and cheering even after the opening face-off.

 

And the Jackets team responded with two early goals that kept the 5th line standing and cheering.  The first goal came 1:38 in on a Skille shot whose rebound was knocked in by BooOOOooone Jenner.  The second goal came at 3:18 on a Dubinsky shot whose rebound was knocked in by Jack Johnson.  And NWA was, in the words of the Jackets Cannon recap, bedlam.

 

The Jackets held the 2-0 lead thoughout the rest of the first and thoughout the second period, thanks in part to Bobrovsky playing like Vezina Bob and the PK units killing off 5 Pittsburgh power plays.  They almost reached the 2nd intermission with that 2-0 lead (the key word being "almost").  With only 0.7 seconds left in the second, the Pens halved the lead on an outside shot (officially 1.8 second left after some time was put back on the clock).

 

That last second goal was deflating - but the Jackets did regain the two-goal lead 1:08 into the third period when a Dubinsky shot hit Cam Atkinson standing next to the Pens goal and deflected in.  However, a disasterous 2:31 stretch later in the third swung it the Pens way.  From the 5:53 mark to the 8:06 mark in the third, the Pens scored three straight goals to take a 4-3 lead.  Two of those goals coming on weird bounces or deflections (but they still count).  The Jackets were able to pull Bob with a minute left to try and send it into overtime, but fell short.

 

Full recap at http://www.jacketscannon.com/2014/4/21/5637862/blue-jackets-vs-penguins-game-3-recap and game box score at http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=400552532

 

Tough loss to take.  Kind of like the Game 1 loss in this "curse of the two-goal lead" series.  But much like that loss, the team needs to put it behind them and get a win in Game 4.  Obviously, this series will turn on whoever wins this next game.

Damn these are frustrating losses!

Damn these are frustrating losses!

 

Damn these are exhilarating wins!

 

But I hear the Ross Heart Hospital at OSU is still doing an abnormally large volume of business tonight ...

Unbelievable to see another blown 3-1 lead!  This series has been incredible so far.

Unbelievable to see another blown 3-1 lead!  This series has been incredible so far.

 

The Pens did even better blowing a 3-0 lead last night!  Weird series.  In every game, the team that took a 3-1 lead ended up losing 4-3!

 

All tied at 2-2 going back to Pittsburgh on Saturday (and because of last night's win - returning to Columbus on Monday).  Up to now, Pens goalie Fleury has played pretty well.  But those last two goals he gave up with 24 seconds left in regulation and then in overtime were B-A-D.  Pens fans must getting worried!

 

---

(EDIT:  Wasn't able to post this game recap earlier, so here it is.)

 

WOW!!!  What a game!  What a series!  Here’s the recap of this latest roller coaster game in this roller coaster of a playoff series.

 

Pittsburgh started out on fire.  They had the Jackets on their heels from the opening puck drop.  It might have been because Jackets d-man Ryan Murray was a late scratch after the morning skate.  With both Murray and Tyutin down, the Jackets were without 2 of their top 4 d-men.  The Pens first goal was a shortie during the CBJ power play.  Then the Pens scored again on their power play at 10 minutes in - followed by an even-strength goal less then a minute later.  And just like that, it was 3-0 Pens.

 

The Jackets fought back with a power play goal with 3:21 remaining in the first period.  After that, Columbus looked like the more aggressive team.  That aggressiveness paid off in the second period when the Jackets drew a 4 minute double minor high sticking penalty from the Pens.  Then another minor penalty halfway thru that previous double minor - giving the Jackets a 5 on 3 power play.  Johansen cashed in to cut the Pens lead to 3-2.

 

But the Pens held on to the lead for the third period taking it into the final minute when Bobrovsky went to the bench for the extra attacker.  Still the Pens held on, until about 30 seconds left.  When for some unknown reason, Pens goalie Fleury decides to play the puck behind his net.  The puck bounces over Fleury’s stick to Johansen, who sends it out to Dubinsky for the game-tying goal!

