May 25, 2013

Blues Roll Over Jackets 6-1 After Not Much Fight At All

April 3, 2011 by 1 Comment

Kirk Irwin/NHLI via Getty ImagesBlues 6, Blue Jackets 1
(box) – Highlights
CBJ: 34-32-13, 81 pts

The Jackets were officially eliminated from the playoffs on Thursday night in Washington, and St. Louis was eliminated this week as well. But, over the past few years, when these two teams have gotten together, the records and standings have taken a back seat. Bottom line: these two clubs just don’t like each other. And, that dislike usually finds a way to manifest itself in the play on the ice.

We didn’t see the physical play for most of the first half of this game, but we did see some shaky defensive zone play, some unfortunate bounces, and some flat out ugly play from the Jackets en route to a disappointing loss at home to the Blues. Oh, and once the scoreboard started to tilt, both teams decided to get plenty of shots in on each other.

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Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Oilers (Game #63) – Must-Win Time

March 3, 2011 by 6 Comments

jackets vs. bluesColumbus Blue Jackets (31-24-7, 69pts) vs.
Edmonton Oilers (21-35-8, 50pts)
Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta
Thursday, March 3, 2011
9:00 PM EST
TV: FSN-OH / Radio: WBNS 97.1 FM

(Dispatch Preview / SportsDirect Preview)

The Jackets deserved a better fate on Tuesday night, givine the league-leading Vancouver Canucks all they could handle in their building, going to an eight-round shootout before falling. Still, the Jackets got a point that, on paper, they probably weren’t expected to get, and now have points in nine of their past 10 road games (6-1-3). Edmonton is at the bottom of the standings for the second straight year, and dealt away Dustin Penner on Monday. They’re also without several other key players. Even still, as the Jackets have learned at various points this year, Edmonton can still get after you with their young, talented, and speedy players. The Jackets need to bring their A-game, and more importantly given everything at stake, they simply HAVE to win this game.

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

February 26, 2011 by 1 Comment

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.

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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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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 – 1/18/11

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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Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Coyotes (Game #43)

January 11, 2011 by 2 Comments

jackets vs. coyotesPhoenix Coyotes (20-13-9, 49pts) vs.
Columbus Blue Jackets (20-19-3, 43pts)
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
7:00 PM EST
TV: FSN-OH HD / Radio: WBNS 97.1 FM

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

The Jackets get another shot at Phoenix tonight after playing them out in the desert last Tuesday. These teams aren’t that far apart: they’re both 20 win teams with 22 losses. It’s just that the ‘Yotes have gotten to OT six more times than the Jackets have in the loss column. The Jackets are staggering home after a rough 0-4 road trip through three time zones. They finally looked like a team with a pulse in the third period in LA on Saturday, but by then it was too late. If they want to get anything going before the All Star Break (seven more games), it needs to start tonight, as a home-and-home with the Red Wings is looming this weekend.

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Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs (Game #37) – Raking Leafs Edition

December 30, 2010 by Leave a Comment

jackets vs. leafsColumbus Blue Jackets (18-15-3, 39pts) vs.
Toronto Maple Leafs (13-18-4, 30pts)
Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Thursday, December 30, 2010
7:00 PM EST
TV: FSN-OH HD / Radio: WBNS 97.1 FM

(Dispatch Preview / SportsDirect Preview)

The Jackets finish 2010 with back to back games against Eastern Conference Canadian teams: one in the hockey Mecca of Toronto, and then back at home against Ottawa. On paper, this is a game the Jackets MUST win if they hope to hang around the playoff hunt. Toronto has been spinning its wheels for a few years now, and are scuffling behind the Jackets in terms of points/results in a much easier conference. So, Columbus—if to be taken seriously—must come out and take this game early and not let it go, regardless of who’s starting in goal… or elsewhere, for that matter.

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Jackets Wear Down the Flames to Earn a Much-Needed 3-1 Win

December 21, 2010 by 3 Comments

John Grieshop/Getty Images

Blue Jackets 3, Flames 1
(box) – Highlights
CBJ: 17-13-3, 37 pts

It’s crazy to me that these two teams have played three of their four matchups prior to Christmas, but what do I know about scheduling? The important thing for tonight was for the Jackets to come out early and establish a forecheck and, hopefully, get the first goal. When scoring first, Columbus had a .857 winning percentage coming in.

And score first they would. For just the second time in the last 11 games, the Jackets would get on the board first, as Jakub Voracek would put them up 1-0 just 5:14 into the first period. But would it hold up? The Flames had some things to say about that before this one was over. However, it was the Jackets who would do the most talking with their physical play and stout goal-tending from Mathieu Garon.

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Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Flames (Game #33) – Seriously. Just Win One.

