St. Louis Game Time - Blue Jackets At Blues GameDay Storystream: Like They Never LeftWe're one ugly bastard.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/10753/gt-fave.png2014-01-04T22:20:42-06:00http://www.stlouisgametime.com/rss/stream/50357552014-01-04T22:20:42-06:002014-01-04T22:20:42-06:00Recap: Blues Come Back to Curbstomp CBus, 6-2
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<img alt="THROUGH THE PEEP HOLE I SAW BOU KISSING SANTA CLAUS! " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uDukC-K-rvhx0m_M_QL5LOT_Qxw=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26285619/460625835.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>THROUGH THE PEEP HOLE I SAW BOU KISSING SANTA CLAUS! | Dilip Vishwanat</figcaption>
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<p>The St. Louis Blues had a lackluster first period but would completely change their game in the second to kick the Blue Jackets where it hurt, winning 6-2. Who, What, Where, When, and Why? I gots the recap right here! </p> <h3>The First Period</h3>
<p class="p1">Tonight the Blues from St. Louis came out with a same old slow shit the bed style of a first period. In my opinion, their performance was one of the worst first period performances of this season. They were slow, unorganized, and totally out of sync. It was bitter sweet as it was David Backes and Jordan Leaopold return from injury. It was great to see the captain and workingman defensemen back on the ice for the game but they would have a task at hand as the team from Columbus would take it to the slow starting Blues. They would strike first right off the hop at 3:58 with Artem Anisimov would put a wrist shot past Brian Elliott. The next would come at 11:22 from Mark Letestu. The Blues would continue to be dominated by the recently outsourced to the Eastern Conference Columbus Blue Jackets. Lumbus would lead the Blues in pretty much every area heading into the locker room, except for shots the group from STL would have 2 more shots then the team from Ohio.</p>
<p class="p1"><b>Stats at the end of the First: </b></p>
<p class="p1">Scoring<br>Lumbus 2 - 0 Blues</p>
<p class="p1">Shots of the Period<br>Lumbus 6 - 8 Blues</p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<h3>The Second Period</h3>
<p class="p1">The Blues would come out of the locker room after what my boyfriend described as:</p>
<p class="p1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Now I imagine a heated locker room conversation about the power of love and determination conquering all... Which leads to the comeback</p>&mdash; Samuel McKinney (@Samuelkent) <a href="https://twitter.com/Samuelkent/statuses/419658113051271168">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote></p>
<p class="p1"><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p class="p1">The Blues would morph into a completely different team as the next round of 20 minutes would commence. Patrik Berglund would get the comeback started by deflecting a Barret Jackman Slap Shot past Lumbus goaltender, Curtis McElhinney, at 7:03. It led to a few Jax arms in the air of the Blues but would later be awarded to the techno viking.</p>
<p class="p1"><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2013020633-220-h" frameborder="0" width="640" height="395"></iframe></p>
<p class="p1">The ball would not stop rolling for the Blues, as Brian Elliott would keep the Blues in the game after a few attempts from the Jackets to put another point on the board. Time ticked away and the Blues put oodles of pressure on the scared Blue Jackets. At 15:55, Vladimir Sobotka, with the help of Vladimir Tarasenko and Bergie would sneak the puck past McElhinney tiring the game and leading to a Russian Love Fest. The Likes of which have never been seen on American Ice before.</p>
<p class="p1"><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2013020633-244-h" frameborder="0" width="640" height="395"></iframe></p>
<p class="p1">Barely a minute later, at 17:29, Maxim Lapierre would seemingly dump the puck into the offensive zone but would some how get right past the Lumbus goaltender taking the lead squarely away from the Blue Jackets.</p>
<p class="p1"><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2013020633-247-h" frameborder="0" width="640" height="395"></iframe></p>
<p class="p1">Lappy would almost score again right off of the face-off in the same manner after his goal. The Blues would end the second on a high note and take smiling faces into the locker room for the second intermission of the game.</p>
<p class="p1"><b>Stats at the end of the Second: </b></p>
<p class="p1">Scoring<br>Lumbus 2 - 3 Blues</p>
<p class="p2">Shots of the period:<br>Lumbus 6 - 17 Blues</p>
<p class="p1">Shots of the game: <br>Lumbus 12 - 25 Blues</p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<h3>The Third Period</h3>