 

The Jackets continued to pressure the Pens in the overtime.  Then after 2 ½ minutes into OT, the Jackets blocked a Pens shot and took possession of the puck.  Umberger passed it to Foligno who skated into the Pens d-zone and, after crossing the blue line, shot it past Fleury for the game-winner!

 

Full game recap at http://www.jacketscannon.com/2014/4/24/5646096/a-bolt-from-the-blue-blue-jackets-stun-penguins-4-3-in-ot and game box score at http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=400552533.

 

Also full game highlights at http://www.jacketscannon.com/2014/4/24/5646838/blue-jackets-4-penguins-3-ot-game-4-highlights/in/5407963.  But if you want to see the Dubinsky tying goal and the Foligno game-winning goal, go to http://video.bluejackets.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=2013030134-688-h

I saw some posts from Pittsburgh fans on BleacherReport and a Post-Gazette article that was linked on Yahoo or somewhere else ... I wouldn't necessarily say "worried," but "furious" might capture some of the sentiments directed towards Fleury.  Those were definitely bad goals he gave up; by all rights, we should be down 3-1, or at least have had to work a lot harder in overtime to get that fourth goal.

 

He's been playing pretty solid goaltending so far, but he's definitely beatable, too.  Even before tonight, he gave up some rebounds that he should have covered that led to higher-percentage second-chance opportunities for us.  Granted, some of the shots we've gotten in have been on odd bounces (including off other players in the path of the shot) that are goalies' worst nightmares.  But they've gotten a few of those on Bob, too.  Those are just the nature of the beast.

 

We ought to worry more about our own defense.  After all, they're bashing Fleury for giving up so many goals ... but the scoring in this series is dead even, at the end of the day, we're the ones with the defending Vezina Trophy winner.  (Of course, I know Pittsburgh is way above league-average on offense, but Bob has still given away some goals he shouldn't have, too.)

^ Furious/worried might be two sides of the same coin!  Before Fleury giving up those final two goals, Pens fans had reason to feel good about his performance in the series.  But both of those goals have to bring back memories of previous Fleury meltdowns.  If he can't goaltend at a top level, the series can swing the Jackets way.

Loved this Grantland article: The Time to Become a Blue Jackets Fan Is Now (Sorry, Penguins)

According to the CBJ website at http://bluejackets.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=716610 - Ryan Murray and Fedor Tyutin (2 of the Jackets top 4 d-men) are expected to return to the lineup for Game 5.

 

 

EDIT:  Great Game 5 preview at http://www.jacketscannon.com/2014/4/26/5652468/game-5-preview-columbus-blue-jackets-pittsburgh-penguins-april-26

HERE WE GO JACK ETS HERE WE GO.

Games 1 thru 4 haven't exactly been proto-typical Stanley Cup playoff games - with many minor penalties, large lead swings and multi-goal comebacks.  Game 5 in Pittsburgh turned out to be more typical playoff-type game - low scoring and tightly played with less penalties called.

 

The pressure and weight of expection was squarely on the Pens.  And out of the gate, it was the Jackets who benefited.  After drawing a 2 minute minor from Pittsburgh 11 minutes into the first period, the Jackets scored first on a power play goal with only 5 seconds remaining in it.  Boone Jenner started the goal with a shot from the side that bounced around and around until it came back to him for a quick swipe into the net.

 

The Jackets held that 1-0 lead until the Pens scored on their own power play goal 7 minutes into the second period.  Then the Jackets and Bobrovsky held on to that 1-1 tie thru the rest of the second and into the third, as the Pens peppered the Jackets goal with a growing shots-on-goal advantage.  That onslaught finally resulted in the game-winning second goal for the Pens at just over 6 minutes into the third period.  An empty net goal with 1 minute left fixed the final score at 3-1 in the Pens favor.

 

Full game recap at http://www.jacketscannon.com/2014/4/26/5657104/blue-jackets-penguins-game-5-recap-that-hurt-a-little and game box score at http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=400552594

 

Got to give the Pens credit.  This was a virtual must-win game for them.  The way this series has gone, they couldn't afford to go down 3-2 going back to Columbus.  Of course, this now sets up an actual must-win game for the Jackets on Monday in Nationwide.  Bob did all he could in Game 5 with an incredible 48 saves.  But the rest of the team can't let the Pens outshoot them 51 to 24 again.  Even with the Jackets backs to the wall, the Pens aren't out of danger yet.  The 5th line is waiting in Columbus!!

