2006-2007 COVERAGE

Nash’s goal in OT gives Jackets win over Stars
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
After coasting through the first 45 minutes of the game Thursday, the Columbus Blue Jackets rallied to defeat the Dallas Stars 2-1 in overtime.  Rick Nash scored the game-winner 64 seconds into overtime with a wrist shot from the center of the slot that beat Stars goaltender Mike Smith on the high glove side. Geoff Platt, who corralled a Nash miss in the corner and got the puck back to the Jackets’ All-Star, set up the goal. ..more
 

Detroit blanks Columbus 4-0 in nationally televised game.
By Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired
The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 in front of 17,450 fans at Nationwide Arena and to 75% of the national audience on NBC...more
 

Rough 3rd Period Dooms Jackets
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
After rallying to beat the Anaheim Ducks twice this season, the Columbus Blue Jackets got a taste of their own medicine Thursday night in Nationwide Arena. The Ducks scored four unanswered goals en route to a 5-2 victory...more

Columbus gives St. Louis the Blues
By Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired
The Columbus Blue Jackets extended their winning streak to three games with a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues at Nationwide Arena. Derrick Walser, Fredrik Modin and Geoff Platt scored; Manny Malhotra added a goal and an assist and Jason Chimera tallied three assists in the win in front of the 16,007 home fans...more

Predators take a bite out of the Jackets with 4-3 overtime win.
by Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired
The Nashville Predators extended their season winning season with their victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 4-3 overtime victory at Nationwide Arena.  Nashville (42-18-4) has dominated the Jackets this year winning all seven contests by a goal margin of 26-11.  The fourteen points gained against Columbus have helped propel the Predators into first place in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the Detroit Red Wings...more

Jackets ugly once again losing 4-0 to Edmonton
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
The defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers came to Nationwide Arena Thursday with a four-game losing streak. When they left, the streak was broken with a 4-0 win over the Blue Jackets in front of 15,541. It’s the second straight game in Nationwide where the visitors have come in a broke a losing streak. Montreal did it on Sunday with a 3-2 win...more

Columbus drops fourth game of six-game home stand to Montreal
by Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired
The Montreal Canadians made a rare appearance in Columbus, scored three 2nd period goals and skated off with a 3-2 victory, snapping their six-game losing streak, in front of 16,116 announced fans at Nationwide Arena. The Jackets have hosted the Canadians only once, losing 3-1 on Nov. 12, 2001...more

Columbus Comes Up Empty Again In 4-2 Loss to St. Louis
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
On Sunday, Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock called out certain players after the 5-4 loss to Chicago.  Three nights later, Hitchcock praised the play of Nikolai Zherdev for his play, but it wasn’t enough as the Jackets fell 4-2 to the St. Louis Blues in front of an announced crowd of 14,295 at Nationwide Arena...more

Chicago victory drops Columbus to the basement
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
Accountability has been the general theme of Ken Hitchcock ever since he arrived in Columbus on Thanksgiving Day.  Roughly two months later, Hitchcock said changes have to be made to make the Blue Jackets a successful franchise coming on the heels of a 5-4 loss to Chicago in front of 17,054 at Nationwide Arena Sunday and a regionally televised audience...more

Columbus snaps 3-game losing streak with 2-1 victory over Calgary
Fredrik Modin and David Vyborny scored goals 47 seconds apart in the third period as the Columbus Blue Jackets erased a 1-0 deficit against the Calgary Flames, ending their 3-game losing streak...more

Phoenix extends Columbus’ losing streak with 3-0 victory over Jackets
By Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired
The Phoenix Coyotes were late to the game due to weather and traffic, but left Columbus with a 3-0 victory over the struggling Blue Jackets in front of a sparse crowd at Nationwide Arena. Steven Reinprecht, Shane Doan and Michael Zigomanis lead the way for Phoenix, while Curtis Joseph stopped all 26 shots to earn his third shutout of the season...more

Third Line Impressive In Jackets 3-2 Win Over Buffalo
By Dave Weissman
Buffalo brought their high powered offense came to Columbus looking for an easy victory. But, it was Columbus’ third line scoring two third period goals to lift the Blue Jackets to a 3-2 victory over the Sabres...more

