Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

Dallas Stars fall to Blue Jackets, 4-1, at AAC

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November 20

Dallas Morning News

"Playing in a fight-filled game and losing the special-teams battle in just about every way, Dallas fell 4-1 to Columbus toto 3-3-3 at American Airlines Center. That's not the kind of success expected from a team that entered the season with the second-best home record in the NHL since 2002. "We have to find a way to take care of home ice," center Brad Richards said. And find a way to get on a roll. The Stars followed an impressive performance in Detroit with a muddled game that went in about three directions. And once again, they lost after winning. Only once this season have the Stars followed a win with a win. That leaves them 9-6-6, trailing the surprising Blue Jackets, who ..."

Stars need to take the high road in a physical game

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November 20

Dallas Morning News

"Maybe there's a reason the Stars have been one of the least penalized teams in the NHL this season. Because when they tried to dial up the toughness Thursday night against Columbus, the result wasn't pretty. Dallas had its first three fights at American Airlines Center this season, but allowed three power-play goals en route to a 4-1 loss. James Neal received a five-minute major for boarding in the second period and the accompanying game misconduct. The play will be reviewed for a possible suspension, as well."

Filatov's departure hardly a surprise

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November 19

Columbus Dispatch

"Center Derick Brassard had known for weeks that Nikita Filatov was unhappy with his role on the Blue Jackets and wanted to return to Russia. At first, Brassard tried persuading his friend to give the situation more time. Injuries were inevitable, he told Filatov, and ice time and opportunities would increase. But within the past week, Brassard's message changed as he realized Filatov was intent on going home. "I told him if you do it, do it with class," Brassard said. "Don't go away saying anything that will make people mad at you. I think he handled it well." Yesterday, Filatov flew home. The Blue Jackets agreed to loan him to CSKA Moscow of the Continental Hockey League for the remainder ..."

Mason returns in net tonight

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November 19

Columbus Dispatch

"Mathieu Garon helped the Blue Jackets rebound from one of their worst losses with two straight wins. But coach Ken Hitchcock believes it's time to give Steve Mason a chance to regain his goaltending equilibrium. Mason will start tonight at Dallas coming off the poorest outing of his short career, yielding eight goals in a 9-1 loss to Detroit on Nov. 11. "He needs to get back in and get some wind in his sails," Hitchcock said. "He played four great games (in a row) and he, like our team, had a stinker." After winning NHL Rookie of the Year, Mason has struggled at times in his second season. He surrendered six or more goals on three occasions. During the weekend, he developed back spasms but ..."

Filatov's return uncertain

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November 18

Columbus Dispatch

"The Blue Jackets are about to take a leap of faith with prized prospect Nikita Filatov. The organization's decision to allow Filatov, 19, to return to his former Russian club for one season comes with a written contract, but no guarantees. The Jackets yesterday announced they had agreed to loan the winger to CSKA Moscow of the Continental Hockey League (KHL). With no player transfer agreement in place between the NHL and KHL, however, Filatov can remain in Russia as long as he desires. In essence, the Jackets have a handshake deal with Filatov, CSKA and its coach-general manager Sergei Nemchinov. "All we have given him is the right to stay for this season," Blue Jackets general manager ..."

Back to Russia, for now

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November 18

Columbus Dispatch

"When the Blue Jackets depart today for a season-high five-game trip that begins Thursday at Dallas, rookie left winger Nikita Filatov will be headed, in so many ways, in the opposite direction. Unable to gain the trust of coach Ken Hitchcock and earn significant ice time, Filatov began pushing this month for a return to his native Russia, where he can play more and be a goal-scoring star. The Blue Jackets granted Filatov's wish yesterday, agreeing to loan him to CSKA Moscow of the Continental Hockey League for the remainder of the season. Filatov and the Blue Jackets say that he will return to Columbus next September for training camp, but there are no guarantees. "It has been frustrating ..."