If you're gonna get eliminated, there are worse ways to go than last night game.

 

The Pens finally got past the Jackets with (yet another) 4-3 win - winning the series 4-2.  The Pens continued their desperate play from Game 5 into Game 6.  This time building up a 4-0 lead into the third period.  Surely in this series of two-goal and three-goal comeback, the Pens thought a four-goal lead with only 10 minutes left in the game would be more than enough.  It almost wasn't!

 

First the Jackets scored a shorthanded goal at 10:21 mark in the third.  So the Pens said, "too bad, it would've been nice to get a shutout".  Then the Jackets scored a 2nd goal at the 13:54 mark on a power play.  The Pens said, "eh what's another PP goal, we're still up 2".  Then the Jackets scored a 3rd goal at the 15:13 mark and the Jackets were only down one with 4:47 left to play.  Then the Pens said "holy !)" - "won't this team ever give up?"

 

No - the CBJ never did give up.  Not down 2 goals, not down 3 goals, and not even down 4 goals.  They eventually fell short of the four-goal comeback last night.  But not before scaring the h#ll out of the mighty Pens.  I wish they could've forced a Game 7 in Pittsburgh.  But they did everything short of that last night.  A loss yes.  But what a way to go!

 

Full game recap at http://www.jacketscannon.com/2014/4/29/5663476/and-the-clock-struck-midnight and game box score at http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=400552595

It is common practice for NHL teams to not talk about player injuries in the playoffs.  Injuries serious enough to sit a player down during the regular season are played through in the playoffs.  And even when an injury is serious enough sit a player down during the playoffs, they're simply listed as "undisclosed".  So now that the playoffs are over, official injury disclosures are coming in from the Jackets via http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2014/04/30/in-playoffs-injuries-ignored-by-players.html

 

- Defenseman James Wisniewski suffered torn cartilage on the right side of his rib cage in Game 3, making it hard to push with his right arm and hard to reach quickly for the puck.  This helps explain why Wiz had such a disappointing playoff series.  In the regular season, he would have been set down for multiple games with this injury.

 

- Rookie defenseman Ryan Murray - who returned to the lineup in Game 3 after recovering from a sprained knee late in the regular season - suffered a fractured right foot in Game 3 from a blocked shot.  Murray missed Game 4, but played in games 5 and 6 and limped around in a walking boot yesterday.

 

- But the "King of Injuries" award goes to R.J. Umberger.  Also coming back from a late regular season injury, he played in Games 2, 3, 4 & 5.  At the end of Game 5, he was in visible discomfort rubbing at his right shoulder, and was out for Game 6.  It was disclosed yesterday that Umby suffered a separated right shoulder plus a broken right index finger, a herniated disc, a bruised left hand plus the visible inch-long cut that required six stitches below his black-and-blue left eye!

 

A stick tap from the Blue Jackets to their fans (aka The 5th Line).  Right back at ya.

 

Now, for the 2013-14 season recap.  Although it ended with the disappointment of elimination from the playoffs in Game 6 of the opening round, the Jackets had a milestone season.  This year's team set franchise records for wins, points and goals in a regular season.  They reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs for only the 2nd time in their 13 seasons of existence.  They won their first playoff games for the franchise.  And though eliminated 4-2 by the Pens, the CBJ gave them everything they could handle.  5 of the 6 games were one-goal decisions (the only two-goal decision in Game 5 was due to an empty-net goal scored by Pittsburgh) with the final aggregate score being 18 to 21.

