Columbus Blue Jackets (Official Thread)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Blue Jackets 6, Blues 4
Pointed response
Zherdev scores two goals as Blue Jackets crank up offense in payback victory over Blues
Saturday, January 12, 2008 3:09 AM
By Aaron Portzline


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

NEAL C. LAURON | DISPATCH
The Blue Jackets' Nikolai Zherdev pumps his fist after scoring his second goal against the Blues. He was knocked out of a game in St. Louis three nights earlier.



Most of the Blue Jackets players didn't know right winger Nikolai Zherdev was going to be in uniform for last night's game until shortly before warm-ups.
Imagine the St. Louis Blues' surprise.
Only three nights earlier, Zherdev was knocked out of a game in St. Louis after he was drilled by Blues forward David Backes. Zherdev, diagnosed with a charley horse, spent the past two days tenderly dragging his right leg.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Jackets notebook: Ending scoreless run a relief for Chimera

Saturday, January 12, 2008 3:01 AM
By Tom Reed


The Columbus Dispatch

Neal C. Lauron DISPATCH
The Blue Jackets' Derick Brassard, center, takes the puck up the ice against the Blues.



It wasn't a thing of beauty, but Blue Jackets winger Jason Chimera knew he was in no position to be picky.
He would have loved to snap his 25-game goal-less drought with his first-period breakaway. Instead, it took a harmless-looking wraparound attempt that caromed in off the goaltender to end the frustration.
Chimera scored his sixth goal of the season -- his first since Nov. 14 -- and had an assist in the Blue Jackets' 6-4 win over the St. Louis Blues in Nationwide Arena.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Michael Arace commentary: Jackets' toughness shows in their play

Saturday, January 12, 2008 3:11 AM
By Michael Arace


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

• 
  

The divisional rivalry between the Blue Jackets and the St. Louis Blues had texture from the beginning or, more specifically, since April 5, 2001, when Keith Tkachuk placed a knee-on-knee hit on Kevin Dineen, who crawled off the ice and onto an operating table.
The Jackets hate the Nashville Predators, mostly because they've been regularly drummed by the Preds. The Jackets-Blues series might be even more of a rivalry. The series stood at 16-16-9 heading into a game last night in Nationwide Arena. There has been give and take, and plenty of scraps. The Jackets were expected to dish it out last night. A bloodbath was anticipated.

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[TexasBuck]

Got to give a shout out to Zherdev. He's a different player this year. In the last few games, it's easy to see. He passed up a chance at a hat trick to set up a teammate on an empty net goal. Came back from injury to score 2 fantastic goals last night. Then tonight, makes a fantastic defensive play and subsequent pass to send the game to OT. To top it off, he wins it in the SO.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Blue Jackets: Getting Modin, Vyborny back a big step forward

Monday, January 14, 2008 3:08 AM
By Aaron Portzline


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

One top-six forward has been found. Another is on his way back soon.
The Blue Jackets, left for dead and psychologically beaten down only four days ago, had a major mood adjustment during the weekend.
It's not just the back-to-back wins over St. Louis and Nashville.
Right winger David Vyborny, who has battled injury and ineffectiveness, has played his best two games of the season.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Jackets notebook: Modin should return this week
Back spasms have kept winger off ice
Tuesday, January 15, 2008 6:32 AM
By Tom Reed


The Columbus Dispatch

NEAL C. LAURON Dispatch
Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock would eventually like to pair Fredrik Modin, left, on a line with Rick Nash.



With so many healthy players on the ice and in the locker room yesterday, Blue Jackets practice had a training camp feel.
The atmosphere seemed entirely appropriate for left winger Fredrik Modin.
Modin has played just six games, none since Nov. 1 because of back spasms caused by two fractures that only recently were detected. He made it through a full practice without a setback, but said he probably won't play tonight against the Vancouver Canucks in Nationwide Arena.
Thursday's game in Phoenix sounds like a strong possibility.
"I felt like a little kid out there (in practice)," said Modin, 33. "It was just good to be out there with the guys."

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[jimotis4heisman]

glenx has been activated
lindstrom has been sent down to cuse.

