NHL
The numbers tell the story: Blue Jackets coming to life
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Michael Arace
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--> <table class="phototableright" align="right" border="0"><!-- begin large ad code --> <tbody><tr><td> <table align="center"></table> </td></tr> </tbody></table>
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Blue Jackets, left for dead a month ago, are gaining a pulse. It’s showing up on their latest medical charts.
Here are some numbers: The Blue Jackets are 2-2-1 in their past five games, all on the road. This is a team that didn’t win more than nine road games in any of its first four seasons.
"You need your goaltender to be a star on the road if you’re going to do anything," coach Gerard Gallant said. "We’ve gotten some pretty good performances of late."
Here are some numbers: Pascal Leclaire had 46 saves and was the No. 1 star in a shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night, when the Blue Jackets took a point out of the Pepsi Center for the first time. Marc Denis had 32 saves against the Phoenix Coyotes on Sunday night, when the Blue Jackets won in Arizona for the first time.
"The last five games, we’re .500 on the road, which represents a major turnaround for us," Denis said. "Hopefully, this is the start of something."
Here are some numbers: Denis is 66-32-11 in his career with the Blue Jackets when he has three goals with which to work. He had a 3-1 lead after one period against the Coyotes. He had a 4-2 lead after two. He had 17 saves and backstopped three penalty kills in the third period. The Jackets won 5-2.
In the first game of the second half of their season, they finally managed to score five goals. An aberration?
Here are some numbers: The Blue Jackets’ top line of Rick Nash-Sergei Fedorov-Nikolai Zherdev has amassed 19 points the past five games. Nash has nine goals in 11 games since returning from injury. Fedorov has six points in the past three games.
"Even in the games I missed, you could see things turning around," defenseman Bryan Berard said. "I think we’re taking the steps we need to. When we’re competitive for longer stretches and skating well, we’re a tough team to beat."
Here are some numbers: Berard, with a hat trick in Glendale Arena, has five points in three games since returning from a back injury. Blue Jackets defensemen have 24 points in the past eight games.
"I like the fact that we won," Fedorov said after dishing out four assists, including the 600 th of his career, against the Coyotes. "I like the fact that everyone worked so hard. I like the fact that everyone’s really excited about the win.
"Are we turning a corner? I hope so, but we’ll see when we play the next game, and the next game, and the next game. We felt like we were doing the right thing for a long time, but not for 60 minutes, and 60 minutes is the game. Part of being a professional athlete is facing adversity almost every game. We have faced adversity, and I’m glad guys are keeping their chins up and working hard."
Here are some numbers: The Blue Jackets, with the worst power play in the league, have converted on five of their past 10 opportunities with the man advantage. Special teams are crucial in the new NHL. The Blue Jackets are plus-1 at even strength their past eight games. A power-play goal, or a timely kill, greatly impacts their bottom line.
This is the bottom line: The Blue Jackets are 4-2-1 in their past seven and 8-9-1 in their past 18. Staggering? No. But the sign of a pulse, at least. They were 5-18 on Nov. 25.
Disa and data
The Blue Jackets sent forwards Peter Sarno and Ben Simon and defenseman Jamie Pushor to their minor-league affiliate in Syracuse. . . . Sarno became the 40 th player to wear a Jackets jersey this season when he was recalled Sunday to take the place of center Jan Hrdina (flu-like symptoms). . . . Pushor was a healthy scratch in Colorado and Arizona, but after the team picked up three points in those games, he quipped, "I’m a chemistry guy." . . . It is being projected that captain Adam Foote (groin/hip) will be ready for the next game, against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night in Nationwide Arena. Foote has missed 13 of the past 20 games. . . . Center Manny Malhotra (dislocated sternal-clavicular joint), the last important veteran on injured reserve, is still 10 to 14 days from returning. . . . Defenseman Cale Hulse played in his 600 th career game Sunday night.
[email protected]
Sorry I missed spelling in my last russian class