 

All this coming from a team that had the youngest average player age at the beginning of the season and a team that had the youngest average player age in the playoffs.  Plus, the team has every key player on the roster under contract for next season, a good stock of prospects in the minors and will be hosting the 2015 NHL All-Star Game next season.  The future looks bright for the Jackets.  But don't take my word for it - listen to the Canadian hockey experts at the CBC - http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hockey/opinion/2014/04/youthful-blue-jackets-have-bright-future.html

As is traditional at the end of every season, team management and coaching does exit interviews with the players and end-of-season press conferences with the media.  The excellent Jackets Cannon website recaps this at http://www.jacketscannon.com/2014/5/1/5672438/jarmo-kekalainen-todd-richards-season-wrap-up

 

Here is my take on the management, team roster and prospects for the Blue Jackets.  Instead of posting this information into one mega-sized post, I’ve broken it up into smaller posts for each component. 

 

First, the management:

 

MANAGEMENT

FRONT OFFICE:  The front office management of the team has never been better.  President of Hockey Operations John Davidson and General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen have shown to be a formidable duo to guide the franchise.  They've been willing to take calculated risks, like the Gaborik trade and the Horton signing.  But they've also been willing to give young talented players a chance to show what they can do.  One of their biggest moves was the non-move of not resigning the previous season's leading scorer, 38-year-old Vinny Prospal.  His non-signing allowed youngsters like Johansen, Jenner, Calvert and Atkinson to prove themselves this season.

 

COACHING:  In his 2nd full season, Head Coach Todd Richards has shown to be the right fit for the young team.  His patient yet persistent approach seems to be working with this roster.  Richards had two seasons of previous head coaching experience with Minnesota from 2009 to 2011.  He was brought in as an assistant in 2011 to try and bring some experience during the disasterous Arniel era, eventually taking over the head coaching duties in 2012 when Arniel was shown the door.  Since taking over for Arniel in 2012, the Jackets have gone 85-70-16 under Richards. --- Of the two bench assistants, Craig Hartsburg is also an experienced NHL-level coach that has been Richards primary bench assistant for the past two seasons.  Dan Hinote was promoted to secondary bench assistant for this season and brings NHL playing experience and enthusiasm. --- All three are in line for contract extensions over the summer.

Next, a recap of the team roster.  Offense first:

 

TEAM ROSTER

Ryan Johansen - Joey's year can be described in two words - Breakout Season.  The 21-year-old center was the Jackets 1st round, 4th overall draft pick in 2010.  After two uninspiring seasons, Joey finally grew into his 6'-3" frame and bulked up to 223 lbs.  In the previous two seasons, he had only 21 pts in 67 games and 12 pts in 40 games.  This season he amassed a team-high 33 goals plus 30 assists for a team-high 63 points in 82 games.  Johansen will be an RFA (Restricted Free-Agent) going into the summer.  The Jackets will certainly re-sign him.  The only question is to what type of contract.  Will it be a 2 or 3 year bridge contract that will keep him an RFA at its completion?  Or will it be a longer 6-year contract that will move him into UFA territory?

 

Boone Jenner - 20-year-old Jenner had an amazing rookie season.  He started out slow, but kept getting better and better as the season wore on - eventually getting 16 goals, 13 assists for 29 points in 72 games.  But those numbers only tell part of the story.  At 6'-2" 231 lbs., Jenner is a beast on the ice.  Delivering punishing hits, scrapping for the puck on the boards and drawing penalties from the other team, Jenner is a mature and complete player at a young age.  He finished off his fine rookie season with a strong playoff performance of 3 goals, 2 assists for 5 points in the six games.

 

Matt Calvert - Calvert is a 24-year-old former 5th-round draft pick who has been hovering at the edges for the past three years.  This season, despite an injury that kept him out for 26 games, he found his place with the Jackets.  At only 5'-9" 174 lbs, size was always a concern with Calvert.  But despite this, he has shown the strength to hang at the NHL level.  He ended with 9 goals and 15 assists for 24 points in 56 games.  But he played better in the second half of the season (after recovering from surgery earlier in the season) and ended with 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points in his six playoff games.