<p class="p1">The third period would extend the Blues successes in the second period. Right off of the opening face-off at 0:14 everyone would learn how to Bergie as he would tip the puck in to take the Blues first two goal lead of the game.</p>
<p class="p1"><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2013020633-459-h" frameborder="0" width="640" height="395"></iframe></p>
<p class="p1">The Blues continued to dominate as tensions between the two teams heightened. Columbus seemed frustrated and pissed at themselves for letting their two goal lead slip away. Instead of channeling it into more goals or better puck control they lashed out at their opponents and things continued to go down hill for them. At 8:47 Jaden Schwartz would show everyone why we still love the kid from Canada with a gorgeous goal after a pass from Inglorious Backes.</p>
<p class="p1"><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2013020633-480-h" frameborder="0" width="640" height="395"></iframe></p>
<p class="p1">At this point the Jackets looked demoralized and defeated. The Blues didn’t want to put the notion in their head that they could possibly come back after five unanswered goals so they continued to play with full force. At 14:13, Pietrangelo would make sure they would get the message in the way of a goal.</p>
<p class="p1"><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2013020633-497-h" frameborder="0" width="640" height="395"></iframe></p>
<p class="p1">Time would tic down in the game and the last 5 minutes of the third would be uneventful scoring wise. Columbus would continue to push shove and throw the equivalent of temper tantrums as their time slowly lipped between their fingers.</p>
<p class="p1">The game was a whirlwind of emotion and I believe that the snow in Saint Louis was a contributor. Once the snow fell the Blues started to get their composure and sync back. Stay safe out there Blues fans and remember… LET’S GO BLUES!</p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<h3>Three Stars of the Game</h3>
<h5>Third: <br>Vladimir Tarasenko<br>Second: <br>Vladimir Sobotka<br>First: <br>Patrik Berglund</h5>
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<h3>Bluenotes From Twitter:</h3>
<p class="p1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I feel as if this game is a goofy 90s hockey movie where the blues are going to have to have some genius plan to come from behind and win.</p>&mdash; Samuel McKinney (@Samuelkent) <a href="https://twitter.com/Samuelkent/statuses/419641311608991744">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote></p>
<p class="p1"><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p class="p1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Oh, this is going to be one of thoooose games, isn&#39;t it?</p>&mdash; Laura (@hildymac) <a href="https://twitter.com/hildymac/statuses/419641073728622592">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote></p>
<p class="p1"><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p class="p1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Apparently before <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23snowmageddon&amp;src=hash">#snowmageddon</a>, I have to put up with <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23shitageddon&amp;src=hash">#shitageddon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&amp;src=hash">#stlblues</a></p>&mdash; Hitch&#39;s Hat (@HitchsHat) <a href="https://twitter.com/HitchsHat/statuses/419641982638489600">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote></p>
<p class="p1"><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p class="p1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Close to a sellout tonight with big storm approaching, nice work <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&amp;src=hash">#stlblues</a> fans.</p>&mdash; Nicholas Hand (@Nick_Hand) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nick_Hand/statuses/419643181743874050">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote></p>
<p class="p1"><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p class="p1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Ok, so now that they&#39;ve gotten the obligatory &quot;crap period&quot; out of the way...</p>&mdash; Laura (@hildymac) <a href="https://twitter.com/hildymac/statuses/419644533291241472">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote></p>
<p class="p1"><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p class="p1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>JAX JAX JAX !!!!</p>&mdash; Timothy Cron (@CrossCheckRaise) <a href="https://twitter.com/CrossCheckRaise/statuses/419652109244444672">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote></p>
<p class="p1"><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p class="p1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>That was a sweet goal by Lappy. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&amp;src=hash">#stlblues</a></p>&mdash; Grant Sales (@grantsales) <a href="https://twitter.com/grantsales/statuses/419657905844256768">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote></p>
