Scoreless with 2:40 left in the first period.

The Jackets are playing well. So far this has been a fast pace game with a lot of shots, turnovers, and some great saves.

That's Buffalo's style. It's fun to watch when a team will go back and forth with them. Wish I could watch...

The first period just ended. Still scoreless. Probably the best scoreless period of hockey I have ever watched. Mason looks like the Mason from last year. He made some great saves.

Yeah that's the thing. They get up and down but can't score for shit. It's still exciting tho.

The Sabers goalie just scored for the Jackets!!!!
1-0 Jackets

Jackets dumped it into the Sabers' end, it bounced off of the glass, and then it hit the Sabers goalie while he was trying to get into position.

Fight!!!
Boll and Montador in the fight.
Boll crushed Montador on a clean hit, then Montador wanted to fight.
Jurcina got credit for the goal.

Goal Rick Nash!!!!
Jackets lead 2-0

Great game so far, gotta love the energy Columbus is playing with lately

any word on a new coach?

Raffi Torres and Anton Stralman with 2 quick goals in the third period.
The Jackets now lead 4-0.

Staffornd(Buff) and Umburger just got in a fight. Pretty even fight.
Jackets on a two minute power play.

Wow its so great to see the Jackets starting to play like they're capable of...The new boss has brought a spark to the team

I wonder if they are playing well because
a)Hitchcock is gone
b)Noel has them fired up
c)just one of those nights where they are playing well
or
d)off night for Buffalo

Well they also played well against Dallas...I'm thinking this definitely has something to do with the coaching situation...

Do you think they are glad Hitch is no longer there, or has Noel got them fired up?

Its hard to tell. Its probably both. Nash was criticizing Hitch, so he and the rest of the team are probably happy he's gone. Noel has them playing a different style of hockey, so that's probably helping too.

Is it just Buffalo's style, or are the Jackets playing a more uptempo game without hitch?

Player of the game has to be Mason.
He made some spectacular saves and really set the tempo for the Jackets all night long.

Jackets win 4-0.

So who is this team wearing Blue Jackets jerseys? It surely is not the same team we have been watching all year.

BlueDevil11 wrote: Is it just Buffalo's style, or are the Jackets playing a more uptempo game without hitch?

This is the style of hockey they played at the beginning of the year when they got off to their best start in franchise history. then hitch put an end to it with his defensive style. Noel has opened it back up. Did you notice when we were up 4-0 and we weren't playing the prevent? We were still skating the puck into the zone and forechecking? We weren't dumping and chasing?

This is the style of hockey that this team is built for. It's a shame Hitch wasn't fired 2 months ago in the 3-21 stretch. The CBJ would be right in the middle of the layoff hunt.

BTW, Buffalo fans are the most obnoxious fans I've ever been around. Running their mouths constantly (until the 3rd goal went up).Then there were awfully quiet. They are worse than Red Wing and Pittsburgh fans. Probably had to do with there was a boatload of Sabres fans that made the trip here. I would honestly say it was about 60/40 Jackets fans to Buffalo fans in the seats.

The Buffalo fans on the Sabres forums definately haven't been running their mouths. In fact they've been trashing the Sabres and their FO all week.

Not sure what they have to be running their mouths about as they suck right now.

Sabres fans are wierd sometimes.

And I thought tonight, who was the asshat over on JJ at the beginning of the season that said that Russell doesn't deserve to be in the NHL? Said he was too small and he's not that good. Wonder what he has to say now. Russell has been probably our best D-man all year.