 

Cam Atkinson - Atkinson is a 24-year-old former 6th-round draft pick also hovering at the edges for the two years.  With similar size concerns at 5’-8” 165 lbs, Atkinson played at Boston College for three years before signing with the Jackets in 2011.  For the previous two seasons, he split time with Springfield and Columbus, while putting up decent scoring numbers for the Jackets (14 pts in 27 games then 18 pts in 35 games).  2013-14 was his first full season with the Jackets and he showed a good scoring touch, getting the team’s 3rd highest goal total with 21 goals and adding 19 assists for 40 points in 79 games.  Despite this, there are some questions if he can hang at the NHL level.  He doesn’t have the all-around abilites of Calvert and was a healthy scratch for 3 games during the Jackets late season playoff push.  Although Atkinson did well in the playoffs with 1 goal and 2 assists in six games.

 

Brandon Dubinsky - Dubi is a relative old-time veteran at 28 and with 7 full NHL seasons.  He centered the team’s second line with Calvert and Atkinson on the wings and thrived in that role.  Dubi finished the regular season with the team’s 3rd highest point total - 50 points (16-goals, 34-assists) in 76 games.  He’s a big physical player at 6’-1” 216 lbs who sometimes plays a bit too physical when drawing an unwise penalty (he also led the team in penalty minutes at 98).  But in the second half of the season he seemed to play more under control and kept away from these unwise penalties.  As good a regular season as Dubi had, his playoff play was even better.  He had 1 goal and 6 assists for 7 points in six games - all while acting as the team’s defensive shadow to Crosby and holding him goal-less.

 

Nick Foligno - Foligno’s season got off to a slow start due to a health scare in the season’s first month involving his newborn daughter that kept him away from the game.  After she was out of danger, he returned and was productive as a second and third line all-around winger.  Eventually he settled on the third line centered by Anisimov and had 18 goals, 21 assists and 39 points in 70 games.  A late season injury cut into his playoff production, but he still managed 2 goals in four games.

 

Artem Anisimov - AA was acquired from the Rangers in the Nash trade (along with Dubi).  At 25, he’s a big player at 6’-4” 212 lbs who centers the team’s third line.  Anisimov seems well suited to this role.  He is a strong defensively responsible player with good hands and a scoring touch.  This season he had 21 goals, 17 assists for 39 points in 81 games.

 

Mark Letestu - The Test Tube was acquired three seasons ago from the Pens for a 4th-round pick.  And he’s turned into a steady dependable player for the Jackets.  At 29, he also provides a solid veteran presence at an affordable price for the team.  Letestu has been the hockey equivalent of an utility infielder.  He has the toughness and grit to play the third and fourth lines, but the skill to hang with the second line as an injury fill-in.  His value goes beyond the 34 points he put up in 82 games (he didn’t miss any game in the regular season).

 

Derek MacKenzie - D-Mac is the “old man” of the team at 32.  But you wouldn’t know it because he is a constant ball of energy.  He centered the fourth line for most of the season.  And, much like Letestu, his utility to the team goes beyond his numbers.  MacKenzie put up 9 goals and 9 assists in 71 games.  But he is also a mainstay of the team’s penalty-kill (which was strong this year), scoring a memorable short-handed goal in the playoffs.  Beyond that, D-Mac can be relied on for a jolt of energy at any time and for always getting the most out of his shift.  He will be an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) this summer.  The Jackets would certainly like to re-sign him for an affordable 1 or 2-year deal.

 

Blake Comeau - Comeau was acquired at last season’s trade-deadline and re-signed for an affordable 1-year deal for this season.  He’s a hard hitting versatile player who put up 5 goals and 11 assists in 61 games this year.  He’s also a UFA like MacKenzie.  Likewise the Jackets would like to re-sign him for an affordable 1 or 2-year deal, although probably less a priority than D-Mac.