A tale of two NHL youngsters, Filatov and Schenn

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November 18

Toronto Star

columnist Damien Cox

"Nikita Filatov, once viewed as exceptional, is now the exception. Precedent, of course, is always worth a headline, and in this case, the unusual decision Tuesday of the Columbus Blue Jackets to loan the 19-year-old Filatov to CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League as a means of furthering his hockey development was certainly noteworthy. It's happened to other top Russian picks, but only when they have essentially failed as prospects. In Filatov's case, the Blue Jackets still very much believe that one day he'll be a 30- or 40-goal scorer in the world's best league, and that he still wants to be an NHL player."

Filatov to Moscow, this loan has high rate of interest

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November 18

Columbus Dispatch

"Nikita Filatov was buried so deep in Columbus that he will reappear on the other side of the planet. Yesterday, it became official: Filatov, a gifted former first-round NHL draft pick, was loaned to CSKA Moscow of the Continental Hockey League. The first year of his NHL contract has been burned. It will be spent on another continent. This is a hot topic among Blue Jackets fans, and for many reasons. Does coach Ken Hitchcock have something against Russian players? That is one theory being espoused -- especially in Russia. First, Sergei Fedorov was picked on, then Nikolai Zherdev was shipped out, and now this. Does Hitchcock's ego have room for world-class talent? He seems to go out of his ..."

Filatov leaving Blue Jackets

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November 17

Columbus Dispatch

"Rookie left winger Nikita Filatov is leaving the Blue Jackets to return to his native Russia, The Dispatch has learned. The Blue Jackets today reached a one-year loan agreement with CSKA-Moscow of the Contental Hockey League. Filatov will play his first game in Russia on Saturday. "Everybody had high expectations for him," Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson said. "I still have high expectations for him. "It's just not happening as soon as we'd hoped, but that's OK, too." The Blue Jackets have been assured that Filatov will return to Columbus next fall for training camp, Howson said. They own Filatov's NHL rights through at least the 2016-17 season. Many expected Filatov, 19, to ..."

Battle of the millenia: Quinn vs. Hitchcock

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November 17

Edmonton Journal

"Only 16 men have ever coached 1,000 or more NHL games and two of them were calling the shots Monday night--No. 5 Pat Quinn and No. 15 Ken Hitchcock. Blue Jackets coach Hitchcock is at 1002, the Edmonton Oilers' Quinn at 1,338, and counting. Hitchcock can remember his 1,000th game like it was yesterday, which it almost was -- just six days ago, Remembrance Day, a 9-1 drubbing by the Detroit Red Wings. You don't forget those games. Quinn's memory of his milestone achievement is a little hazier. "I know guys who can remember a golf game 10 years ago ... what iron they used. That stuff doesn't come into my mind," shrugged Quinn, who had no idea about his 1,000th game. It took place on Oct. 25, ..."

Shootout King stymies Oilers

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November 17

Edmonton Journal

"The critics say the shootout is a gimmick, not a game, more hokey than hockey. But Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Mathieu Garon has never made any apologies for his ridiculous skill in the kitschy one-on-one battles, and after beating his former Edmonton Oilers' teammates on Monday, it was business as usual for the Shootout King. He's now 18-4, the best ever, stopping 61of 75 shots. Garon stopped three of four shootout attempts by the Oilers-- Patrick O'Sullivan, Dustin Penner and Gilbert Brule -- only allowing Ales Hemsky's stick-side bullet, and the Jackets won it 3-2 on Jakub Voracek's roof job on Nikolai Khabibulin. Fedor Tyutin slipped one through the Oiler netminder's pads earlier in ..."

Deadly in shootouts

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November 17

Columbus Dispatch

"The Blue Jackets made only a handful of tweaks to their roster this offseason, but two not-so-celebrated moves made a huge difference last night against the Edmonton Oilers. Defenseman Anton Stralman scored one power-play goal and assisted on another, and backup goaltender Mathieu Garon -- better known as Mr. Shootout -- played his second strong game in a row to lead the Blue Jackets to a 3-2 shootout win before 13,030 in Nationwide Arena. Jake Voracek and Fedor Tyutin (Fedor Tyutin?) scored in the four-round shootout, and Garon stopped three of four shots, including the final attempt by former Blue Jacket Gilbert Brule, to clinch the victory. "We knew Edmonton was going to be hungry and ..."

