Columbus Blue Jackets

Blackhawks Look to Maintain Dominance Over Blue Jackets

February 17, 2012

The dreaded nine-game losing streak endured by a severely frustrated Chicago Blackhawks team came to an end on Thursday night with a victory over the best team in the Eastern Conference, the New York Rangers.

Chicago now prepares to avoid a similar fate tomorrow afternoon when they are hosted by the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets. This will be the fifth of six meetings between the two clubs.

Despite the obvious appearance of the NHL's last place team in the standings, the Columbus Blue Jackets are 4-2 in their last six games. Now that's not necessarily anything to write home about, but compared to what the Hawks just went through, coupled with the fact that there is...

Trade winds blowing in Philadelphia

February 12, 2012

Matthew Brigidi

3 Comments

It’s been talked about since captain Chris Pronger went down for the season in December, but now the question resonates louder than it ever has before.

Who are they going to get?

With the February 27 trade deadline quickly approaching, rumors have been swirling as to what the Philadelphia Flyers plan to do to make their promising team a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference.

As each day ends and a new one begins, the anticipation to what will be done becomes more palpable.

Crucial game for the Stars in Columbus

February 9, 2012

George Royle

0 Comments

The Stars take on a struggling Columbus Blue Jackets side at the Nationwide Arena tonight. The Jackets' season is practically over as they currently sit rock bottom of the NHL with just 36 points from 53 games. In contrast, the Stars season is still very much alive, as they continue to fight to break into the top eight in the Western Conference, currently sitting 2 points behind eighth.

Dallas comes into tonight’s game after suffering a disappointing 4-1 loss to divisional rivals Phoenix in Texas on Tuesday. Despite having more shots in the game, they lacked the cutting edge and didn’t finish off the few chances that they created. Dallas have constantly relied on Kar...

Kings beat Blue Jackets 3-2 at the buzzer; should the game have gone to OT?

February 2, 2012

Hockeybroad

1 Comment

Under their new coach, the Blue Jackets have shown new life. And while they aren't winning any more than they did under Arniel, Wednesday's game against the Kings was tight and exciting, especially in the third. To judge the intensity of the final minutes, you wouldn't have thought that it was the worst team in the NHL vs. a Western playoff contender.

And if you tuned in to NHL Tonight, and hadn't watched the game, you might be impressed that the Kings pulled out a win with just 0.4 seconds left on the clock. But that's not the whole story of the Kings' win.

LA got on the board at 8:40 of the first; Columbus tied it up early in the second. The...

The All-Star Game Travels to...Columbus?

January 30, 2012

Bryan Wright

2 Comments

So another mind-numbingly boring All Star game has come and gone. As in years past, the game has proven to be of interest only to the local fans that live in the host city. But I can’t really fault the NHL for it being so boring, nobody wants to see anybody injured in an exhibition game, and without any kind of physical play, there can’t really be any good entertainment. But something very interesting did come out of this weekend’s game; the decision to host next year’s event in Columbus, Ohio.

In my mind, Columbus is the weakest team in the league right now. A lot of the relocation or failing franchise talk is centered on Phoenix, cur...

Shootout Success Supplies Sixteenth Straight At Home

January 22, 2012

A.K. Bennett

2 Comments

The Red Wings are now riding a six game winning streak thanks in no small part to their new found success in the shootout. Detroit was able to secure their sixteenth straight win at Joe Louis by beating the NHL-worst Blue Jackets 3-2.

Detroit didn’t show much life at the start of the game and Ryan Russell of Columbus struck first at 8:51 off a rebound. The Red Wings tied it at 1 off a wicked wrister by Kronwall at 11:34 of the first. The only penalty in the first was a hooking call on Tomas Holmstrom. The Blue Jackets outshot Detroit 7-5.

The Red Wings came out stronger in the second and carried much of the p...

Klementyev Says "Nyet," Isles Say "Goodbye"

January 7, 2012

Rob McGowan

1 Comment

The New York Islanders sent out an official press-release today stating that Russian defensive prospect Anton Klementyev has been suspended by the club for a failure to report to his ECHL assignment to the Idaho Steelheads.

Per the Islanders official press-release:

UNIONDALE, NY (January 7, 2012) – The New York Islanders announced today that defenseman Anton Klementyev has been suspended for failure to report for his ECHL assignment to the Idaho Steelheads. Klementyev began the 2011-12 season with the Islanders American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Welcome Back, Defense

December 27, 2011

Matt Cefalu

0 Comments

It appears that the Chicago Blackhawks defensive issues are no longer much of an issue at all.

The Chicago Blackhawks used a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at the United Center to maintain first place in the NHL with 50 points.

Red-hot Viktor Stalberg scored two goals, Dave Bolland and Marian Hossa posted two points apiece and the Blackhawks won their second straight to maintain an 8-1-1 record in their last 10 games.

Corey Crawford regained his starting goaltender form en route to the Chicago win as he stopped 37 of 38 shots by the Blue Jackets, who have lost 5 games in a row and are 2-7-1 in their last ten.

Patrick Sharp kicked off the scoring about f...

What to do with Johan?

December 12, 2011

Matt Bernot

0 Comments

Lost in the goalie mix since the 2011 playoffs is Johan Backlund?

Backlund started one game for the Flyers in March 2010 and left after two periods due to a groin injury. He was out until the playoffs where during the second round comeback against Boston. He played just over one minute of game action in relief of Brian Boucher.

In 2010-11, Backlund spent most of the season as the Phantoms starter, before Michael Leighton arrived in January via waivers.

This season, he was part of a three goalie rotation with the Phantoms with Leighton and Jason Bacashihua before suffering a hip injury in November.

Blue Jackets Down, Battle of Alberta Next

December 3, 2011

Glenn Brewer

1 Comment

With a convincing victory last night against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Edmonton Oilers continue to clime the Western Conference standings.

With 29 points, the Oilers are tied for the 8th spot in the conference and tied for 2nd in the division. Despite the recent injuries, the Oilers have kept pace to compete for a playoff spot. Breaking a mini 3 game losing streak was important, despite the opposition.

To say the Columbus Blue Jackets have had a rough season is an understatement. The Blue Jackets have been riding a hot goalie in Curtis Sanford. The Oilers have the best home power play and they proved why early in the game. Jordan E...