 

R. J. Umberger - At 32, Umby is one of the longest tenured Jackets entering his 6th straight season with the team.  You can rely on RJ for a physical presence at 6’-2” 215 lbs and a never-say-quit attitude (just look at the amount of injuries he played though in the playoffs!).  And he did manage a respectable 18 goals and 16 assists during 74 regular season games.  But Umberger is entering the down-side of his NHL career and noticeably slowing down in his skating ability.  This is a case where the scoring numbers make him look better then he really is.  Most of those 18 goals came on power-plays or 5-on-5 play when he either deflected a shot or knocked in a rebound.  However, Umby’s biggest problem is that he’s signed for three more years at a cap-hit of $4.6 million-a-year.  This made him the second highest paid forward on this year’s team.  And he’s just not worth that high salary anymore.  Because of this, Umby might get a contract buy-out this summer.

 

Nathan Horton - Horton was last summer’s big free-agent signing.  Unfortunately, his first year of the seven-year deal he signed was pretty much a lost season.  First, he was out the opening 41 games recovering from off-season shoulder surgery.  He was a bit slow when first back, but then got better.  Only to then suffer a groin pull a few months later that eventually ended his season for surgery.  He only managed 5 goals and 14 assists in 36 regular season games.  However, for a brief time, Horton did show how he could help the Jackets in the future.  At 6’-2” 229 lbs, Horton was paired with the similarly big-bodied Johansen and Jenner on the top line.  When healthy, Horton could be a key component for the team.

 

Jack Skille - Skille is 26 with an interesting back story.  He was a highly regarded forward drafted by Chicago with their 1st round, seventh overall pick in the 2005 draft.  But he never developed into a prime NHL-level player.  After six partial seasons with Chicago and then Florida, the Jackets acquired him as a free-agent on a low price 1-year, two-way contract.  Meaning they were taking a look at Skille as a reclamation project in the minors.  Early season injuries on the team brought Skille up to Columbus.  He scored 4 goals in a 7-game span before an upper-body injury forced him to the IR.  Skille’s a UFA and the Jackets would probably like another year to evaluate him.

 

Jared Boll - Boll is a perennial fourth-line grinder who fights.  At 27, he is currently the Jackets longest tenured player, having been with the team since 2007.  He only played 28 games this season due to injury.  Boll - or Blol as many over at the Jackets Cannon call him - has close to zero scoring ability and doesn’t seem a good fit for the current Jackets, even on the fourth line.  But last summer, the team signed him to a new 3-year contract that starts next season.  So, barring a trade, Boll looks to be on next year’s roster.

 

Misc. Free Agents:  Corey Tropp and Matt Frattin - Tropp is 24 and was picked up mid-season on waivers from Buffalo.  Frattin is 26 and was included in the Gaborik deadline trade with LA.  Both are RFA’s and unlikely to be given offers by the team.

Now, a recap of the defensive players:

 

DEFENSEMEN:

James Wisniewski - This was the third year of a six-year contract for Wiz with the Jackets.  The first two years were injury-plagued and disappointing.  But this year, Wiz was healthy and productive.  He had a team-high 44 assists plus 7 goals for 51 points in 75 games.  Plus, as an offensive defenseman, Wiz was paired with all-around defenseman Ryan Murray.  This pairing helped his 5-on-5 play.  Plus Wiz’s play on the Jackets power-play was outstanding.

 

Jack Johnson - JJ is also in his third year with the Jackets.  Much like Wiz, JJ’s previous two years were disappointing.  It was originally thought that Wiz and JJ would form a top-line defensive pair.  However, pairing two similar offensively-minded defenseman proved unwise.  With Wiz being paired with Murray, Johnson was able to be paired with veteran all-around defenseman Tyutin.  As a result, Johnson had his most productive season as a Jacket - netting 5 goals and 28 assists for 33 points in 82 regular season games.  JJ didn’t miss a game and logged the most on-ice minutes for the team this season.  But as good as his regular season was, his playoffs were better.  JJ logged a huge amount of ice time and got 3 goals and 4 assists in six games.

 

Fedor Tyutin - Toots was in his sixth year with the Jackets this season.  And the veteran 30-year-old played his steady all-around defensive style once again.  Tyutin had 4 goals and 22 assist for 26 points in 69 regular season games.  An injury suffered while playing for Russia during the Olympics knocked him to the IR and hampered his play late in the season and the playoffs.

