OFFICIAL Columbus Blue Jackets Thread

[TexasBuck]

This is the two most impressive Blue Jacket wins I can remember. To come back from 3-1 against a defensive minded team with a top goaltender is an accomplishment. But then to come from behind against one of the best teams in the NHL, the very next night, is truly noteworthy. Especially since Nashville wasn't playing back to back games themselves.

I take it 8 wins in 9 games is a franchise best at home for Columbus?

The Fedorov deal is looking better and better all the time. He is a remarkable player. It's rare that someone with his talent is so willing to do the dirty work. He's sacrificed his offense by spending a good portion of his minutes on the penalty kill. (Although he's been getting more than his share of points lately) He's also the most responsible forward the Blue Jackets have defensively.

The last 30 seconds of the Nashville game underscore Federov's value. He wins the key face off, then holds the puck in the Nashville end until time expires. That kind of stuff doesn't show up in the score sheet but it's the type of stuff Fedorov has been doing since he got to Columbus. No question he is still an elite player. Fantastic pick up. Nash getting healthy has been a pretty good thing for the team as well.

[jimotis4heisman]

jackets win again 4-3. luke richardson returned to the lineup last night wearing a contraption over his jaw to protect it.

some interesting stuff going on in the nhl also. andrew cassels, he played in columbus for two years, was waived by washington. and plans to return to columbus, though it is doubtful he will play. it is very telling for the city its self that a high profile player has decided to call columbus home on his own.


honestly folks if you havent been downtown to catch this team i encourage you to. they are playing as well as any team in hockey. the blue jackets have been really fun to watch lately, with the first line wizards wowing you, the the czech line and their poession game, the the speed and grit of the thrid line, and finally everyones favorite jody shelley and his fighting

[Bucky Katt]

Very impressive games for the Jackets. I had more-or-less written off Friday night's game after the second period. Likewise against the Preds, when they went up 3-2, I figured we stood little chance of coming back to win. I'm glad they made me feel stupid.

Nice article from today's Dispatch regarding late-game line changes.

Gallant’s tinkering pays dividends
Late-game line changes work for Jackets in past two wins
Monday, January 30, 2006
Aaron Portzline
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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With eight minutes left in a tight game Saturday against the Nashville Predators, Blue Jackets coach Gerard Gallant started tinkering.
This was not mindless tinkering, but the well-thought designs of a man who has coached 97 games in the NHL.
The score was tied 3-3 when Gallant put left winger Rick Nash on a line with center Jan Hrdina and right winger David Vyborny, and moved Trevor Letowski into Nash’s spot alongside center Sergei Fedorov and right winger Nikolai Zherdev. Jaroslav Balastik, who usually plays with Hrdina and Vyborny, was dropped to the No. 3 line.
Only three shifts later, with 1:23 left in the game, Nash and Vyborny combined to make Gallant look like a coaching genius.
Nash’s failed attempt at a wraparound goal sent the puck sliding through the slot to a wide-open Vyborny, who blasted home the winner in a 4-3 victory, the Jackets’ eighth in 11 games.
It’s the second straight game in which Gallant has changed the lines near the 12-minute mark of the third period.
And it’s the second straight time it has worked.
In a 4-3 win over Minnesota on Friday, it was the Letowski-Fedorov-Zherdev line that scored the winner — with a little help from Wild defenseman Nick Schultz — with 6:33 left.
After the game Saturday, Gallant explained his thinking.
At that stage of the game — the score tied, both clubs desperate to break the tie — Gallant is willing to give up a little bit of offensive firepower for a little more defensive responsibility.
The Blue Jackets’ dirty little secret is that Nash and Zherdev, while wondrous offensive talents, don’t always pay attention to defensive detail.
"Letowski’s a pretty safe defensive player, and you put him with Fedorov and Zherdev, that’s a pretty solid line defensively, but it has a chance to score, too," Gallant said.
"You put Nash with Vyborny and Hrdina, and it’s the same thing. Vyborny and Hrdina are real responsible defensively, and with Nash out there, there’s always a chance you’re going to score."
Doesn’t Vyborny know that.
The chemistry that Nash and Vyborny developed playing together during the 2003-04 season seems to reappear the moment they’re reunited. Nash had 41 goals that season; Vyborny had a career-high 53 points.
"I like to play with Nasher," Vyborny said. "Who wouldn’t?"
Gallant said he has pondered making the line changes permanent, but it’s unlikely he’ll do so before the Jackets play Wednesday in Calgary.
"Our top two lines have been very good," Gallant said, noting that the Nash-Fedorov-Zherdev line has totaled 22 goals and 58 points in 21 games since Nash returned from an injury on Dec. 17.
Plus, Gallant is intrigued by the spark the late-game line changes have provided.
And he likes that it gives opponents something else to think about.
On Wednesday, in Calgary, don’t be surprised if Gallant makes the same adjustments if the game is tied or the Blue Jackets are leading.
"(Opposing teams) are always trying to match up with Nash," Gallant said. "Like Nashville, they always wanted Greg Johnson’s line out there with Nash and Fedorov, and this makes them make a tough decision."
aportzline@dispatch.com