December 21, 2010 by 1 Comment

jackets vs. bluesCalgary Flames (14-17-3, 31pts) vs.
Columbus Blue Jackets (16-13-3, 35pts)
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
7:00 PM EST
TV: none / Radio: WWCD 102.5 FM

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

The Jackets get another shot at Calgary tonight. There isn’t a ton to say, other than last time out in Calgary, the Jackets all but dominated big stretches of the game. Even still it was the two quick goals that got Steve Mason pulled less than five minutes into the game that linger as the difference. Mathieu Garon gets the start in net, and this is a game the Jackets simply HAVE to win if they have any hopes of climbing back into the discussion for the playoffs. No local TV tonight for this game due to the NHL/VS deal, so grab some tickets and head on down to the Nat!

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The 5-Hole: Blue Jackets News and Notes – 12/21/2010

December 21, 2010 by 3 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: 0-2-1, 1 point
Overall: 16-13-3, 35 points (4th division; 11th conference)

What a different a year doesn’t make. Last season, the Jackets roared out to a 26-point mark in their first 20 games, and then promptly lost 21 of 24 to fall completely out of the playoffs. Fast forward to this year: 28 points in the first 20 games, knocking on the door for first in the division and conference. Then, fast forward 12 more games, with only two wins and seven total points, leading to a plunge down to 11th in the standings. Dennis Green is in the wings clearing his throat, getting ready to yell: “THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE!!”

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Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Canucks (Game #30) – Big Boy Pants Edition

December 15, 2010 by 3 Comments

jackets vs. bluesColumbus Blue Jackets (16-11-2, 34pts) vs.
Vancouver Canucks (16-8-4, 36pts)
Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
10:00 PM EST
TV: none / Radio: WBNS 97.1 FM

(Dispatch Preview / SportsDirect Preview)

No rest for the weary. It’s time to find out TRULY what this team is made of. If they want us to take them seriously, they’re going to have to build off of their third period from Monday that earned them an OTL point after clawing back into a game it looked like was a sure-fire loss in the first period. Coach Scott Arniel is making the move to Mathieu Garon as his starting goalie… at least for tonight. The Jackets have three games in the next four days across three time zones, so we haven’t seen the last of Steve Mason, either. Despite being almost equal in the standings, the Canucks look to be a better team than the Jackets on paper. It’s time to put on the BIG BOY PANTS.

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Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Flames (Game #29) – I’m Serious; Let’s Build a Streak

December 13, 2010 by 1 Comment

jackets vs. bluesColumbus Blue Jackets (16-11-1, 33pts) vs.
Calgary Flames (12-15-3, 27pts)
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta
Monday, December 13, 2010
9:00 PM EST
TV: FSNOH-HD / Radio: WBNS 97.1 FM

(Dispatch Preview / SportsDirect Preview)

So, the Jackets have won two out of three after losing five straight. They begin a three-game Western Canada road trip tonight in Calgary. The Flames are languishing at the bottom of the standings, yet as we remember from back in October you can’t take anyone lightly. The Flames came into Nationwide on 10/22 and skated the Jackets out of the building on the way to a 6-2 win. The Jackets played an intense game on Saturday night, and fore- and body-checked the Rangers into submission. If they can continue that effort, well, if you win again tonight that would be called a “winning streak.” It has happened before.

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Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Blues (Game #27) – Let’s Build a New Streak

December 9, 2010 by 2 Comments

jackets vs. bluesColumbus Blue Jackets (15-10-1, 31pts) vs.
St. Louis Blues (13-9-4, 30pts)
ScottTrade Center, St. Louis, MO 
Thursday, December 9, 2010
8:00 PM EST
TV: FSNOH-HD / Radio: WWCD 101.1/102.5 FM

(Dispatch Preview / SportsDirect Preview)

You have to think the Blues have had this one circled for the last month. The Jackets finally got off of the losing streak after five games (0-4-1) and nipped Dallas on Monday with a late rally. Head coach Scott Arniel has juggled his lineup a bit, and those changes from the Dallas game should continue tonight… unless the team comes out flat again. St. Louis have been scuffling for a large part of the month (4-8-2) since Columbus eviscerated them 8-1 at Nationwide, and is battling a slew of injuries. Columbus will take every advantage they can get, I suspect.

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Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Stars (Game #26) – It Stops Now… Please?

December 6, 2010 by 1 Comment

jackets vs. starsDallas Stars (16-8-1, 33pts) vs.
Columbus Blue Jackets (14-10-1, 29pts)
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Monday, December 6, 2010
7:00 PM EST
TV: FSN-OH HD / WBNS (97.1 fm)

(Dispatch Preview / SportsDirect Preview)
WFNY Tickets

I got a great text on Saturday night, as the Jackets were in the midst of getting eviscerated in their own building by the Pittsburgh Penguins. It read, simply: “RIP Jackets. Same [crap], different year.” While it might be too soon to bury them for the entire season, the sentiment is right on. The Jackets got off to their best start in franchise history, and in the span of a week went from: playing two games against Detroit with first place in the division and conference on the line to losing five in a row, including back-to-back blowouts at the hands of the Sabres (5-0) on Friday and the Penguins (7-2) on Saturday. The skid is ugly, and reminds most Jackets fans of what happened last year around Thanksgiving: the 12-6-2 Jackets went on a 3-16-5 skid that ended their season. Oh, and if you’re looking for some last minute tickets (not sure why you would be, but…), click the WFNY Tickets link above to get ‘em!