 

[JCOSU86]

I got tix to tonight's game vs Vancouver.

Go Jackets!

 

[CCI]

I got tix to tonight's game vs Vancouver.

Go Jackets!

I hope you enjoyed the playoff atmosphere at Nationwide. I enjoyed watching the game on tv. A very nice win.

Carry the Flag, Go Jackets!

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Blue Jackets 3 | Canucks 2
Jackets put fun back in game
Columbus posts record sixth straight home win
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 3:22 AM
By Aaron Portzline


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Jeff Hinckley | Dispatch
Rick Nash beats the Canucks' Willie Mitchell to the puck in the first period.


Two weeks ago, it was a virus that tore through the Blue Jackets dressing room, sending green-faced players to the sick bay.

Now, another wave has engulfed the room, and the Blue Jackets hope they're nowhere near the crest.
The Blue Jackets blew out of the gates last night with two goals in the first seven minutes, then held on to beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in front of 13,555 fans in Nationwide Arena.
Nikolai Zherdev was the best player on the ice, with a goal, an assist, a whale of a hit and a gutsy blocked shot in the final minute to help preserve a one-goal lead.
Ron Hainsey and Jason Chimera also scored, and Pascal Leclaire had 25 saves.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Blue Jackets notebook: Late block by Zherdev impresses teammates

Wednesday, January 16, 2008 3:06 AM
By Tom Reed


The Columbus Dispatch

JEFF HINCKLEY | Dispatch
David Vyborny, front, and Jan Hejda try to protect goaltender Pascal Leclaire from shots on goal in the third period.



Blue Jackets forward Nikolai Zherdev didn't see the last 30 seconds of last night's game.

He was hunched over on the bench, his head resting on the dasher, pain radiating from his lower leg after blocking a shot in the final minute. It's an image that probably won't make the season-ending highlight tape, but one likely to be remembered by teammates for some time.
Zherdev's sliding block of a point shot by Daniel Sedin with 41 seconds left capped another dynamic effort and helped preserve a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks in Nationwide Arena.
"That was a great play," winger Jason Chimera said. "It's what a good team guy does."

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[Buck Nasty]

glenx has been activated
lindstrom has been sent down to cuse.

J O, no offense to you, but you need to get back to work. You are pulling your mid season disappearing act again. I never thought the day would come, but after the game last night there is no doubt you are not the best player on our team anymore. Z is flat out taking over games, kinda like you did back at the beginning of the year.

When he threw himself on the ice to block that puck last night I turned to my buddy and said that's it, he is officially the man.

 

[TexasBuck]

When he threw himself on the ice to block that puck last night I turned to my buddy and said that's it, he is officially the man.

Yep. These signs have been happening all year long. I hope it comes out at some point who/what caused the light to go on for Zherdev. It can't be more obvious he is now fully invested in the team.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Blue Jackets
Blocked shots help team, hurt players
Laying it on line on ice equal parts pain, glory
Thursday, January 17, 2008 3:22 AM
By Tom Reed


The Columbus Dispatch

As Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin veered toward the net with the puck on his stick and two teammates nearby, the Blue Jackets' Adam Foote knew the time for making a safe defensive play had passed.
Like a rodeo bullfighter stepping between a prone cowboy and a charging beast, the defenseman leaped to the aid of his goaltender by dropping to the ice and putting his body in the flight path of the puck.
Undeterred, Sedin unleashed a shot 3 feet from the sprawling Foote. The frozen piece of rubber, capable of breaking bones and ending careers, struck Foote on the right cheekbone, inches from his eye.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Jackets notebook: Changing fortunes on road is key

Thursday, January 17, 2008 3:11 AM
By Tom Reed


The Columbus Dispatch

In packing for a five-game trip, the Blue Jackets reminded themselves yesterday of one thing: Less is more.
A franchise known for its excess baggage wants to streamline its game in hopes of winning more on the road.
"We tend to keep it simple at home and not try to do too much," captain Adam Foote said. "On the road, we've had a tendency to run around and get loose when all we have to do is stay within our system."

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