White Out Night for Columbus
By Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired
Jarred Smithson scored two first period goals to lead the Nashville Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jackets in the back end of a home-home series. Paul Kariya and Shea Weber also tallied goals for Nashville. 16,825 fans mostly dressed in the free t-shirts given away by the team and Fox Sports booed early and often showing their disappointment with the team’s effort...more

Columbus Loses Seesaw Battle 7-4 to Detroit
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
If the Columbus Blue Jackets move to the Eastern Conference next season, one player the team won’t miss playing on a regular basis is Detroit’s Daniel Cleary.  The Red Wings right winger scored three goals, including the game-winner, to lead his team over Columbus 7-4 in front of 17,408 in Nationwide Arena Thursday...more

Columbus Pulls Out a Fantastic Finish
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
The Blue Jackets rallied from a two-goal deficit in the second period to defeat the Boston Bruins 5-4 in overtime in front of 17,376 at Nationwide Arena Tuesday night.  David Vyborny set up the game-tying goal with 23 seconds remaining in the third period and scored the game-winner with 1:54 remaining in overtime to lift the Jackets, who improved to 8-8-2 on home ice...more

Hockey Holiday in Columbus
By Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired
Aaron Johnson and Anson Carter scored first period goals and Rick Nash added another to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in the last home game before Christmas. 15,681 fans at Nationwide were treated to hockey holiday in Columbus with the best gift of all, the 100th home victory for the franchise...more

Jackets Impressive Against Detroit on National Television
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
The entire nation got a look at the new-look Columbus Blue Jackets Monday night. With the Versus television cameras running, the Columbus Blue Jackets scored three first period goals and held on to beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in front of 17,046 at Nationwide Arena...more

Jackets on a roll
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
The Columbus Blue Jackets set a single-game record with five power play goals as they defeated the Ottawa Senators 6-2 in front of 15,797 at Nationwide Arena Sunday night for its fourth straight win...more

New Look Jackets Snap 8-Game Losing Streak
By Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired
The new look Jackets took to the ice with Ken Hitchcock making his home coaching debut against the Minnesota Wild. Columbus (6-14-2) fought back twice and eventually won the game in fantastic fashion 5-3. Sergei Fedorov had two goals and two assists. Anson Carter had a goal and two assists. Nikolai Zherdev and Fredrik Modin also had goals as Columbus snapped an eight game losing streak...more

Columbus Hires Hitchcock
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
When Columbus Blue Jackets owner John H. McConnell asked general manager Doug MacLean to give him a recommendation for who should be the new coach, he receive exactly what he wanted – a proven winner. The Jackets announced the hiring of Ken Hitchcock as the team’s new head coach Wednesday before the team played St. Louis in Nationwide Arena...more

Columbus Drops Sixth In A Row
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
The Columbus Blue Jackets tried to give interim coach Gary Agnew a farewell present Wednesday night before he returns to a supporting role for the organization in the form of a win.  After leading with just over two minutes remaining in the game, Columbus blew the lead and ended up with a 4-3 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues 3-3 in front of 15,279 in Nationwide Arena...more

Nashville has Columbus' Number Again, Again and Again
by Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired
Paul Kariya scored a goal and set up another leading the Nashville Predators to a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The announced crowd was 16,174, but seems that at least 4,000 came dressed as empty blue seats...more

In The End, Same Ole Story
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
With Gary Agnew behind the bench, the Columbus Blue Jackets fell to the Nashville Predators 5-4 in front of 16,283 at Nationwide Arena Wednesday night. The Jackets led by a goal with eight minutes remaining in the game, but mistakes on the defensive end and no power play goals were the difference...more

History’s Shadow Darkens Fans’ Perception of Jackets
By Steve Sirk
If there’s one thing the Columbus Blue Jackets have historically excelled at, it’s extinguishing optimism. And they don’t waste much time doing it. Through the years, the Jackets’ Octobers have been more frightening than Halloween; their Novembers more injurious to the human spirit than campaign attack ads...more

Edmonton Hands Columbus Another Loss
By DAVE SEAMAN, Columbus Wired
In the six-year history of the Columbus Blue Jackets, certain players have feasted on the team’s goaltenders.  Names like Todd Bertuzzi, Joe Sakic and Keith Tkachuk have had career nights against the Jackets. On Friday night, another “Jacket Killer” took center stage.   Ryan Smith, who came into the game with 22 points in 19 games against Columbus, scored two goals to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a 4-1 win in front of 16,902 in Nationwide Arena...more