<p class="p1"><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p class="p1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>What is going on? Thanks, Columbus! Now the fourth line&#39;s on the board. Please, keep slacking.</p>&mdash; Laura (@hildymac) <a href="https://twitter.com/hildymac/statuses/419657906758230016">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote></p>
<p class="p1"><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p class="p1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Tarasenko&#39;s celebrations, be they spinning on the ice or hugging a goalscorer on the bench, are really fun to watch.</p>&mdash; Tim Wiemers (@Tim_GTpcs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_GTpcs/statuses/419658348946935808">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote></p>
<p class="p1"><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p class="p1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>At work. Getting updates via Twitter. Wore the Sobotka shirt for good luck. SWEET. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&amp;src=hash">#stlblues</a> <a href="http://t.co/D5WPxbBk5M">pic.twitter.com/D5WPxbBk5M</a></p>&mdash; the jen (@the_jen) <a href="https://twitter.com/the_jen/statuses/419659983228133376">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote></p>
<p class="p1"><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p class="p1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>St Louis Blues scored 3 or more Goals in a period for 13th &amp; 14th time this season. They only did it 6 times all last season. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&amp;src=hash">#stlblues</a></p>&mdash; STL Blues History (@STLBlueshistory) <a href="https://twitter.com/STLBlueshistory/statuses/419681517053296640">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote></p>
<p class="p1"><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p class="p1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>YES <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23yes&amp;src=hash">#yes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23VLADS&amp;src=hash">#VLADS</a> <a href="http://t.co/Vfswa6YT0r">pic.twitter.com/Vfswa6YT0r</a></p>&mdash; Sarah Connors (@sarah_connors) <a href="https://twitter.com/sarah_connors/statuses/419672563430596608">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote></p>
<p class="p1"><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<h3>Tweet of the Game:</h3>
<p class="p1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>This. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&amp;src=hash">#stlblues</a> <a href="http://t.co/uaPmwUrGU4">pic.twitter.com/uaPmwUrGU4</a></p>&mdash; Hitch&#39;s Hat (@HitchsHat) <a href="https://twitter.com/HitchsHat/statuses/419668933307031553">January 5, 2014</a></blockquote></p>
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<p class="p1"><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/1/4/5275510/recap-blues-comeback-to-curbstomp-the-blue-jackets-6-2RealBadRobot2014-01-04T18:38:38-06:002014-01-04T18:38:38-06:00Blue Jackets At Blues GDT
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<img alt="Teach 'em how to Bergie" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8k4-quxPpc-NJijHJVYcxG7v8kg=/0x36:944x665/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26276299/20120331_ajw_sr6_256.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Teach 'em how to Bergie | Scott Rovak-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Blue Jackets are in town for their one and only visit. Will the Blues be able to make it a season sweep?</p> <p>The bitter cold hasn't quite hit St. Louis yet, but the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> might get frozen out tonight by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a>. The line-up is coming back bit by bit, and <span>Brian Elliott</span> has won his last 12 games at Scottrade. Factor in a (hopefully) sold-out crowd for the third game in a row, and tonight might be the perfect way to warm up before the deep freeze.</p>
<p>This is your gameday thread. If you're at the game, make sure that Horton hears more than a who. Let's get some <span>David Backes</span> back into the game. Let's do this. Let's Go Blues.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/1/4/5274868/gamethread-for-columbus-blue-jackets-at-st-louis-blues-jan-4-2014hildymac2014-01-04T14:15:32-06:002014-01-04T14:15:32-06:00Blue Jackets At Blues Game Preview: Backes is Back