Filatov might leave team this week, sources say

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November 17

Columbus Dispatch

"Blue Jackets rookie forward Nikita Filatov, who has struggled to remain in coach Ken Hitchcock's lineup, might be headed back to Russia, perhaps as soon as this week, according to sources within and beyond the NHL. Jackets general manager Scott Howson would not comment on a potential agreement allowing the 19-year-old Filatov to return to his former club team, CSKA Moscow. Nothing has been finalized, however, and Filatov and the Blue Jackets are expected to talk again today about the possibility of staying in Columbus. At least one teammate has encouraged Filatov to give the situation more time before making a decision, a source said. Neither Filatov, a healthy scratch last night against ..."

Blue Jackets' Tyutin in another early funk

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November 16

Columbus Dispatch

"Early last season, as Nikolai Zherdev piled up points in New York and Fedor Tyutin made break-out passes to no one in particular, some Blue Jackets fans wondered why the franchise traded for the soft-spoken Russian defenseman. But as Zherdev's production faded and Tyutin's game stabilized, the four-player deal was debated less frequently. In time, Tyutin developed into arguably the Jackets' best all-around defenseman. The organization and its fans hope history repeats itself. Tyutin has had another uneven start to the season. His unforced error in the opening minutes of Wednesday's game led to the first of nine Detroit goals. But Friday night, Tyutin played one of his best games in a 3-2 ..."

Stralman rushes to altar

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November 16

Columbus Dispatch

"While the rest of the Blue Jackets practiced on Oct. 19 in Calgary, Blue Jackets defenseman Anton Stralman and his girlfriend, Johanna, were married -- two years earlier than they expected and in a "ceremony" they never could have imagined. The couple rushed into matrimony so that Johanna and their two kids -- 2-year-old daughter Liv and 3-month-old son Lowve -- could quickly obtain a U.S. visa to join Stralman living in Columbus. "It wasn't the wedding most people dream about, that's for sure," Stralman said. "At some point, you just had to laugh about the whole situation." It took place on a Monday afternoon in Stralman's apartment, the one in which the family lived while he played for ..."

Garon's play earns him another start for Jackets

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November 15

Columbus Dispatch

"Mathieu Garon's performance Friday in a 3-2 shootout win over the Anaheim Ducks convinced Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock to alter his club's short-term goaltending schedule. After saying Friday that goaltender Steve Mason would return after a one-game break, Hitchcock began reconsidering hours later after Garon had 32 saves and played masterfully to beat the Ducks. Hitchcock made the call before yesterday's practice, saying Garon will start Monday when the Blue Jackets play the Edmonton Oilers in Nationwide Arena. "Eventually," Hitchcock said, "you have to reward somebody for their good play." This is the sort of situation general manager Scott Howson had in mind in July when he signed ..."

Tests clear Commodore to work on his conditioning

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November 15

Columbus Dispatch

"Blue Jackets defenseman Mike Commodore was pleasantly surprised by the results of his blood tests Friday -- not just clean, but "pristine." "Not kidding, that's the word they used," Commodore said. "Clean livin', I guess." Commodore was still waiting to get results of the vitamin levels in his blood, but there were no illnesses or viruses detected, increasing the likelihood that his fatigue is due only to conditioning. He was a healthy scratch Friday against Anaheim and is no guarantee to play Monday against the Edmonton Oilers in Nationwide Arena. "The good thing, I guess, is that we know it's about conditioning," Commodore said. "I missed most of training camp (flu, groin), and it's been ..."

This was the right tonic after ugly loss

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November 14

Columbus Dispatch

columnist Michael Arace

"The notion that a 9-1 loss is just another night at the rink, one of 82, only has merit once the next game is played. Until then, the odor lingers. On Wednesday night, the Blue Jackets suffered such a loss, at home, to the hated Detroit Red Wings. The Jackets did not wake up the next morning and make note of the lovely weather. Nine goals against can strip a team down to its barest faults. The Wings did that to the Jackets. And for 48 hours in purgatory, those faults were scrutinized within and without Nationwide Arena. The Jackets' goals-against average ticked up to 3.59, which ranked 28th in the NHL. Last season, the Jackets were ninth (2.72). Where is the defense? Is goaltender Steve ..."

