January 16

Thank you fans for supporting a solid home stand. The fans helped cap it off with a 3-2 win over the Canucks, where the CBJ won a franchise six consecutive wins.

Can you come on the road with as the team continues to play solid two way hockey?

The CBJ played a great period #1 with two PP goals from Hainsey and Zherdev to enable the crowd and the team to get involved early. There was a chance to go up 3-0, when Edler and Krajicek went off and they had 5-on-3. Vancouver did not quit, tied it up on goals from Kris Beech (picked up from CBJ on Jan. 10th) and Daniel Sedin. The "energy line" combined for the game winner @16:43 of the 2nd as Chimera tipped in a Fritsche pass.

Fedorov's five game streak came to an end tonight, but he played over 20+ and battled hard.

Zherdev was the best player on the ice again with another multi point game collecting his 18th on the PP. How smart is Mike Peca? Knowing that Ryan Kesler was pulling to his backhand, Peca as a right handed shot directed the face-off to the net where Zherdev went directly to the net to find pay dirt for the second Jackets goal.

The comment of the night was in the post game show when a reporter asked Hitch about a player's statement. It was in regard to "even Hitch is having more fun right now!" Hitch smiled and reiterated jokingly "a coach having fun? That is a hoot!" He proceeded to pass the fun on to the players' ability to turn a lot of the responsibility to the themselves now. They have bought in on the structure and systems and right now are running with it.

Some more of the vocabulary that impresses those with a solid history in the game are tickled at how Hitch continues to colorfully describe his team. He states his team is not young, they have "dug in," meaning they have a sense of maturity about how the game is progressing and then doing something about it. The "competitive composure" is really part the organizational structure of team development. Now is the next step as they take to the road. It goes from the demons of beating such clubs as Nashville and Vancouver to the ability to play better and win, and this involves more of the "internal" self. I will be interested to see how this team can take the next step.

Good news on the injury front. Glencross is back, Andrew Murray has been cleared to get things going again and the best news for all of us is the addition of Fredrik Modin. Freddy could be in the line up vs. Phoenix. They just returned home from being on the road and beat SJ 5-3… but they had a couple of key injuries to follow in the next two days… Vrbata and Reinprecht both left early in this one.

The PP is now five for the last 18 and looks solid in the transition game up ice then in their puck movement. The PK has killed 22 of the last 25. Success in the special teams is certainly a must when approaching the five road games.

Stay tuned people… thanks again for being there! There is still time to come along!!

*Throughout the season, AAA will bring you the Broadcaster's Blogs - "Davidge Dishes" and "Rimer Ramblings". The Columbus Blue Jackets broadcasters will try to keep you update on all the behind the scenes action through their blogs, especially when the Blue Jackets hit the road. The next road game is 1/17/08 @Phoenix.