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Around SBN: Identifying The 19th-Best Team In Baseball

Game 36 Open Thread: Flames At Jackets

Columbus Blue Jackets' Rick Nash, front, carries the puck around the net as Calgary Flames' Brendan Morrison defends during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010, in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets beat the Flames 3-1. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Since I'm...ah...temporarily underemployed this week (I start a new gig after the new year, don't worry about me), I ran down to get some video from the pre-game skate and Scott Arniel's press conference. Take a look!



The good news, as coach Arniel said, is that the Flames haven't actually gotten into a full game yet, so hopefuly the Jackets will be able to make that work for them.

The bad news is that the Jackets will have to go back to back, and Steve Mason will be asked to get himself up and "stop the bleeding" given the news that Curtis Sanford is banged up.

The NHL's trade freeze will "thaw" at midnight. A change in Columbus seems inevitable, but what form it may take could be shaped by what happens tonight.

In hopeful jinx news, Jarome Iginla is a hat trick away from 500 career NHL goals. Yeah.

The weather is getting ugly out there. Be safe!

Poll
Will the Jackets it 3-0 vs. Calgary this year?
Yes
6 votes
No
16 votes

22 votes | Poll has closed

29 comments  | 

Emergency Game Thread: Jackets @ Hawks

Holla. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam )

Holiday travel has disrupted our usual schedules! Madness! MADNESS!

Emergency game thread, dawg! CALL EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!

Poll
Was Santa good to you this year?
Yes
14 votes
No
5 votes
Depends on what happens tonight?
5 votes

24 votes | Poll has closed

18 comments  | 

Game 34 Open Thread: Jackets at Predators

What can be done once can be done twice. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

With the Jackets down south for the first of seven road games between now and January 13th, an interesting rumor broke on ESPN today.

Claiming that Scott Howson is looking to line up a "large deal" after the NHL's holiday roster freeze expires, the natural impulse is to wonder what might happen.

Could he declare the Jeff Carter experiment a failure and ship the recent acquisition out to another interested buyer? (Preferably for a return of picks or prospects), or perhaps finally cut ties with Steve Mason?

Could Fedor Tyutin find himself on the move after signing a 6 year deal? Would Howson consider trading Rick Nash if he could get the power forward to agree to waive his no-trade clause?

What constitutes a "large" deal? Just moving Derick Brassard for some goaltending help or another strong d-man might be "large" enough to make a big impact on the ice. Or perhaps he finds a taker for Vinny Prospal to give the veteran a shot at a cup this season while giving the Jackets some help.

It will be interesting to see what, if anything, comes to pass after December 27th.

Meanwhile, tonight, the Jackets have a chance to give their fans one last gift before they go home for the holidays - here's hoping that Curtis Sanford can regain some of the stellar form he showed the last time he took the ice down in Bridgestone Arena.

Poll
Do you think a "large" trade is imminent?
No way Howson finds a taker
12 votes
This team will look totally different next month
15 votes
He may make a deal, but it won't be "big".
49 votes

76 votes | Poll has closed

137 comments  | 

Game 33 Open Thread: Jackets at Blues

Steve Mason gets the surprise start tonight after Curtis Sanford experienced back spasms.   (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images)

There's been one major development since the preview: according to Aaron Portzline of the Dispatch it looks like Steve Mason will get the start tonight, after Curtis Sanford experienced back spasms earlier today.

This is another chance for Mason to earn the number one job back. His performance between now and the end of the season will dictate whether he'll be back with the team next season. I'm pulling for him, but at this point it's a game-by-game audition. He's a good goaltender, but he needs to get some things sorted out.

Tonight would also be a good opportunity for the top line of Rick Nash, Jeff Carter and Vinny Prospal to have a truly dominant game. Talent-wise, they are one of the best in the league. Now it's time to prove it on a far more regular basis.

I put an end to my fearless predictions, but here's one anyway- James Wisniewski will score tonight.

See you after the game with the recap.

Poll
Is this Scott Arniel's last game as coach of the Jackets?
If they lose, yes.
7 votes
No, he'll be the coach at the end of the season.
27 votes
He'll be fired after tonight, win or lose.
1 votes
He'll be fired, but it will happen after the holidays.
19 votes

54 votes | Poll has closed

125 comments  | 

Game 32 Open Thread: Lightning At Jackets

Last time Mason faced the Lightning at Nationwide, the Jackets won 3-2. Let's hope for a little Deja Vu. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Time for a little game action.