Jackets climb out of their rut

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November 14

Columbus Dispatch

"Two nights after getting blown out of their own rink, the Blue Jackets played the Anaheim Ducks last night seeking redemption -- from their fans, their coaches and the hockey gods. The sloppy, halfhearted play that has pockmarked the early part of the season -- it's burned them twice already -- was mostly eliminated in a 3-2 shootout win before 15,577. Rick Nash and Kristian Huselius were the Blue Jackets' goal-scorers, in regulation and the shootout, and goaltender Mathieu Garon made 32 saves and stopped two Anaheim shootout attempts. The Blue Jackets, to the relief of many, looked nothing like the club that was blasted 9-1 by Detroit on Wednesday. "We knew that was a bizarre game for ..."

Nash nearly falls in shootout

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November 14

Columbus Dispatch

"Rick Nash's moves often inspire awe. Last night in a shootout, they produced chuckles around the Blue Jackets' locker room. Nash ended the game with an off-balance shot that fooled Anaheim Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere in a 3-2 win. The Blue Jackets captain caught a skate in a rut as he approached Giguere. Nash's left foot kicked forward, but he somehow managed to take a high shot that just went under the crossbar. The Jackets won the shootout 2-0. "I lost my balance so bad that I had nothing else to do but shoot," said Nash, who also scored his team-leading 13th goal in the first period on a partial breakaway. Nash has not had a productive career in the shootout, converting 13 ..."

Shorthanded Ducks play point game

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November 14

Orange County Register

"Each small step forward for the Ducks has come with so much difficulty that it wasn't surprising a 3-2 shootout loss Friday night to the Columbus Blue Jackets was met with some relief and acceptance. The Ducks, playing without injured centers Saku Koivu and Ryan Carter, essentially played with just three lines and rode their horses in order to scratch out a needed point with a game looming today against surging Detroit. "We knew we were going to be leaned on and we did a good job of staying in this hockey game," center Ryan Getzlaf said after logging more than 28 minutes. "We were right there and had our chances. Unfortnately, it didn't come out the way we wanted it to." In a start to the ..."

Hitchcock analyzes goaltender's analysis

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November 13

Columbus Dispatch

"Coach Ken Hitchcock did not take issue with goaltender Steve Mason's critical assessment of the Blue Jackets' play, culminating in a 9-1 loss Wednesday to the Detroit Red Wings. Hitchcock did, however, think Mason misspoke in saying only one of eight Red Wings' shots that beat him was a "stoppable puck." "I'd like my goalie to think he could stop every shot," Hitchcock said. Mason, who allowed eight goals on 35 shots against the Red Wings, will serve as the backup to Mathieu Garon tonight when the Blue Jackets play the Anaheim Ducks in Nationwide Arena. After the worst outing of his brief career, Mason did not mask his disappointment with the team's defensive struggles. The Jackets are ..."

Hitchcock prescribes physical therapy for Jackets

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November 13

Columbus Dispatch

"Ken Hitchcock doesn't believe in punishment practices, even after one of the worst losses of his coaching career and one of the worst losses in Blue Jackets history. But the Jackets didn't get off easy yesterday when they gathered in Nationwide Arena only 12 hours after a 9-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. "I don't believe in brainless practices," Hitchcock said. "If you play a brainless game and follow it with a brainless practice, you're probably going to play brainless the next game, too." The Blue Jackets, who play the Anaheim Ducks tonight in Nationwide Arena, had a practice that Hitchcock described as "structured and competitive." Bruising and battering would have worked, too. ..."

Mason upset by errors

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November 12

Columbus Dispatch

"Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason didn't try to hide his frustration after the longest night of his short NHL career. He was upset with the team's performance last night in a 9-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, candid about the repeated breakdowns he has seen this season and miffed at derisive cheers directed at him in the final minutes. Mason allowed a career-high eight goals. He was replaced by Mathieu Garon midway through the first period, but was reinserted to start the second period because coach Ken Hitchcock did not believe Mason was to blame. "It is one game, but at the same time, there was a game with a season full of mistakes there," said Mason, who stopped 27 shots. "We have a ..."