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<img alt="Backes is back, back again." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YsQDUM0SWlJXCTshwR1VDJH0guM=/0x22:467x333/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26262479/135146491.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Backes is back, back again. | Dilip Vishwanat</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Blues have tweaked their line-up to make room for a few more returnees.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/">Blue Jackets</a> need to brace themselves - <span>David Backes</span> is back tonight. No, really, he is! Promise! See?</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>David Backes and <span>Jordan Leopold</span> will play tonight. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&src=hash">#stlblues</a></p>
— <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a> (@StLouisBlues) <a href="https://twitter.com/StLouisBlues/statuses/419521666067095552">January 4, 2014</a>
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<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>And look, Jordan Leopold is back too. To clear space for everyone, yesterday <span>Adam Cracknell</span> was placed on waivers (he cleared) and today <span>Chris Porter</span> was sent back down to the Wolves. If you had money on Magnus Pääjarvi winning out over Porter for a regular line-up spot, collect on that, because he has.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Updated line combos: 9-42-74, 17-21-91, 10-12-25, 56-40-75. Paajarvi is in tonight. Porter is out. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&src=hash">#stlblues</a></p>
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) <a href="https://twitter.com/lkorac10/statuses/419524949288562689">January 4, 2014</a>
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<p>And there you go. Things on the forward side of things are looking more and more normal by the day. The only one remaining in IR is <span>Alexander Steen</span>, and the only defenseman on IR is Roman Polak. With Leopold returning, though, that means that one of <span>Carlo Colaiacovo</span> and <span>Ian Cole</span> will have to sit, and that is not a decision that I envy Ken Hitchcock for having to make.</p>
<p><span>Brian Elliott</span> is still in tonight as <span>Jaroslav Halak</span> has the plague. <span>Jake Allen</span>, who was re-assigned to Wolves due to their three games in a row insanity schedule has been recalled today to sit on the bench. I will say that I'm pretty sure that this quote from Hitch in <a href="http://lkorac10.blogspot.com/2014/01/1-4-14-blue-jackets-blues-gameday-lineup.html" target="_blank">Lou Korac's game preview </a>won't do much to calm people down regarding any pending goalie apocalypse.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We have not beat ourselves and I think the biggest factor is we've had great goaltending. Our goalie and even (Jaroslav) Halak when he was playing, they've made a difference every night. For whatever reason in the last four, five six games, we've been a little better than the opposition's goaltenders and it's given us that little bit of edge. It's not like we've outplayed teams. We didn't expect to do that, but we've certainly held our own."</p>
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<p>Oh, lord.</p>
<p>Anyway, the Blues are getting their first look at <span>Nathan Horton</span> in a Jackets jersey tonight. Horton had a goal in his first game back, and without <span>Marian Gaborik</span> being healthy, he will be who Columbus leans on for scoring output.</p>
<p>Backes was the deciding factor in the last game, scoring the winning goal in overtime. He'll more than likely be a huge factor tonight, but so will T.J. Oshie, who has a three-game goal streak going and of course Jaden Schwartz, with a seven game point streak on the line.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/1/4/5274038/blue-jackets-at-blues-this-time-backes-really-is-backhildymac2014-01-04T11:00:05-06:002014-01-04T11:00:05-06:00Lighting The Lamp: Jacket Pride
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<img alt="2010-11 signed Nikita Nikitin Peoria Riverman game worn jersey" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RdRt6HGn6BXSY1z706h4PiQHXGM=/0x0:1100x733/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26233105/nikitin_riverman_jersey_004.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>2010-11 signed Nikita Nikitin Peoria Riverman game worn jersey | Rick Ackerman</figcaption>
