May 21, 2012

The 5-Hole: Blue Jackets News and Notes – 3/1/11 – Trading Deadline Edition

March 1, 2011 By 1 Comment

Every Tuesday, WFNY’s The 5-Hole brings you up to date with the goings-on of the CBJ…

5-hole

The Week That Was

This Week: 2-1-0, 4 points
Overall: 31-24-6, 68 points (4th division; 12th conference)

Just like last week… Columbus continues to play well, BUT they can’t move up in the standings. However, the Jackets have played the fewest games in the conference, meaning they have a chance to make up points on the teams in front of them. BUT, they also play 16 times in 31 days in the month of March, or the same number of games they played in 31 days in December. And, we all remember how that turned out. The Jackets are in the midst of a huge road trip, and GM Scott Howson made a move yesterday to try to give the teama little extra push for the final 21 games.

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Jackets Ride Calvert’s Hat Trick Past Coyotes, 5-3

February 26, 2011 By 2 Comments

AP Photo/Jay LaPreteBlue Jackets 5, Coyotes 3
(box) – Highlights
CBJ: 31-23-6, 68 pts

We finally found a moment that looked too big for rookie winger Matt Calvert.

I wrote in my game preview that: “Calvert has been particularly impressive, as the rookie never looks overwhelmed. He skates hard, and wins battles for the puck despite his diminutive size. And, as Rick Nash pointed out Tuesday night after the game, his hands around the net have been as good as advertised.”

Three goals later, hats rained down from the Nationwide Arena rafters, and the look on Calvert’s face was priceless; he looked genuinely overwhelmed, alternating between a huge grin and an emotional expression. The only thing is: that’s one kind of overwhelmed you can live with. Calvert and the Jackets scored five unanswered goals after falling behind to keep their hot streak alive, and inched one step closer to the goal of the playoffs.

[Read more...]

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Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Coyotes (Game #60) – Once More Into the Breach…

February 25, 2011 By 1 Comment

jackets vs. coyotesPhoenix Coyotes (33-20-9, 75pts) vs.
Columbus Blue Jackets (30-23-6, 66pts)
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Friday, February 25, 2011
7:00 PM EST
TV: FSN-OH HD / Radio: WBNS 97.1 FM

(Dispatch Preview / SportsDirect Preview)
WFNY Tickets

It was January 11th when these teams last met, also at Nationwide. The Jackets had just come off of a horrific four game road trip, and did end up losing to the Coyotes that night on a fluky third period goal. But, coach Scott Arniel points to that game as a turning point as to when the team really got back to playing their style of hockey. The results would bear that out. In the 16 games since, the Jackets are 10-3-3. Advantage: Jackets? Maybe not so fast. The Coyotes have been as hot as anyone, finally losing on Wednesday in Tampa after ripping off eight straight wins.

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Third Period Surge Pushes Jackets Past Preds 4-0

February 22, 2011 By 3 Comments

Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty ImagesBlue Jackets 4, Predators 0
(box) – Highlights
CBJ: 30-23-6, 66 pts
What better way to kick off a huge stretch of games than to welcome in your arch-nemesis? So it was that the Nashville Predators invaded Nationwide Arena. Gone are the games the Jackets can look for positives in a loss; essentially every game from here on out feels like a must-win.

One thing we all knew is that it would be a physical, tight-checking game, as it always seems to be with these two squads. In that respect, they did not disappoint. But, in terms of the “must win” aspect of the game, when the third period and winning time rolled around, the Jackets announced that they got the message loud and clear.

[Read more...]

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The 5-Hole: Blue Jackets News and Notes – 2/22/11

February 22, 2011 By 2 Comments

Every Tuesday, WFNY’s The 5-Hole brings you up to date with the goings-on of the CBJ…

5-hole

The Week That Was

This Week: 1-0-1, 3 points
Overall: 29-23-6, 64 points (4th division; 12th conference)

There are a few shades of gray here: Columbus continues to play well, BUT they can’t move up in the standings. However, the Jackets have played the fewest games in the conference, meaning they have a chance to make up points on the teams in front of them. BUT, they also play 16 times in 31 days in the month of March, or the same number of games they played in 31 days in December. And, we all remember how that turned out. Finally, the Jackets have been surging, AND/BUT the trading deadline is next Monday, or three games away. Do they make a move?