This stinker is an aberration

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November 12

Columbus Dispatch

columnist Bob Hunter

"With the Detroit Red Wings behind the Blue Jackets in the Central Division, this was supposed to be the night when we got a good look at the leveling effect of the NHL salary cap. See how different things are? Last season in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Red Wings turned up the energy meter and swept a Blue Jackets team it had split the season series with. Last night, the third-place Wings needed less than 12 minutes to take a 4-0 lead on the second-place Jackets and hung on for a 9-1, uh, never mind. The Jackets' play was uglier than a hungover rhinoceros, but a lot of what has happened says it was more aberration than reality. The standings say that the Red Wings ..."

Niklas Kronwall, Justin Abdelkader each score twice as Red Wings pound Blue Jackets, 9-1

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November 12

Michigan Live

"The upstart Columbus Blue Jackets were tied for first place in the Central Division on Wednesday. But the Detroit Red Wings, despite their personnel losses and rash of injuries, made a major statement by showing the Blue Jackets they still are quite capable of continuing their divisional dominance. The Red Wings scored four unanswered goals in the first period and never took their foot off the gas en route to a 9-1 rout of the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. "We didn't play well at all against Toronto (5-1 loss on Saturday). We wanted to show ourselves that we can play some good hockey," defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. "We came out with a lot of urgency and were on top of our game from ..."

Red Wings blow away Blue Jackets

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November 12

Detroit Free Press

"That's the kind of effort the Red Wings expect from themselves. Still upset about the way they played in a 5-1 loss at Toronto last Saturday, the Wings scored early and often and went on to beat the Blue Jackets, 9-1, on Wednesday night. The Wings scored four goals over the first 11:57 of the game and went to set a record for most goals by a visiting team at Nationwide Arena. "We didn't play well at all against Toronto and we wanted to show ourselves that we could play some good hockey," said defenseman Niklas Kronwall, who led the Wings with three points, including a pair of power play goals. "We came out with a lot of urgency and we were on top of our game from the start of the game ..."

Red Wings bring limited arsenal against Jackets

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November 11

Columbus Dispatch

"Since the Detroit Red Wings were last seen in Nationwide Arena, routing the Blue Jackets out of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Winged Wheel has endured a series of staggering blows. First came a Game 7 loss to Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup Finals, a shock to many in the Motor City. Next was a summer in which the NHL's salary cap finally dropped its hammer, forcing the cap-squeezed Red Wings to part with forwards Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler and Mikael Samuelsson. And just when the Red Wings thought it was safe to look up again, a wave of injuries -- forwards Johan Franzen, Valtteri Filppula and Jason Williams are all out tonight -- has sapped them of their secondary scoring. ..."

Hitchcock's shuffle pays off

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November 11

Columbus Dispatch

"The days of assigning nicknames to forward lines have gone the way of wooden sticks, ties and dasher boards without advertising. No more Production Line or Legion of Doom. Some coaches need just a couple of losses to break up a previously productive combination. Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock doesn't even need a bad period right now to prompt change. Unbeaten in regulation in their past four games (3-0-1), the Jackets continue to undergo alterations to their second, third and fourth lines. Raffi Torres is a fourth-line winger one game and on the second line the next. Jason Chimera plays the left side on the third line one shift and moves up to the second line within 10 minutes. "I don't ..."

Jackets players try to avoid financial slipups that often beset athletes

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November 11

Columbus Dispatch

"Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash is comfortable knowing that every time he steps on the ice, an opponent wants a piece of him. The young multimillionaire is less at ease in a social setting when approached by someone extending a smile, handshake and business proposition. At least twice a month, Nash estimates, he is asked to invest in projects ranging from real-estate development to restaurants. In hockey, the perennial star knows the reputations and tendencies of opponents such as the Detroit Red Wings, who will play the Blue Jackets in Nationwide Arena tonight. In the financial sector, he has no scouting reports. "Somebody is always asking to invest in this and help in that," Nash said. ..."