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<p>You might recognize the "Lighting the Lamp" feature from the Game Time paper. Rick Ackerman has been nice enough to send over his column for the website. "Lighting the Lamp" will be featured every home game day.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Lighting the Lamp - with Rick Ackerman</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>If there could be one other NHL team that <a href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Blues</a> Nation would like to see flourish on the ice and have their building packed with avid, boisterous fans, it would have to be the <a href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Columbus Blue Jackets</a>. Well, that's at least fair to claim now because the Jackets are no longer in the same division as the Blues since the Columbus franchise was moved from the Western Conference to the Eastern for the current season. It is also easy for Blues' fans to feel that way since John Davidson is currently the President of Hockey Operations and Jarmo Kekaleinen is the General Manager of the club situated in Ohio's capital and largest city. As they did in St. Louis, both hope to transform Columbus from an average, middle-of-the-road team into a playoff-bound juggernaut with both the will and ability to win the great majority of games played.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>The Blue Jackets and <a href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Wild</a> were the last two expansion teams to enter the NHL, granted franchises in June, 1997. Both began play in October, 2000, and are now 13 years old. The Wild have been the more successful of the teenage franchises, qualifying for the playoffs four times, winning two series and losing four and winning one divisional title in 2008. That rather dubious record nevertheless outweighs the Blue Jackets' accomplishments, which basically consists of only making the playoffs once in 13 seasons and getting swept in the opening round by Detroit in that series in 2009. Columbus has never finished higher in divisional ranking than third, and only did that once in 2006. In only two season did the Jackets finish with a winning record, in 2009 and the lockout-shortened season of 2013.<span> </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>So, it was with great excitement and anticipation that the Blue Jackets gladly accepted a transfer to the Eastern Conference for this season, fully aware that a lighter travel schedule and more play against weaker conference rivals would result in a legitimate challenge for a slot in the playoffs. Columbus may not have been realistically suited to challenge Pittsburgh for the division lead, yet could easily compete with the other teams in the Metropolitan Division to finish at least third. The addition of free agent <span>Nathan Horton</span> from Boston (7 years, $37.1M) bolstered an already-strong offense that featured potential 20-goal scorers <span>Marian Gaborik</span>, <span>Brandon Dubinsky</span>, <span>R.J. Umberger</span>, <span>Artem Anisimov</span>, <span>Mark Letestu</span>, <span>Cam Atkinson</span>, <span>Nick Foligno</span> and rookie sensation <span>Ryan Johansen</span>, drafted fourth overall in 2010. One rather curious decision was the Jackets' decision not to resign free agent <span>Vinny Prospal</span>, their leading scorer last season.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Columbus also looked quite stocked on defense with several veterans steadily improving under coach Todd Richard's defensive system. Fedor "I'm rootin' for" Tyutin pairs up with <span>Jack Johnson</span>, drafted third overall by Carolina in 2005, giving the Jackets a top pairing capable of eating-up huge minutes of playing time, providing both skill and physical shutdown power. Former Blue Nikita Nikitin and former Hawk Jim Wisniewski can pile up the points, while sophomore <span>Dalton Prout</span> and rookie <span>Ryan Murray</span> provide both youth and exuberance to a steadily improving defense. However, the Jackets' ace-in-the-hole on defense is goaltender <span>Sergei Bobrovsky</span>, winner of the Vezina Trophy last season for his unbelievable performances in goal, earning 21 of Columbus' 24 victories with a goals against average of 2.00 and a save percentage of 93.2 %.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>The Blue Jackets did not get off to a great start, losing the home opener to Calgary. They bounced back with two wins on the road against the <a href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Islanders</a> and <a href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Sabres</a>, yet returned home to fall to the <a href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bruins</a>, doing very little to attract fans in a city in which Ohio State football and basketball dominates the sports scene. A disastrous road trip resulted in losses in Detroit, Montreal and Washington. That was followed by three victories in a row at home against the <a href="https://www.nucksmisconduct.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Canucks</a>, <a href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Devils</a> and <a href="https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Maple Leafs</a>. But then the next three games were losses to the <a href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Ducks</a> and <a href="https://www.pensburgh.