Columbus Blue Jackets Week in Review

After blowing a late two-goal lead to the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins, the Blue Jackets started this week with a visit to Washington to play Alex the Great and the Capitals.

Not normally a place you go to get back on track as a hockey team.

With two game-tying goals in the third period by Raffi Torres and a beautiful cross-crease pass in overtime by Rick Nash to R.J. Umberger, the Blue Jackets escaped with a win, though.

Up next, the Jackets had last year's President's Trophy (best overall regular season record)-winning San Jose Sharks coming into the friendly confines of Nationwide Arena.

After a somewhat boring and defensive game played by both teams, the Sharks wound up taking the extra point in a shootout on a goal by Dan Boyle, as Evgeni Nabokov stood tall, stopping all three shooters the Jackets sent his way.

The next night, the Jackets were in Atlanta to play the somewhat surprising Thrashers. The Jackets were once again lead by Raffi Torres and his two second-period goals.

It was not a pretty win, though, as being on the second end of a back-to-back caught up to the Jackets, as they were committing lazy penalties all night long—eight in total, including the last seven in the game.

The addition of Jan Hejda to the lineup and a strong outing from backup goaltender Mathieu Garon allowed the Jackets to kill off 6-of-8, though, and escape with a 4-3 regulation win.

Finally, the Jackets returned home for a Saturday night matchup against the early lottery pick front-runner Carolina Hurricanes.

The 'Canes came in losers of 11 straight games, including a loss to the two-win Leafs the night before.

It was a classic trap game and trapped the Jackets seemed to be, at least until the third period began. Trailing 1-0 going into the third period, the Jackets came out firing on all cylinders, as they scored three goals in a span of two minutes and 41 seconds, capped by Rick Nash's 11th of the season.

There was a scary moment the game, though, as 'Canes star goaltender Cam Ward was hurt early in the first period when Nash's skate inadvertently cut his thigh, leaving a puddle of blood in his crease.

Thankfully, Ward is said to be okay. Sadly, this likely will end any hope of him making the 2010 Canadian Olympic team.

The Jackets finished the week going 3-0-1 and picking up seven of eight points. While going undefeated in regulation is great, the more important stat is the Jackets holding these four teams to 2.75 goals against, which is half a goal below their season average of 3.25 goals a game.

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