Hitchcock joining another elite group

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November 10

Columbus Dispatch

"One season after becoming the 13th NHL coach to win 500 games, Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock on Wednesday will become the 16th NHL coach to work 1,000 games. "To me, the 1,000 games is more meaningful," Hitchcock said. "What the Blue Jackets did for me last season (a pregame ceremony on March 12) was very nice, but I don't look at the wins. "The 1,000 games I'm just proud to be in the league that long. It means you're not a two-year wonder. It means that someone thinks enough of you to keep you employed." The Blue Jackets will honor Hitchcock briefly from the bench during a first-period stoppage of play Wednesday in Nationwide Arena during a game against Detroit. "My first game coaching ..."

Holden finally feels fit to play

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November 10

Columbus Dispatch

"Blue Jackets prospect Nick Holden opened the kitchen door that leads to the garage, springing a large white-and-tan dog like a hockey player released from the penalty box. The kitchen filled with sounds of toenails clacking on the linoleum floor as Chance, a lab-hound mix, jumped wildly to greet Holden and a visitor. "OK, down, down," Holden commanded. The Syracuse Crunch defenseman began fostering rescued dogs last season with teammate Jonathan Sigalet. He is still finding ways to channel Chance's pent-up energy. On a recent autumn afternoon, Holden tossed a ping-pong ball into the living room and Chance eagerly retrieved it. "He's excited," he said. "He just wants to play." The ..."

Chimera's 'stache here to stay -- for now

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November 9

Columbus Dispatch

"Blue Jackets forwards Jake Voracek and Jason Chimera occupy opposite ends of the locker room and hair spectrum. Voracek sports a long, unkempt mane. Genetics force Chimera to be handier with a razor than a comb. Nevertheless, some of the most talked about hair in the locker room is sprouting under Chimera's nose. His decision to grow a mustache has brought good fortune to the Jackets and smiles to teammates. "It's hilarious," linemate Derek Dorsett said. "Chimmer looks like he is a police officer or a fire fighter." The Jackets are 3-0-1 since Chimera debuted his mustache in Washington on Nov. 1. The broad-shouldered left wing has registered a goal and four assists in that span. "I'm going ..."

Journeyman earns trust as a pinch-hitter

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November 9

Columbus Dispatch

"Forward Derek MacKenzie arrived from minor-league Syracuse on Wednesday with a couple of shirts, a pair of jeans, a sweat suit and no illusions. At age 28, the son of a former junior hockey coach understands his role in the Blue Jackets organization. He is a depth player, not a prospect, and his occasional promotions to Columbus are always round trips. On Saturday night, as MacKenzie discussed his contribution to the Jackets' 3-2 win over Carolina, general manager Scott Howson walked toward the coach's office and asked to speak with him. "I've been down that hallway before," MacKenzie said, smiling. It was his first poor read of the week. Howson told him the club wanted him to remain for ..."

Columbus 3, Carolina 2: Jackets' offense awakens in third

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November 8

Columbus Dispatch

"It took a three-goal flurry early in the third period to free the Blue Jackets from the clutches of a classic "trap" game last night in Nationwide Arena. After two dreadful periods against the NHL's worst club, rookie Nikita Filatov, Jared Boll and Rick Nash scored in a 2-minute, 41-second span to help salvage a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in front of 14,850. "We played one period," coach Ken Hitchcock said, "and we got away with it." Goaltender Steve Mason is the reason the Hurricanes didn't take a sizable early lead or mount a late-game comeback. He finished with 24 saves in one of his best games this season. The Hurricanes, who have lost 12 straight games, played without top ..."

It would cost Jackets to leave

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November 7

Columbus Dispatch

"If the Browns could leave Cleveland, the possibility of any pro sports team leaving its town can never be dismissed. But Blue Jackets officials and sources around the NHL insist that the Blue Jackets, who claim losses of at least $12 million per season because of their lease agreement with Nationwide Arena, aren't likely to be on the move. "I have full confidence that we have the support it takes in this town to find a solution," Blue Jackets President Mike Priest said. "The players who need to come together are going to come together to find a solution. "But having said that there are no guarantees." On Wednesday, the Columbus Chamber released the findings of an independent study that ..."

Officials: Help the Jackets? Sure, but...

