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About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09

A preview of the Blue Jackets.

When and where: 7 p.m., Nationwide Arena.

TV: FSN-Pittsburgh, FSN-Ohio.

Record: 34-27-6, 74 points. Columbus is in third place in the Central Division and sixth place in the Western Conference.

Leading Scorer: Rick Nash, 65 points (32 goals, 33 assists).

Last Game: 2-0 home win against the Bruins, Tuesday. Steve Mason made 35 saves in his league-leading ninth shutout.

Last Game against the Penguins: 4-1 road loss, Feb. 6. Kris Letang had two goals while Sidney Crosby recorded a goal and two assists.

Blue Jackets Player We Would Bet Money On Scoring: Nash. He has points in five consecutive games.

Ex-Penguins on the Blue Jackets: Tyler Wright, development coach.

Ex-Blue Jackets on the Penguins: None.

Useless Blue Jackets Trivia: Former Penguins goaltender Ron Tugnutt (above, right) recorded the first shutout in Blue Jackets history when he made 27 saves in a 2-0 win at Montreal, Dec. 18, 2000.

Best Blue Jackets YouTube Video We Could Find: Rick Nash sure likes his water:

Notes:

-Marc-Andre Fleury (28-16-4, 2.78 GAA, .911 SV%) and Steve Mason (27-16-3, 2.19 GAA, .920 SV%) are the expected starters in net.

-Jordan Staal has excelled under Dan Bylsma.

-Philippe Boucher and Petr Sykora have resumed skating.

-Can Dan Bylsma win the Jack Adams Award?

-Blue Jackets forward Antoine Vermette knows how to properly use his speed.

-Steve Mason has tied Columbus' franchise record for wins.

-Another reason to dislike Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock? He likes... Nickelback.

-Hitchcock will be honored prior to the game for recently recording his 500th career win.

-Our live blog from Nationwide Arena begins at approximately 6 p.m.

(Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Posted Mar 12 2009, 07:30 AM by Seth Rorabaugh

Comments

Milwaukee Hockey wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 10:23 AM

What's the over/under on an "RJ Umberger is from Pittsburgh" mention?

Seth Rorabaugh wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 10:27 AM

MH, heads up question.

9 1/2.

Pens Fan in Columbus wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 12:31 PM

From blog.dispatch.com/.../mason_questionable.shtml ...

Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason made a bee line out of Nationwide Arena before the morning skate. He has a cold that is affecting his respiratory tract and is considered questionable for tonight's game vs. Pittsburgh.

Ohio Pearl wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 12:33 PM

Hey Seth, if you're not in a hurry to get back, I'll buy you an adult beverage after the game....

My wife and I have a good friend that works for CBJ (used to work w/him on Dayton's ECHL team) and he's kind enough to get us into the game even w/our Pens' gear!!  We'll probably stop in the Nationwide "pub" after the game...join us!!

I'm xpecting loads of Pens' fans there...and some pretty lame jumbotron shenanigans...

Lookin' forward to a good game tonight, we're scoreless last two games (Game #1 SC Finals/Feb. vs. Detroit)...they don't score tonight we're BANNED for the rest of the season!!  

CrashKelly wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 12:34 PM

Ken Who? I haven't really noticed him behind the bench....

Seth Rorabaugh wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 1:05 PM

PFiC, a big +1 for you. Thanks.

OP, I'd love to, trust me, but I need to be back in Pittsburgh ASAP after the game. Sorry but thanks!

If they can't score on Wade Dubielewicz, you really are cursed!

CrashKelly, a very subtle +1.

 

Basher McGroinerson wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 1:06 PM

So, Ken Hitchcock likes Nickleback, eh?  I often wonder if there is such a thing as hell, and if there is a personal hell for each individual.  My personal hell would have Nickleback and Green Day playing on an endless loop, Ryan Whitney back with the Pens and playing the point on the PP, every Steeler game blacked out in order to show Women's professional basketball highlights, and the Disgruntled Goat constantly whining about the "no hood" rule in regards to jersey fouls.  

Disgruntled Goat wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 1:48 PM

I don't whine.  Was Thomas Jefferson a whiner?  How about James Madson?  Where would this country be without "whiners" like Fredrick Douglass?  I suppose the great patriotic leaders who brought down Prohibition were whiners!  You, sir, need to apologize to me again.

Hoodies Unite!  Repeal JFBOR Article #6!

Basher McGroinerson wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 3:46 PM

Goat:

I never dobuted a great response from you.  And once again, my invoking your name is meant as the highest form of flattery.  

This was moreso to try to strike up conversation regarding what a personal hell would be like for the various post-ers on this blog.  

Basher McGroinerson wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 4:04 PM

Goat:  what would be your personal hell?  getting kicked off the internet at work because some dude on some chat room referenced an adult film actress that you never heard of, sparking your curiosity and causing you to look her up, and in turn getting blocked by your company's internet filter?  

Disgruntled Goat wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 4:05 PM

One of these days I will question whether being accused of being tetchy, bellicose, cantankerous and amenable to bestiality is really meant as the highest form of flattery.

Until that day: GO PENS!  SMOKE THE BJ's!

Basher McGroinerson wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 4:10 PM

Well, I'm in awe of your use of words that I have never heard of.  Is that somewhat flattering?

What does "disgruntled" mean?  

Disgruntled Goat wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 4:11 PM

Oh, and my personal hell probably involves the Center Drive and a red-hot poker.

Basher McGroinerson wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 4:20 PM

My personal hell would probably also involve getting F3'd

Disgruntled Goat wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 4:25 PM

Disgruntled means tetchy, bellicose or cantankerous.  But then, what's in a name?

Speaking of names, how did the name Ron Tugnutt elude our groin debate?

Basher McGroinerson wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 4:41 PM

Tugnutt would be a good addition.  You know who else, former House Majority leader Dick Armey.  

Disgruntled Goat wrote re: About the Blue Jackets - 3-12-09
on Thu, Mar 12 2009 4:53 PM

Dick Trickle?

Magic Johnson?