Columbus Defeats Calgary In Shootout
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
For the second straight Friday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets found a way to win despite not playing its best hockey. Manny Malhotra won the game for the Jackets in the 11th round of the shootout when he put the puck between the legs of Calgary goaltender Jamie McLennan. Columbus won 5-4 and gained an important two points at Nationwide Arena...more

Even with effort, Columbus loses to Colorado 5-3
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
The best offensive effort of the early season was wasted Wednesday night by the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 5-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.  Columbus out shot Colorado 44-22 but could not convert on its 13 scoring chances and only one of eight on the power play in the loss. The Avalanche are now 18-1-2 against the Jackets...more

Columbus defeat L.A. Kings 2-0, ending a four-game losing streak
By Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired
The Columbus Blue Jackets, on the shoulders and pads of goaltender Pascal Leclaire, ended their four-game losing streak defeating the Los Angeles Kings 2-0, taking only 14 shots in the game. Nikolai Zherdev and Fredrik Modin scored for the Blue Jackets; while Pascal Leclaire (3-3-1) stopped all 38 shots faced to earn his first NHL shutout...more

Sharks Feast on Jackets 3-0.
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
The Columbus Blue Jackets lost their fourth straight game Monday night, falling 3-0 to the San Jose Sharks in front of 16,067 in Nationwide Arena.   Like the previous loss in Pittsburgh Saturday, the Jackets gave up a power play goal inside the first three minutes of the game. To top that, they gave up a second power play goal minutes into the second period.  Game over...more

NHL Schedule Makes Leafs’ Visit An Uneventful Event
By Steve Sirk
To Western Conference teams, they are the NHL’s version of Halley’s Comet. The Toronto Maple Leafs made a rare appearance at Nationwide Arena on Friday night, as their triennial orbit of the Western Conference took them to Central Ohio for only the second time in their history...more
 

Jackets Pounded 4-2 by Toronto
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
Toronto comes to Columbus every three or so years. Many Blue Jackets fans hope they never come back.  The Maple Leafs scored three second-period goals and played stellar defense to beat the Blue Jackets 4-2 in front of 17,303 at Nationwide Arena Friday night...more
 

Blue Jackets defeat Phoenix 5-1, energized by Zherdev's Season Debut
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
Welcome back Nikolai Zherdev.  Just over 24 hours after landing in the United States, the Russian scored two goals to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets past the Phoenix Coyotes 5-1 in front of 16,298 at Nationwide Arena Monday night...more

Blue Jackets Lose 3-2 in OT in Home Opener
by Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
The new-look Columbus Blue Jackets opened the 2006-07 campaign Friday night with talk of the playoffs and the promise of an improved team. When the final buzzer sounded, the Vancouver Canucks rallied from a two-goal deficit in the last 10 minutes, 31 seconds of the game to defeat the Jackets 3-2 in overtime...more

It’s not the Big Apple, but Columbus is alive tonight
By Tami Kamin-Meyer, Columbus Wired Columnist
On a night when local stages featured the likes of the incomparable Barbra Streisand and country crooner Toby Keith (different stage, that is), the Columbus Blue Jackets played their 2006-07 NHL season opener against the Vancouver Canucks before a sold-out crowd at Nationwide Arena..“This is my first opening game ever,” said Jay Canowitz, a Columbus lawyer who attends several Blue Jackets games every season. “I like coming to games because it is a lot more fun watching the game in person than on television,” he said...more

JACKETS EARN 4-2 VICTORY OVER STANLEY CUP CHAMPS
by Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
If the old cliché is true, the Columbus Blue Jackets are going to do good things this season.  The cliché of beating the man to be the man that is. The Jackets defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 in front of an announced 13,297 at Nationwide Arena Sunday evening...more

JACKETS LOSE PENALTY-MARRED CONTEST, 5-2, TO HAWKS
by Steve Sirk, Columbus Wired
On the strength of 3 power play goals, the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 on Friday night at Nationwide Arena. The loss dropped the Blue Jackets to 2-2 in the pre-season...more

Blue Jackets impressive in 4-1 pre-season win
By Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired
Anson Carter made his Columbus Blue Jacket debut Tuesday night and scored a goal and an assist in a 4-1 preseason win over Buffalo in front of 13,037 at Nationwide Arena...more