If you missed the updates, Dane Byers and Aaron Johnson will be out, so Ryan Johansen will draw in on the second line, while Mark Letestu is expected to play on the fourth line but keep rolling with PP units. Derek Dorsett will be reunited with Umby and Pahlsson - here's hoping that line clicks once again, as the Jackets can use all the secondary scoring they can get.

Steve Mason will make his second start of the home stand, and hopes to give the Jackets a chance to pull 5 points from the 5 game set. Not the result anyone wanted, but I suspect he'll be satisfied with a victory in his second start this month. The Jackets will be off for a brief Central Division road trip through the end of next week, then back for a visit from Calgary, a trip to Dallas, and finishing the month with the New Year's Eve game vs. Washington.

I wouldn't be shocked if Dorsett and Steve Downie get to know each other tonight - particularly if Dorsett gets assignments against the Stamkos line.

Enjoy the pre-game ceremonies to honor Vinny Prospal, and let's hope the team gives him a nice holiday gift with a big effort on home ice.

Go Jackets!

Poll
Will Vinny Prospal get a goal after his pre-game party?
Yes
0 votes
No
9 votes
Hat Trick!
1 votes

10 votes | Poll has closed

75 comments  | 

Game 30 Open Thread: Jackets vs. Canucks

Byers and Clitter. Yup.  (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

Let's not sugar coat this, the Jackets have their work cut out for them tonight. The Canucks are hot, very hot, right now, winning nine of their last ten games. Columbus will need to make the most of every powerplay, and will need to avoid taking penalties themselves.

The biggest story for tonight's game remains Steve Mason- the team's franchise goaltender will make his first start in almost a month. How the team in front of him responds to him being back in the cage remains to be seen, but Mason has had a lot of time to work with goaltending coach Ian Clark. There's no denying the fact that Mason will need to be strong tonight against the Canucks.

Look for Dane Byers to come out banging bodies tonight, looking to make an impact after being called up from Springfield yesterday.

Poll
Easy one- how will Mase fair tonight?
He'll remind us of Calder Mase.
10 votes
He'll be serviceable.
10 votes
He's going to get shelled.
12 votes

32 votes | Poll has closed

198 comments  | 

Game Thread 29: Boston Bruins at Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets vs. Bruins - Saturday, December 10, 2011

Start #12 for Curtis Sanford, against the team where his streak began.

In some non-Jackets feel good news: A reconstituted Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team will take the ice for their first game since the tragic plane crash earlier this year in a few days. Tickets sold out within hours of going on sale. Best of luck to them.

Meanwhile, back at home, Scott Howson held another Season Ticket Holder meeting today. I wasn't able to attend this one, but there was a lot of interesting talk on Twitter as the GM once again faced hard questions with frank answers.

  • On James Wisniewski and Brendan Shanahan: "I think he was made an example of, and Andy Sutton had better get nailed."
  • On hosting an All Star Game: "We're on the radar and it looks good, but no commitment for when."
  • On Jeff Carter: "His mental state is not where we want it to be, given the struggles."
  • Areas of Focus going forward: "We've got to get better in goal and defense."
  • Derick Brassard: "It's up to Brass to take advantage of the opportunities he's given."

I give Howson credit for some hard truth, but I wonder how that's going to affect how people look at Carter, Brass, and especially Steve Mason and Curtis Sanford. When your current starter is the third string goalie, it's not a great day, but he's still 5-3-3. Not exactly setting things on fire, but not terrible either. It's a big game tonight - do we need to put more pressure on the netminder's shoulders?

For additional reading and a change of pace, check out Ten Minute Misconduct, where he took in the OSU / Miami U men's hockey game at the Schott last night.

Poll
Who will respond with a big game after Howson's criticism?
Curtis Sanford
2 votes
Jeff Carter
10 votes
Derick Brassard
4 votes
Everyone
2 votes

18 votes | Poll has closed

83 comments  | 

Game 26 Open Thread: Jackets at Oilers

He's back... (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jimmy Jeong)

To keep up with Dan's theme, welcome to the Dark Side of the Schwartz. With the matchup tonight in Rexall place starting late, we'll make a pot of coffee, get on our comfy jammies, and perhaps indulge with a bit of brandy in the mug. It is Friday night, after all.