[BayBuck]

Originally Posted by jimotis4heisman

honestly folks if you havent been downtown to catch this team i encourage you to. they are playing as well as any team in hockey. the blue jackets have been really fun to watch lately, with the first line wizards wowing you, the the czech line and their poession game, the the speed and grit of the thrid line, and finally everyones favorite jody shelley and his fighting

Saturday was one of the best CBJ crowds I've seen. There's nothing a like a big weekend win over a hated rival (I love the constant jabs at the bumpkins from Nashville), especially to come from behind and win it in the waning minutes. Nash was his typical self, but I was happy to see Rusty tossing out a few assists as well.

[Buckin' A]

I was at the game Saturday. Great win and very exciting to watch. Two problems though...$6.00 beer and no fights.

[jimotis4heisman]

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=152741&hubname=nhl

GOALIES ON THE MOVE?: The Edmonton Oilers, meanwhile, continue to make phone calls as GM Kevin Lowe attempts to land a goaltender.
It's believed he called the Columbus Blue Jackets about Marc Denis but GM Doug MacLean doesn't appear that interested in trading the 28-year-old goalie. In fact, four clubs have inquired about Denis. Having said that, if MacLean gets an offer he can't refuse closer to the March 9 trade deadline, he could possibly change his mind.

[jimotis4heisman]

http://www.nhl.com/news/2006/01/254878.html

Blue Jackets' Vyborny named NHL Offensive Player of the week; Stars' Turco is top Defensive Player
NEW YORK/TORONTO -- Columbus Blue Jackets forward David Vyborny, who tallied seven points (two goals, five assists) in three games, has been named the NHL's Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, January 29. Dallas Stars goaltender Marty Turco, who led the Stars to four victories, three by shootout, with a 1.65 goals against average and .933 save percentage, is the League's Defensive Player of the Week.<o></o>
<table align="right" border="0" width="170"><tbody><tr><td align="center"></td></tr><tr><td align="left">David Vyborny</td></tr></tbody></table>Pittsburgh Penguins forward Mark Recchi, who posted eight points (4-4--8 in four games), Anaheim Mighty Ducks forward Teemu Selanne (2-5--7 in four games) and Carolina Hurricanes forward Justin Williams (2-5--7 in four games) were runners-up for offensive honors, while goaltenders Ilya Bryzgalov of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (2-0-0, 1.00 GAA, one shutout) and Roberto Luongo of the Florida Panthers (2-0-0, 1.60 GAA, one shutout in three games) were runners-up for the defensive award.<o></o>

Vyborny recorded points in each game as the Blue Jackets went 3-0-0 for the week. He recorded three assists in a 6-5 victory over the Vancouver Canucks Jan. 24, posted two assists in a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild Jan. 27 and notched two goals, including the game-winner late in the third period, in a 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators Jan. 28.<o></o>

Vyborny has collected 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in his past 11 games, leading Columbus to an 8-3-0 record in that span. He leads the club in goals, assists and points with 15-23--38 in 50 games and will represent the Czech Republic at next month's Olympic Games in Turin, Italy.<o></o> Turco, who will represent Canada at the Turin Games, began the week by making 17 saves as the Stars defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 4-1 on Jan. 23. He went on to post three consecutive shootout victories, against the St. Louis Blues (4-3, Jan. 25), Colorado Avalanche (3-2, Jan. 26) and Detroit Red Wings (2-1, Jan. 28), stopping six of nine shootout attempts. Turco has won each of his six shootout decisions this season; the Stars are 8-0 overall.<o></o>
Appearing in 43 of Dallas' 51 games this season, Turco has posted a 26-13-2 record, a 2.52 goals-against average and .898 save percentage. The Stars (34-15-2, 70 points) lead the Pacific Division and are fourth in the overall NHL standings. They host San Jose tonight and Nashville Wednesday before playing at St. Louis Saturday (2 p.m., ET, NBC).