Is that the guy from Cool Runnings? The one with the lucky egg?

Like every professional sports team, the Jackets' off season is spent signing new players and evaluating prospects already in the Columbus system. Perhaps the most notable signing for the 06-07 season was right winger, #77, Anson Carter.

The 6'1" 210 lbs Carter has spent his ten year career bouncing between clubs all around the league, following four years of play at Michigan State. Last season was spent in Vancouver where he scored a career high 33 goals. Blue Jackets management hopes he can repeat that success and anticipate a 50-60 point season for Carter, which would match seasons earlier in his career.

Carter will make a solid addition to our current forwards, bringing more of the much needed veteran leadership that the club has lacked. Like Foote, Berard, and Fedorov before him, Carter brings not only a physical ice presence, but also an NHL noteworthy presence to the Columbus team.

Carter is currently battling a case of plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the ligaments under the arch of ones' foot. One of the causes of this condition is wearing shoes (or skates) that have too little arch support. Sounds like he should have called Dr. Scholls.

(UPDATE: Carter's alter-ego who appears in Cool Runnings is Doug E. Doug)

10/7/06 vs. Blackhawks

Ah, the first away game of the season. Usually, it is one of those games that us Jackets faithful dread, not only is it an away game, but it's also in October. The best record ever posted by a Blue Jackets squad in october is 3-5-1, coming in 2002. Nevertheless, the team definitely ended strong, with the sting of the OT loss still fresh in the teams's mind from the previous night.

The game started ugly with Adrian Aucoin and Jeff Hamilton putting in two goals on two shots for Chicago. Fortunately, Fredrick Modin woke up the team with two consecutive shots, opening the floodgates and outshooting the Hawks 13-3 in the first period. The game was also knotted up at 2, with Rick Nash and Jaroslav Balastik picking up goals for the CBJ.

The second period brought on another flurry of goal scoring from the Jackets. Manny Malhotra got one by Khabibulin at 11:44 of the period, with Rick Nash tallying his second of the night only a minute later. Duvie Westcott closed out the scoring in the period with a snap shot from close range.

For some reason, it seems as though the Blue Jackets always have issues in the third period. I feel like they always seems to run out of gas. The period was big for the Blackhawks. They went on to outshoot the Jackets 12-2, and score two goals in 25 secongs to bring the game back into Chicago's grasp. Fortunately for Columbus, time was on their side and they managed to pull out a "W" and for now, after 2 games, they sit on top of the central division.

For the Blue Jackets to have a shot at the postseason, they are going to have to start showing up for an entire game. As we saw at home on Friday, they got on the board quick, and then almost as quickly surrendered the lead. Pascal Leclaire was brilliant in net, preventing what could have easily been a 5-2 or 6-2 blowout. The team has the talent to get to the top, it's just a matter of showing it for an entire contest. Leclaire should be able to handle the number 1 job easily, but he needs help from the defensemen. Rick Nash can't carry the offense, and the newly acquired forwards in Frederick Modin and Anson Carter are going to have to get on the board.

Nikolai Zherdev has supposedly made it into town, be on the lookout for him in the lineup on monday, as Geoff Platt has been sent down to Syracuse to make room for Z. Also look for Rusty Klesla who will be back after a two game suspension for a low hit on Tuomo Ruttu during the preseason.

Honorable mentions for the weekend go out to the Washington Capitals for beating the Hurricanes, who are still winless after 3 games. And I also give mention to the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets, who won the franchise opener in OT 3-2. Unfortunately they dropped the second game of the series with the Waterloo Blackhawks 2-1.

Columbus Blue Jackets 5, Chicago Blackhawks 4

Columbus Record: 1-0-1, 3 pts

Box Score

Opening Night 2006

Amid much pomp and fanfare, the 2006-2007 Columbus Blue Jackets debuted in their home opener against the Vancouver Canucks. The pregame ceremonies were as filled with flair as any fan could expect. The Blue Jackets have never been an organization to pass on an opportunity to dazzle attendees with lights, music, and overproduced highlight and pregame videos. After introducing the entire Jackets team (minus a few stars who are injured or without a proper U.S. work visa), the game began.

The first period started strong. The Jackets appeared sharp and focused out of the gate, demonstrating less than two minutes into the game that this year's team was able to take some of our greener players to the next level. Hartigan scored on Luongo from Westcott and Hainsey on the jackets' first power play opportunity of the season.

The rest of the period went by uneventfully, and another real scoring chance would not come until late in the 2nd period. In a series of successive penalties, the Canucks ended up in a 3 on 5 situation with Fitzpatrick, Ohlund and Krajicek in the penalty box. Vyborny took advantage with help from Hartigan and Nash. The Jackets were able to manage a goal from the extended power play.

After the exciting 5 on 3 power play in the 2nd, the Jackets speed, energy, and focus died off. The third period was gloomy at best for the Jackets, who gave up 1 goal in the middle of the 3rd, and another with only 3 minutes to go. The precious second half of the third period demonstrated Vancouver's ability to exploit their own stamina and determination. Offensively, the Canucks dominated the Blue Jackets, out shooting them 15-4.

Overtime seemed to last hardly more than a blink of an eye as a Sedin brothers combo landed the puck in Leclaire's net.

All in all, the loss turned out to be very disappointing for this frustrated fan. This Jackets squad is ready for the next level, meaning that they need to be on the ice to play the whole game and not succumb to fatigue 45 minutes in. After such a strong demonstration of defensive skills and an outstanding performance by the young goaltender (41 saves), to give up three successive goals to lose in overtime was a heartbreaker.

The most frustrating point of all is over the same concern I've had for years about the Jackets. At the end of the game, we were out shot 44-20. Being outshot grossly has been a reoccuring issue with the Jackets. Even though we had 6 minutes of power play in the second period, we still only mustered 6 total shots. The Blue Jackets forwards needs to remember my favorite Wayne Gretzky quote: "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."

Vancouver Canucks 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 2
Jackets record: 0-0-0-1

Box score