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Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Kings (Game #57) – Every Point Matters

February 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

jackets vs. wildLos Angeles Kings (31-22-3, 65pts) vs.
Columbus Blue Jackets (28-23-5, 61pts)
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
7:00 PM EST
TV: FSNOH / Radio: WBNS 97.1 FM

(Dispatch Preview / SportsDirect Preview)
WFNY Tickets

The Jackets have had a few days off after their stretch of six games in 10 days (5-1!). What’s their reward, the other hottest team in the NHL (San Jose being the hottest). The Kings, after a dreadful slide that took them down to the depths of the conference standings, have points in nine straight games (7-0-2) and are one of the teams Columbus needs to catch in the standings. LA is in the midst of an insane 10-game road trip, as they pay a visit to all of the Eastern Conference teams they have to play on the road. Neither team has played since Sunday.

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The 5-Hole: Blue Jackets News and Notes – 2/15/11

February 15, 2011 By 4 Comments

Every Tuesday, WFNY’s The 5-Hole brings you up to date with the goings-on of the CBJ…

5-hole

The Week That Was

This Week: 3-1-0, 6 points
Overall: 28-23-5, 61 points (4th division; 12th conference)

In trying to keep everything in perspective, I find a few things jump out. The Blue Jackets are now 8-3-2 in their last 13 games (18 points). They still sit in 12th place, but now are just five points out and a mere seven points out of fourth place. Wait, what? Most importantly—and perhaps most relevant—is that if one looks at their record through 56 games during their playoff season, one would see a familiar record: 28-23-5. Woah. Obviously, the standings are different this year, with the Western Conference packed tighter than a sardine can, but the point is that this team is still in it, they’ve made runs like this before, and they’re still playing meaningful—and, for now, good—hockey in February.

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Jackets Jump Out Early; Sharks Come On Late and Nip CBJ 3-2

February 9, 2011 By 1 Comment

AP Photo/Terry GilliamSharks 3, Blue Jackets 2
(box) – Highlights
CBJ: 26-23-5, 57 pts
If the Jackets are to be taken seriously as playoff contenders this spring, they need to put strings of wins and points together, and they need to do it consistently. Columbus came into tonight’s contest against the red-hot Sharks winners of three straight, and with 14 points in their last 10 games. Both teams were playing their second game in as many nights, and in different cities.

The Jackets needed to get off to a good start to continue the momentum they’d built in their last three games. And that they did. They outhustled the Sharks, and used their usually-docile Power Play to do some early damage. But this one would come down to the third period as each team dominated a period over the first two. And it would come down to a late goal.

[Read more...]

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Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Sharks (Game #54) – Keep Building

February 9, 2011 By 3 Comments

jackets vs. sharksSan Jose Sharks (29-19-6, 64pts) vs.
Columbus Blue Jackets (26-22-5, 57pts)
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
7:00 PM EST
TV: FSN-OH HD / Radio: WBNS 97.1 FM

(Dispatch Preview / SportsDirect Preview)
WFNY Tickets – Follow me @WFNYDP from the press box tonight!

It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to do a proper game preview, but the Jackets are in the midst of their most solid stretch of hockey since mid- to late-November. They’ve gone 6-2-2 in their last 10, good for 14 points—including a solid win last night in Pittsburgh (4-1, box/Highlights) to make it three wins in a row. They’re now up to 12th in the conference, and just four points out of a playoff spot; both are the highest/closest they’ve been since early December when their swoon began. The Sharks, however, are even hotter: They’ve won nine of 12, and have lost in regulation just once in that span. They’re coming off of back-to-back road shutouts, including last night in Washington. In short, it’s going to take the best effort for Columbus, but they need to keep building, and therefore heading in the right direction: up the standings.

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The 5-Hole: Blue Jackets News and Notes – 2/8/11

February 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Every Tuesday, WFNY’s The 5-Hole brings you up to date with the goings-on of the CBJ…

5-hole

The Week That Was

This Week: 2-1-0, 4 points
Overall: 25-22-5, 55 points (4th division; 13th conference)

Columbus is now down to nine games remaining before the end-of-February trading deadline. They’re in 13th place, which means they have to hop over at least five teams right now to get to a playoff spot. So, they should be sellers, right? Well, maybe; but maybe not. Despite being five spots out of the playoffs right now, in reality they’re also a mere six points out, which is equal to three games. And, on top of that, they have games-in-hand (i.e., they’ve played less) than all but two other teams in the conference. All of that said, it’s going to take a streak of really, really good hockey, and that streak is going to have to come against some tough, tough opponents. As of right now, though, there is no dirt shoveled on this team just yet.

