More photos » Ann Heisenfelt - AP

3 months ago: Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Rick Nash (61) shoots on Minnesota Wild goalie Nicklas Backstrom of Finland to score during the second period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

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Hey guys. I'm handling the game recap today. Clint is with his wife in the hospital, who was taken in to induce labor. Pretty soon we'll have a little Clint running around! Congrats, buddy!

OK down to business. In their first trip to Minnesota this year, the Blue Jackets looked to put a stop to their 13-game funk. After last night, it became a 14-game funk. The Jackets are continuing a streak of futility that resembles the early years (2-8-4 for those keeping track). The Minnesota Wild, on the other hand, are surging; having moved to 8-2-1 in their last 11 games.

Looking at the score sheet, this game could've been viewed as a very disciplined game, or candidate for 'Most Boring Game of the Year.' Shots were few and far between, penalties were practically non-existant (2 in the second period, 1 to each team.) The Jackets held their first lead in the last 4 games, but it was all for not. It lasted less than five minutes.

With the game not being televised, its a little tough to nit-pick about players and coaching. Rick Nash finally gets back on the board with his 17th goal and Jason Chimera has posted points in 6 of his last 7 games. Other than that, the game seemed to just drag on for days.

Late in the third Hitch called a time out to gather the troops. It seemed like a good time out by Hitch, but it turned around to bite him. Mikko Koivu won the ensuing face off to set up Marek Zidlicky's winning goal that went high on Mason.

Next up, Phoenix.

Did you know? The Jackets are 0-4-3 in their last 7 away from Nationwide. Road games continue to be the Achilles' heel for this team. Time to stop the bleeding!

Mancrush: Chimmer. He's been setting up goals at will since his move up the depth chart. Keep it going!

Doghouse: Hitch. Again. When did Nikita Filatov come back to town? Oh, that wasn't him? My mistake, it was Derick Brassard logging a measley 8:29 of ice time. Only Andrew Murray and Jared Boll logged less minutes. Yeah, even Fredrik Modin was out there longer. What is going on? I'm going to share this honor with Jan Hejda. He did nothing to stop Guillaume Latendresse from scooping the centering pass into the net for the tying goal in the second.

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