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Penguins</a> (twice).<span> </span>And it has been like that, up and down, coming into tonight's game against the Blues.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>How can this be? Well, in one word, the Blue Jackets' single biggest problem is injuries. As of December 24, Columbus had lost 156 man-games to injury, ranking fifth league-wide behind Pittsburgh (210), Anaheim (193), Carolina (174) and Edmonton (168). In comparison, the Blues are ranked 26th with 66 man-games lost as of December 24. Even before the season started, newcomer Horton was lost to shoulder surgery and is not expected to play until the end of January. Scoring star Gaborik sprained his knee on November 15 and returned on December 21 only to break his collarbone in his first game back. He is out indefinitely. Other players that have been placed on injured reserve at one time or another include <span>Matt Calvert</span>, Prout, Dubinsky, <span>Jared Boll</span>, <span>Derek MacKenzie</span>, Bobrovsky (out since December 4) and Wisniewski. And this list does not include those with day-to-day injuries such as Tyutin, Nikitin, <span>Boone Jenner</span>, Anisimov and back-up goaltender Curtis McElhinney. Ouch!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span> Last season the Blues took three of four games from the Jackets, out-scoring them 10 to 7. There is no reason to think this season's edition of the Note cannot continue to dominate the team from Ohio with an average offense (ranked 14th) and mediocre defense (ranked 17th). Both Jackets' special teams are below-average, the power play ranked 17th and the penalty kill 16th. Nevertheless, a good first period and a will to win will be required if the Blues are to defeat the injury-ravaged Blue Jackets.</span></p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/1/4/5271794/lighting-the-lamp-jacket-pridehildymac2014-01-04T08:00:10-06:002014-01-04T08:00:10-06:00Blue Jackets At Blues Morning Open Thread
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<figcaption>Dilip Vishwanat</figcaption>
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<p>The Columbus Blue Jackets have Nathan Horton back from IR, while the Blues are getting Jordan Leopold.</p> <p><span>Nathan Horton</span> was signed by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> this summer after spending three years and winning a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl-playoffs">Stanley Cup</a> with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Boston Bruins</a>. He missed three months with shoulder issues, and finally made his debut Thursday night. He only had one shot on net against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/phoenix-coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a> - which he scored on.</p>
<p>So, welcome to the Blue Jackets, <span>Rick Nash</span> notable name replacement! Please work out better than <span>Marian Gaborik</span>.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> have their own player coming back from injured reserve. <span>Jordan Leopold</span> has been out since November 7, when he damaged tendons in his hand during a two-assist night. He was activated off of the IR Thursday night, and with his re-addition to the line-up comes a very un-enviable decision for Ken Hitchcock. Both <span>Carlo Colaiacovo</span> and <span>Ian Cole</span> have been playing outstanding hockey in Leopold's absence, with Cole in particular raising his game significantly. One of those two will have to sit.</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>And it's dead... RT <a href="https://twitter.com/andystrickland">@andystrickland</a>: Sources with <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23USAHockey&src=hash">#USAHockey</a> say they won't allow that type of access to reporters again</p>
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) <a href="https://twitter.com/mirtle/statuses/419253311540178944">January 3, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
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<p>Of course, when <span>Roman Polak</span> comes back, both of those two will have to sit.</p>
<p>To make room for Leopold, the Blues placed <span>Adam Cracknell</span> on waivers. With the return of <span>Ryan Reaves</span> on Thursday night, either he or <span>Chris Porter</span> would be the odd man out. Cracknell started the season with the Blues while Porter was a later call-up, but Porter gets to stay.</p>
<p>Elliott is in net tonight again.</p>
<p>This is your morning open thread. While you're waiting on some Lighting the Lamp and a preview, head over to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.jacketscannon.com">The Cannon</a> and say hi.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/1/4/5271640/blue-jackets-at-blues-morning-open-thread-like-they-never-lefthildymac