 

Ryan Murray - 20-year-old rookie Murray was the Jackets 1st round, second overall pick of the 2012 draft.  He would have played for the team last season, but the lockout and a season-ending shoulder injury prevented him.  So this was the first chance fans had to see him.  And we saw why he was so highly prized as a prospect.  The 6’-0” 198 lb Murray’s stats don’t seem impressive at 4 goals, 17 assists and 21 points in 66 regular season games.  But his savvy, calm and confident play is impressive.  He plays more like a 10-year NHL veteran then a rookie.  He is that good.  As mentioned earlier, Murray’s pairing with Wiz brought a much needed stability to the top two defensive lines.

 

David Savard - Savard was a 4th-round pick in the 2009 draft and a fringe defensive prospect until this year.  But this season, at 23, Savard took a giant step forward.  Much like Johansen, Savard grew into his 6’-2” frame at 219 lbs.  Big and mobile, he developed a solid all-around game just in time for the Jackets - since he’s an RFA this summer.  After this season, he’ll be a priority to re-sign.

 

Nikita Nikitin - Nikitin was acquired via trade from St. Louis in 2011 and has played almost three full seasons for the Jackets.  He’s been a mainstay on the Jackets defense with sometimes inconsistent results but generally good play.  He is 27 and a UFA this summer.  In the past, the Jackets would need to re-sign a player like Nikitin.  But now, the number of younger and more talented defensemen in the Jackets organization mean they can allow Nikitin to walk.

 

Dalton Prout - Prout was a fringe defensive prospect that took a big step forward in the previous season.  This season went less well for him, although not badly.  But at only 24 and with a big physical presence at 6’-2” 222 lbs, Prout is an ideal replacement for Nikitin.  Prout is an RFA and will likely be a priority re-sign for this summer.

 

Nick Schultz - Schultz was a deadline acquisition from Edmonton for a 5th-round pick to add veteran defensive depth for the playoff push.  And it was a wise move, as Schultz came in handy as an injury replacement down the stretch and in the playoffs.  But at 31 and a UFA, he’s not in the team’s future plans given the young defensemen in the organization.

And a recap of the goaltending:

 

GOALTENDING:

Sergei Bobrovsky - CBJ goaltending pretty much begins and ends with Bob right now.  Bobrovsky had a breakout season in 2013 and won the Vezina (NHL’s Best Goaltender of the Year award).  The Jackets rewarded Bob with a 2-year deal with a big pay raise but kept him an RFA at the contract’s end.  His 2013-14 season wasn’t quite at the previous Vezina level.  In 2013, Bob went 21-11-6 in 38 games with a 2.00 GAA and .932 save percentage.  In 2013-24, he was 32-20-5 in 58 games with a 2.38 GAA and .923 save percentage.  Not much of a drop-off.  Bob did suffer a sprained knee in the middle of the season and missed about one month.  But he recovered with no ill effects.  At only 25, Bob looks like the Jackets franchise goalie for the future.

 

The two Mc‘s - Curtis McElhinney was the primary backup and Mike McKenna was the secondary backup for Bobrovsky.  McElhinney started 21 games and McKenna started 3 games.  At 30 and 31, the two Mc’s were adequate in the backup role.  Both are UFA’s this summer.  The Jackets will probably look over the NHL-level backup market this summer.  But don’t be surprised if the Jackets keep the status quo and re-sign the two Mc’s to 1-year deals.

Finishing up with a look at the prospects in the Jackets organization:

 

PROSPECTS:

Offense: - Alexander Wennberg, Marko Dano and Kerby Rychel were the Jackets three 1st round picks from the 2013 draft. --- Wennberg is 19 and was selected with the 14th overall pick.  He currently plays in the Swedish Hockey League and has not signed an entry contract with the Jackets yet. --- Dano is a 19-year-old Slovakian selected 27th overall who played in the Russian KHL and at Springfield last season after he signed a 3-year entry-level contract. --- Rychel is a 19-year-old American-born Canadian selected with the 19th overall pick and signed a 3-year entry-level contract to play in Springfield next season. --- T.J. Tynan is a 22-year-old drafted in 2011 who had been playing at the college level for the last four seasons at Notre Dame.  Tynan signed a 2-year entry level contract and will play for Springfield next season.