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The 5-Hole: Blue Jackets News and Notes – 2/1/11

February 1, 2011 By 1 Comment

Every Tuesday, WFNY’s The 5-Hole brings you up to date with the goings-on of the CBJ…

5-hole

The Week That Was

This Week: 0-1-0, 0 points
Overall: 23-21-5, 51 points (4th division; 13th conference)

In baseball, the All Star Break is seen as breaking the season into “halves,” and teams always talk about their “second-half push” after the break. The same is true for the NHL, in a way, except that the “second half” in this case is a mere 33 games for Columbus. They sit in 13th place, just five points out of seventh, but with at least five teams to jump over, depending on how things go for everyone else. The “second half push” begins tonight for Columbus. Let’s see if they were able to carry any momentum through the time off.

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Columbus Out-Shoot and Out-Play Ducks, But Early Power Play Goals Sink Jackets 3-2

January 25, 2011 By 3 Comments

Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty ImagesDucks 3, Blue Jackets 2
(box) – Highlights
CBJ: 23-21-5, 51 pts
The Jackets had one last chance to grab some points before the All Star Break, and the red-hot Anaheim Ducks standing in their way. The Jackets would fall into the same trap they had in their previous two wins by letting the Ducks jump out to a 2-0 lead early in the first period, but they would not roll over.

But, it was an early call that would end up casting a long shadow over the entire game. The Jackets were forced to kill off a major penalty, and the Ducks’ third-ranked Power Play unit made them pay dearly. Columbus largely outplayed Anaheim, but the early deficit turned out to be just a bit too much this time around. [Read more...]

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Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Ducks (Game #49) – Keep The Train Rolling

January 25, 2011 By 2 Comments

jackets vs. ducksAnaheim Ducks (27-20-4, 58pts) vs.
Columbus Blue Jackets (23-20-5, 51pts)
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
7:00 PM EST
TV: FSN-OH / Radio: WWCD 102.5 FM

(Dispatch Preview / SportsDirect Preview)
WFNY Tickets – Follow me @WFNYDP from the press box tonight!

This is the last game for Columbus prior to the All Star Break. The Ducks have been hot, including but not limited to the last time these two teams played almost three weeks ago. The Jackets got embarrassed 6-0 in Anaheim, and the Ducks did that without Jackets-killer Ryan Getzlaf, who is still out tonight. The game immediately after that one, however, was the one where the Jackets finally put the brakes on their horrible play: they lost in LA, but they outplayed the Kings for the second half of the game. The next game was the Phoenix game at home, which Scott Arniel repeatedly cites as the beginning of the Jackets getting back to “playing the right way.” The Jackets are 3-0-2 in their last five, and need two more points before they head into the All Star Break if they really want to be in the playoffs discussion.

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The 5-Hole: Blue Jackets News and Notes – 1/25/11

January 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Every Tuesday, WFNY’s The 5-Hole brings you up to date with the goings-on of the CBJ…

5-hole

The Week That Was

This Week: 2-0-1, 5 points
Overall: 23-20-5, 51 points (4th division; 13th conference)

The only way out is through. So it seems for these Jackets, as they’ve managed to play their way through a very tough December and January stretch, and finally look like they’re putting some consistency back together. The Jackets have earned eight points of a possible 10 in their last five games, and while they’re not climbing any closer to the eighth spot in terms of points, they are closing all number of gaps in front of them. They’re just five points behind Chicago for seventh place, and have a game in hand on a lot of the teams in front of them. In short, if they truly have turned a corner, they aren’t quite out of it just yet.

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The 5-Hole: Blue Jackets News and Notes – 1/18/11

January 18, 2011 By 1 Comment

Every Tuesday, WFNY’s The 5-Hole brings you up to date with the goings-on of the CBJ…

5-hole

The Week That Was

This Week: 1-1-1, 3 points
Overall: 21-20-4, 46 points (5th division; 13th conference)

While the point total isn’t overwhelming, it’s possible that this past week—or, more specifically, the weekend—could be viewed as a turning point. It will depend on what the team does the rest of the way, but their big slide started with back to back losses to Detroit in a home-and-home right after Thanksgiving. So, perhaps being a questionable save/goal review away from taking four points in two nights from those same Red Wings might be the spark that gets them back on the right track. As bad as things have largely been over the last six weeks, the Jackets are still just six points (i.e., three games) out of a playoff spot.

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