News out of the Albertan wilderness is that Kristian Huselius will return from the IR tonight to play in his first game of the season. You may recall when he did something similar against the Oilers last season and came away with a hat trick...but unfortunately Steve Mason couldn't stop a beach ball that night, so the Jackets lost 6-3. Hopefully we can give him a better welcome back present tonight since Curtis Sanford is confirmed as the starter.

The real question is how the Jackets' lineup will adjust with Juice back in the picture. Do you move him to the wing with Johansen and Letestu? Does Prospal bump down to put Juice with Nash and Carter, and Umberger goes to the third line? It seems like Cody Bass would be scratched, but would the team take advantage of the chaos to sneak Derick Brassard back in on the fourth line? Is this the start (again?) of three scoring lines?

We have many questions, but few answers. Perhaps the pre-game skate will offer some clarity...

Poll
Will Juice score in his first game back?
Yes!
4 votes
No!
9 votes
....maybe?
4 votes

17 votes | Poll has closed

139 comments  | 

Game 25 Open Thread: Jackets at Flames

Curtis Sanford will need to continue his run of hot play against the Flames tonight.   (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

As has been the case more often than not of late, center Derick Brassard is a healthy scratch tonight against the Flames. This was apparently the last straw for Brassard's agent, Allan Walsh. Walsh issued a statement blasting coach Scott Arniel, accusing the coach of burying players to mask his own lack of success. Head over to Puck Rakers for the full statement.

I'm not sure where I sit on the whole Brassard thing. I can't see the current top six (Nash, Carter, Prospal, Umberger, Letestu and Johansen) not playing on one of the top two lines. Brass is not a checker, so there goes playing with Vermette or Pahlsson. For a player who's improved every season since he joined the NHL, even if he was playing on the fourth line regularly I would consider it to be a waste. Having him in the pressbox is even more of a waste.

To muddle things even further, slick winger Kristian Huselius could be back in the lineup as soon as this weekend. Would Arniel take this opportunity to create three scoring lines? Nash, Carter and Prospal as the big unit. Huselius, Letestu and Johansen another line. A third scoring line of Umberger, Vermette and Brassard. That would leave Dorsett, Pahlsson, MacKenzie, Boll and Bass to fight over the three fourth line spots.

Anyway, back to the game.

It'll be an interesting tilt. With both teams blowing the big one on special teams, this game will come down to five-on-five play, and goaltending. Sanford is playing very well of late, and Kiprusoff is still an elite goaltender. It will be important for the Jackets to get ahead early. The Nash line will need to play as well as they did in a 4-1 victory against Calgary earlier this season.

Stay tuned after the game for my recap.

Poll
How do you feel about Brassard's agent Allan Walsh's comments re. Coach Arniel?
Agree with Walsh. Arniel is burying Brassard to hide his lack of success
14 votes
Disagree. It's up to Brassard to give Arniel a reason to play him.
33 votes
Derick Who?
9 votes

56 votes | Poll has closed

86 comments  | 

Game 23 Open Thread: Blues at Blue Jackets

Photo

No big news out of today's morning skate other than Steve Mason coming in to back up Curtis Sanford, and Allen York being send back to Springfield.

We're about to have a clash of irresistible forces and immovable objects - the Blues, who have been riding a hot streak all month, vs. Curtis Sanford and his 1.00 GAA on home ice this season. With all the stories involved in tonight's matchup, you have to think that a lot of guys will have their juices flowing, and who knows what could happen?

R.J. Umberger has had quite a bit of success against St. Louis. Rick Nash and David Backes seem to have a constant battle when they meet up on the ice. Ryan Reaves and Jared Boll seem quite likely to renew hostilities. And just what impact will Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski have on this matchup?

If you're not at the game, stop here to keep an eye on the game, and we'll see what shakes out tonight down at Nationwide...

Poll
Over / Under on Fights tonight: 3
Over
5 votes
Under
11 votes
Push
3 votes

19 votes | Poll has closed

54 comments  | 


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Central Standings

GP W L OTL PT
Detroit 54 35 17 2 72
Nashville 53 32 17 4 68
St. Louis 51 30 14 7 67
Chicago 53 29 17 7 65
Columbus 52 14 32 6 34

(updated 2.7.2012 at 9:26 AM EST)

14 - 32 - 6

Won 1


Manager

Mikeheadshot_small Mike MacLean

Writers

Andy-newman_small Andy Newman

Headshot_small Matt Wagner

Gog_colum_750px_horiz_beer_small Dan P.

Shhslogo_small Lou Bordeaux