 

Defense - Tim Erixon is a 23-year-old defenseman acquired as part of the Nash trade in 2012.  He played 31 games in Columbus in 2013 but spent most of this season in Springfield.  At 205 lbs. Erixon still needs to grow into his 6’-3” frame.  He is also a RFA this summer.  But the Jackets are almost guaranteed to re-sign him, as they have high hopes he will develop into a quality NHL-level defenseman. --- Cody Goloubef is a 24-year-old RFA defenseman likely to be re-signed.  He doesn’t have the upside of Erixon, but the Jackets seemed to like his play in his few games at Columbus over the past two seasons. --- Ilari Melart is a 25-year-old large Finnish defenseman who split time with Springfield and the KHL.  He might get re-signed for another trial year. --- Will Weber is a 25-year-old 6’-4” defenseman that also might get re-signed for more time at Springfield. --- Dillon Heatherington is a 19-year-old 6’-4” defensemen drafted in the early 2nd-round of the 2013 draft.  He is playing in the Canadian Junior League and has yet to sign an entry level deal. --- The Jackets took a 4th-round flyer on Mike Reilly in the 2011 draft.  Since then Reilly has developed into a top college defenseman at Minnesota and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year this season.

 

Goaltending - Anton Forsberg is 22-year-old Swedish goalie prospect who signed a 3-year entry-level contract with the Jackets that began this season.  He played in the Swedish second league this year. --- Oscar Dansk is a 20-year-old Swedish goalie prospect drafted in 2nd-round of the 2013 draft.  He is currently playing in the Canadian Junior League and was Sweden’s starting goaltender in this year’s World Junior Championships.  He has yet to sign an entry deal.

 

One of best things about the Jackets prospect pool is that - for the first time in the history of the franchise - the team is in no hurry to bring them up to Columbus.  The offensive and defensive depth and talent level at Columbus is more than adequate.  And with Bobrovsky holding down the goaltending duties, there’s no need to push their young goalies forward to the NHL level until they feel they are ready.

So, to recap the recap.  The Jackets made the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history.  But unlike the first time, in 2009, the CBJ organization is in a more stable position with solid management, roster depth, roster talent and with a good pool of prospects waiting in the wings.  The Jackets hit franchise highs for regular season wins, points and goals.  But this has the feeling of a window just beginning to open for the Jackets.

 

Next season will be key to seeing how wide that window can open.  Expectations will be raised.  For all the good feelings of this season, management noted that the Jackets still only finished 15th in the 30-team NHL.  So there is still room for improvement.

 

All the key players from this season are under contract or will certainly be re-signed, in the case of Johansen.  The Jackets are unlikely to make any huge changes during this off-season.  But they will enter their next training camp with heightened expectations and a desire to “play faster”.  Meaning that they won’t change the way they played this season - but they will try to do it even better.

 

Here’s a few links about the Jackets that was used to do this recap:

 

http://bluejackets.nhl.com/club/stats.htm?gameType=2&season=20132014

 

http://www.capgeek.com/bluejackets/

 

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/teams/columbus_blue_jackets/

The NHL off-season is time for surgeries to injured players and contract deals. 

 

First, the medical news:  Fortunately nothing major to report here.  The Dispatch reported on Friday that Dubinsky and MacKenzie each had minor surgeries to correct ailments that dogged them thru this season and the playoffs.  Dubi had ankle surgery to repair a non-structural problem.  D-Mac had an arthroscopic procedure on his shoulder to "clean up some stuff in there".

 

Now, the financial news:  Contract talks started with the signing of 20-year-old goalie prospect Oscar Dansk to a three-year, entry-level deal.  This means Dansk could stay with his Ontario Hockey League team or play for the Jackets minor-league team in Springfield next year.  The Jackets website has more on this at http://bluejackets.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=718417.

 

The Jackets website also had an interesting deep-dive into the organization's goaltending depth at http://bluejackets.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=718539