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November 6

Columbus Dispatch

"Columbus and Franklin County officials say they won't spend sales- or income-tax dollars to bail out the Blue Jackets or buy Nationwide Arena. But they concurred yesterday with a report commissioned by the Columbus Chamber: Government must help keep the National Hockey League franchise in town and the Arena District thriving. Franklin County commissioners called the district an engine of economic development, but pledged that "Franklin County tax dollars will not be used." Mayor Michael B. Coleman and City Council members, who spent the summer persuading voters to approve higher income taxes, said they won't spend general-fund money to save professional hockey in Columbus. That still ..."

Moving not on their minds

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November 6

Columbus Dispatch

"It seems like Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash just finished answering questions about his future in Columbus beyond this season. He's getting them again. Only this time it concerns the entire franchise. A report issued yesterday by the Columbus Chamber states that the Jackets are losing $12 million a year and will likely need public financial support to remain in central Ohio. Nash and teammates say they are focused on winning games while franchise officials, politicians and civic leaders search for a possible solution to the Nationwide Arena lease issue and other financial burdens. Unlike the eight-year contract extension he signed in July, Nash said the Jackets' economic woes are beyond ..."

Columbus 4, Atlanta 3: Jackets don't play their game, but win

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November 6

Columbus Dispatch

"The Atlanta Thrashers seem to play every shift at home as though they are down a goal in the final minute of the game. Forwards cheat. Defensemen pinch. Checking is optional. The Blue Jackets got caught up in Thrashers' hockey last night in Philips Arena, trading scoring chances and turnovers in rapid succession. Playing their second game in as many nights, the Blue Jackets won 4-3 despite being badly outshot and committing the game's final seven penalties. The Jackets led almost the whole way, but could not exhale until they withstood the final 1-minute, 24-second barrage with the Thrashers' net empty and their players pelting goaltender Mathieu Garon with pucks. "We really haven't seen ..."

Thrashers Loss To CBJs Is Like Déjà vu All Over Again

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November 6

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

columnist Bill Tiller

"Ever get that strange and unexplainable feeling that you seen this before? Thrashers playing at home…come out of the locker room in the red third jerseys…get down by two or three goals…mount a comeback…end the game with a final furious rally in front of the visitor's goal…but fall just short. Now, was that the Thrashers last game I just described? Was it last Thursday versus Washington? Maybe it was the Thursday before that against, again, Washington? Or was it the Saturday game against San Jose in between the two Capitals game?"

Thrashersanother at home after early deficit

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November 6

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"The trend continues -- and it's not a good one. The Thrashers again fell behind early, this time by two first-period goals, en route to a 4-3 loss to Columbus on Thursday at Philips Arena. The Thrashers have lost four consecutive at home, each time surrendering first-period goals that put the team in an early hole from which it could never fully recover. The Thrashers (6-5-1) are just 1-4 at home this season. All four losses have come by one goal. Welcome back to Bluesland. "This is the same press conference as the last games at home, and it's disappointing," Thrashers coach John Anderson said. "It's not like we are playing horrible. I think we don't initiate. We wait to see how the game ..."

Casino could cast cloud over Arena District

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November 5

Columbus Dispatch

columnist Michael Arace

"Neither Franklin County nor Columbus wanted a casino, but here it comes. The Arena District -- Nationwide Arena and the Blue Jackets, bars, restaurants and business owners, Huntington Park and the Clippers -- are bracing for the impact. I'm not antigambling. If I were king, I'd save the racetracks and give them slots and blackjack tables. Are there not jobs there to save and create? I do not care for the present development. It worries me. The casino owners drew up the ballot issue and structured it so as to remove any real form of government control. If the casino owners so choose, they can build a 100-story hotel with 30 restaurants, a 10,000-seat theater and a vast gambling parlor. For ..."

Jackets' confidence grows after another strong outing

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November 5

Columbus Dispatch

"One week ago, the Blue Jackets were flubbing the puck in their zone and searching high and low for their misplaced identity. They were enduring 45-minute video sessions of in-house bloopers. Today, they'll awaken with a keen sense of who they are, as well as a growing sense of confidence, despite a growing list of injured players. A 3-2 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks before 13,401 in Nationwide Arena was not particularly memorable. Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle scored in the second round of the shootout, the only player to do so. "We played a very good game against a very good team," Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash said. "It was really physical and really high-paced out there. We can ..."