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Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Sabres (Game #24) – Slump-busting

December 3, 2010 by Leave a Comment

jackets vs. sabresColumbus Blue Jackets (14-8-1, 29pts) vs.
Buffalo Sabres (9-13-3, 21pts)
HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY
Friday, December 3, 2010
7:30 PM EST
TV: FSNOH-HD / Radio: WBNS 97.1 FM

(Dispatch Preview / SportsDirect Preview)

The Jackets are back on the road for a quick one-game stop in Buffalo before returning to Columbus tomorrow for a bit matchup with the Penguins. The Sabres are struggling in the standings, but goalie Ryan Miller is capable of frustrating any offense at any time, though he hasn’t quite been himself since the Olympics. The Jackets look like the better team on paper, but after coming off a tough shoot-out loss to the Predators at home on Wednesday it remains to be seen where the psyche of this team is right now. The good news? The Jackets have played very well against teams from the east so far this year…even the good ones.

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Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Predators (Game #23) – Frustration Ventilation

December 1, 2010 by Leave a Comment

jackets vs. avalancheNashville Predators (10-8-5, 25pts) vs.
Columbus Blue Jackets (14-8-0, 28pts)
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
7:00 PM EST
TV: FSN-OH / WBNS (97.1 fm)

(Dispatch Preview / SportsDirect Preview)
Follow me from the Press Box @WFNYDP
WFNY Tickets

The Jackets get back on the ice tonight after two straight losses to Detroit. As if they needed more motivation, their long-time nemesis and Central Division foe Nashville Predators come calling for the second time in nine days. It’s time for the Jackets to take out some frustration. Last Monday they were able to effectively shut down the Preds en route to a Steve Mason shutout, and the Predators have been scuffling a bit over their last five games (1-2-2). If the Jackets play like they did for the most part against Detroit, I think they’ll see that they’re still a good team; Detroit’s just better. Nashville—on paper, at least—is not. Oh, and if you’re looking for some last minute tickets, click the WFNY Tickets link above to get ‘em!

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Game Recap: No Moral Victories – Red Wings Outlast Jackets 2-1

November 26, 2010 by 1 Comment

AP Photo/Jay LaPreteRed Wings 2, Blue Jackets 1
(box) – Highlights
CBJ: 14-7-0, 28 pts

This game had all the makings coming in of an interesting test of wills: Detroit came in with the second best offense in the league, and the Jackets had the third-best defense. Who would blink first? It would take more than 20 minutes to find out.

At the end of the night, the Red Wings capitalized on the Power Play where the Jackets could not, and the one goal made the difference in a hard-fought 2-1 win for Detroit. At least it wasn’t a 9-1 beating, like last year’s first meeting between these two.

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Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Islanders (Game #20) – Trap Game Edition

November 24, 2010 by 1 Comment

jackets vs. wildColumbus Blue Jackets (13-6-0, 26pts) vs.
New York Islanders (4-12-4, 12pts)
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum,
Uniondale, NY
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
7:00 PM EST
TV: FSNOH-HD / Radio: WBNS 97.1 FM

(SportsDirect Preview)

If you look up “trap game” in the sports dictionary (hmm, is there such a thing?), it would be tonight’s game. Let’s see… hot Jackets team? Check. Struggling Isles team that has lost 13 straight? Check. Quick road trip between big divisional home games for Columbus? Check. #1 Detroit coming into two on Friday, and another game at Detroit on Sunday? Check. All of the symptoms are there for a classic look-ahead for Columbus. Hopefully they don’t think they’re that good, yet, because these are the kinds of games they’ve traditionally struggled with: games they should win in which they end up playing down to their competition (see: Edmonton game earlier this year). One good thing? It’s on the road, where the Jackets are 7-1 so far on the season.

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Game Recap: Jackets’ Train Keeps Rolling with Fourth Straight Win

November 23, 2010 by 5 Comments

Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesBlue Jackets 2, Predators 0
(box) – Highlights
CBJ: 13-6-0, 26 pts

We’re in uncharted waters. This is the best start ever for Columbus. I can’t find a better way to say it than that. After a three-games-in-four-days road trip through California in which Columbus went 3-0, it would have almost been OK (or at least understandable) if Columbus had come out Monday night—after just one day off including traveling 2,500 miles—a little flat. But, all credit to coach Scott Arniel and the guys as they were not only ready to play, but ready to dominate. “I think we had the same mentality as the road games,” said Captain Rick Nash. “We forget about our last game. We were just worrying about tonight against Nashville and that’s why I think we played so well.”

And Nash has been one of the main reasons, earning the NHL’s First Star of the Week last week. Nash carried the offense on the road trip, and was a big reason for the win last night. He’s earned points in nine straight games, and kept his goal-scoring streak going as well. Steve Mason did the rest, stopping all 27 shots that he faced to earn his first shutout of the season and the second straight shutout for the Jackets.

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