I don't have the template we've been using and I'm too lazy to make a fancy one right now :-/ I really just wanted to see which Blue Jackets fans made the transition over, so check in here (I was daddyk75 on the huddle).

As for the game...Edmonton comes to town for the second meeting of the season between the two teams. The Oilers won the first game at Edmonton 6-4 after Columbus blew a 4-1 lead. Dustin Penner and Ales Hemsky had five points each in the win.

The big story now is the play of Mathieu Garon. He is getting his second straight start in goal and I believe a shot at taking over the starting position. He is 3-1 posting a 2.6 GAA and a 92.3% save percentage, compared to Mason who is 7-5-2 with a 3.67/87.9.

Garon deserves the start after playing so well vs Anaheim on Friday. Nothing wrong with having 2 quality goalies in the NHL and Garon will push Mase the whole year which can't be a bad thing. Now we need some goal scoring from Vermette, RJ, and someone else not named Nash to beat the Oil.

Go Jackets! Carry the flag Columbus!

Here are the lines for tonight:

Huselius-Vermette-Nash
Umberger-Brassard-Voracek
Chimera-MacKenzie-Dorsett
Boll-Blunden-Sestito

Hejda-Klesla
Tyutin-Stralman
Methot-Russell

Garon
Mason

Commodore and Pahlsson are out. Filatov a healthy scratch after playing poorly against the Ducks, being replaced by Sestito.

somebody's gotta get those GDT templates over here.

LETS GO JACKETS!!!!

line #2 with 2-3 goals tonight...you heard it here 1st...Jake is a beast! Umburger/Brass huge tonite also..

late,
sweetpea

And remember.... This Game....


It's Critical.

I hear a lot of chatter about goal scoring. The key to tonight, and the season for that matter, is team defense. The defense has been porous throughout the entire season.

I agree. I have no problems with our offense at all...if we play defensively like last season, we might be one of the top three teams in the west.

one of the top 3 teams in the West might be a stretch.. but we could be pretty good.

Still 0-0 early in the second period. I was falling asleep during the first so not sure what's going on. Jackets are playing pretty strong in the second period though..playing physical and finishing a lot of checks.

Hooking penalty on Edmonton. Jackets on the power play

Another Edmonton penalty. 5-3 for 1:18. Really need to capitalize here.

Stralman one timer for the goal! 1-0

1:19 left on the 5-4 PP. Assist to Huselius and Tyutin.

Hemsky ties it up 1-1 with a power play goal. Guess I'll stop updating now since no one seems to be following.

I am reading. GREAT shootout victory for this team.

Wish we could pick these games up in regulation, but I'll take the third period comeback and two points any night. Garon made some great plays again. I think he's much better than Mason right now.

Got back from the game about an hour ago. The thing I noticed the most during the game is how much Nash cherry picks, and it drives me nuts!!!! Why can't he play D with the rest of the forwards, then get a tape to tape pass, instead of hovering around the opponets blueline. My two cents.

Well I think Garon is the starting goalie right now, and I don't know if that's a good thing long term...

The good news is we're 11-6-2 and playing nowhere near our best hockey.

Garon starting is a good thing. In the 07-08 season Garon played lights out the second half of the season. He's proved that he can be a starter in this league.

Yeah, I just mean he's 31 and I really wanted to see Mason avoid the sophomore slump. But we gotta ride Garon while he's hot.

Yep, everyone gets that slump. He will be alright. Nash tends to cherry pick at the end of shifts, which I am fine with. He has exemplary defensive skills, hence why he is a mainstay on the PK.

ohiotiger33 wrote: Yep, everyone gets that slump. He will be alright. Nash tends to cherry pick at the end of shifts, which I am fine with. He has exemplary defensive skills, hence why he is a mainstay on the PK.

This.

Glad the GDTs made to switch over here.

Didn't get to watch the game but listened to the last half of overtime and the shootout and Garon played well.

I'm a little worried about Mason right now with the back spasms but I think I'm more worried about Filatov heading back to Russia. Mason will get out of this little funk soon enough and its great to have 2 good goalies in the NHL.

http://blog.dispatch.com/cbj/2009/11/filatov_returning_to_russia.shtml

This could be a good thing for Filatov if he gets a lot of minutes but he needs to get better defensively to play under Hitch and I don;t see that happening in Russia.