Filatov gets time, shows progress

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November 5

Columbus Dispatch

"Blue Jackets rookie Nikita Filatov was disappointed with the chance he failed to convert last night. In the context of his development, however, the winger was pleased with the opportunities he received. Filatov, who failed on a shootout attempt, played a season-high 11 minutes, 33 seconds in a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks. Coach Ken Hitchcock, missing two key forwards, had enough faith in Filatov to play him in the final three minutes of a tie game. "It's a sign of trust," Filatov said. "I'm not usually on the ice in the final five or six minutes of a period." Filatov, who had not played 10 minutes in a game this season, bounced around the third and fourth lines because an upper-body ..."

Saving the Jackets

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November 5

Columbus Dispatch

"The Columbus Blue Jackets could leave central Ohio if the team can't fix an economic model that is causing losses of $12 million a year, according to a report issued today by the Columbus Chamber. But a deal to keep the hockey team here and the Arena District alive -- the team and the district generated $30 million in taxes last year -- probably will include asking for public dollars, and soon. "We believe there is a sense of urgency here," said Ty D. Marsh, chamber president and CEO. "We're looking for a solution or progress by the end of the year." Marsh said the goal would be a financial package that would relieve the Blue Jackets of significant costs, potentially including $5 million a ..."

Sharks' dominance on faceoff comes from hard work

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November 5

San Jose Mercury News

"The Sharks have been the NHL's most dominant team in the faceoff circle with a 57.7 percent success rate over the first month of the season. San Jose also finished last season as the NHL's best faceoff team at 53.8 percent, and players say those numbers are tied to the emphasis the coaching staff puts on a less heralded aspect of the game. "We really harp on faceoffs and starting with the puck," said center Scott Nichol, whose 64 percent faceoff success rate is the second best in the NHL. "We have some guys that are pretty dynamic players on this team, and when we start with the puck, we're a lot more dangerous than if we're chasing it." Nichol, who is in his first season with the Sharks ..."

San Jose Sharks defeat Columbus

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November 5

San Jose Mercury News

"The sequence of events about 16 minutes into the second period Wednesday night was a costly one. Skating short-handed because Brad Staubitz earned an instigator penalty for picking a fight, the Sharks saw captain Rob Blake go down with an injury and their 2-1 lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets disappear in rapid succession. And the fact the night had a happy ending — San Jose moved to the top spot in the Western Conference with a 3-2 shootout victory — didn't make it more palatable for Coach Todd McLellan. "It's an interesting chain of events," said McLellan, whose team extended its winning streak to six games. "You take a really poor penalty, you lose a faceoff, somebody gets hurt, and ..."

No star treatment for Ovechkin

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November 4

Columbus Dispatch

"Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock appreciates the rare blend of talent and nastiness that Washington's Alex Ovechkin brings to the game. Not many stars take equal pleasure in scoring goals and throwing big hits. But Hitchcock's admiration did not stop his team from targeting the NHL's two-time most valuable player on the ice. Yesterday, Hitchcock pleaded guilty as charged to accusations made by Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau, who told the Washington Post that the Jackets were attempting to "run" and "hit" Ovechkin every time he touched the puck in Sunday's game. "That would be correct," Hitchcock said. "That's the name of the game. Why, is that against the rules now?" The Capitals winger ..."

Reliable Hejda to return tonight for Jackets

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November 4

Columbus Dispatch

"Blue Jackets defenseman Jan Hejda became a lot more noticeable in his absence. His teammates learned that strange truth over the past three weeks. It's why they eagerly await his return to the lineup tonight against San Jose in Nationwide Arena. "You don't always think about Jan out there, and I mean that in a good way," Jackets captain Rick Nash said. "He's always in position and never making mistakes. You don't notice him until he's gone, and then you realize how good he really is." The Jackets were 4-1-0 with a 2.20 goals-against average when Hejda suffered a sprained left knee Oct. 13 against Calgary. In his absence, they went 3-4-1, surrendering 4.25 goals per game and squandering ..."

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