The Blue Jackets players aren't have a tough time finding joy in the last 2 games as they quieted the visiting Sabres estimated 8,000 fans in a 4-0 drubbing.

No one may have been smiling more than Mike Blunden who was either happy with the out come and winning the "Hard Hat" award or was delirious from lack of sleep. "I didn't get a lot of sleep last night," Blunden explained. "We (Syracuse Crunch) played in Wilkes-Barre last night and I didn't get to bed until probably 1:30 and then I had to get up at 4:30 for my flight." What ever it was he showed a ton of energy early on as he led the team in shots (4) and hits (5).

This series of events in this highlight show exactly how Blunden played for the Blue Jackets.



As good as Blunden was Steve Mason was better. In the last 2 games, Mason has found his form that won him the Calder Trophy last year. He is challenging shooters where before he was stuffing himself into the net. He is also making big saves in key situations that earlier in the year were finding their way in the back of the net. Mason has made 50 saves on 51 shots over the last 2 games. Many are asking the question, can a coaching change help the goalie this much?



With such a big crowd from Buffalo in the house, the first goal was going to be important and the goal by Milan Jurcina is a crazy of a goal that you will see but it gave the team a lift.

"It really help us," Interim Head Coach Claude Noel stated after the game. "We were certainly surprised by it and sometimes a players contribution is just that. Does that give him an A+? The contribution gives him an A+ but...it was a really big lift for us."



The game still seemed in doubt late into the 2nd period and the next goal was going to sway the momentum to the one side or the other. Then Buffalo's Craig Rivet got whistled for a double minor high sticking call at the 11:16 mark of the 2nd period. Noel felt the same and told the entire bench that, "The next goal is going to be a very big goal and it would be nice if we got it."

Rick Nash got the message and maybe even started is future coaching career as he drew up the power play goal. R.J. Umberger gave a great assist both on the goal and after the game, "Rick (Nash) saw something on the bench. Believe it or not it was a set play that he wanted to try and it worked out perfectly."



Just because Jakub Voracek is on a 26 game goalless streak doesn't mean he hasn't played well and his game against the Sabres was something to behold. Voracek set the table on 3 of the 4 goals the Jackets scored and nothing showed more about his unselfishness than on the Raffi Torres goal. Voracek had more than a good chance to shoot and score on the play but knew that a good pass would make it a no doubter. Most players on a goal scoring dry spell would take the shot but not Voracek, he wanted the win more. "I had a chance to score a goal but Raffi had an open net so I just gave it to him," Voracek explained. "It doesn't matter if I score or somebody else is scoring, it's just good to win."



Will the Jackets continue to play this way the rest of the year is hard to say but there is no doubt that the attitude is different in the room and they are playing with a joy that has let them free up their game to a point that they no longer worry about mistakes and are more worried about making a play. At the very least, this team will be a lot more fun to watch the rest of the year.

Trade Scenerio With Penguins Heating Up

There is little doubt that the Penguins have a serious interest in acquiring Raffi Torres for the playoff run. Last Thurday both General Manager Ray Shero and Director of Player Personnel Dan MacKinnon for the Penguins was at Nationwide Arena when the Blue Jackets took on the Dallas Stars. A source told me late last night that things are heating up but there is some pieces that need to move before a trade can happen.

This is what I got so far. The Penguins are trying to move Ruslan Fedotenko to free up cap space. If they can't move him, then the Penguins will have to wait till closer to the trade deadline to make the move.

What the trade scenario that has unfolded according to my source from Pittsburgh is that the Pens would get Raffi Torres and the Blue Jackets would get a conditional pick and center Dustin Jeffrey.

I will let you know more if I hear anything.




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Eric Smith
Eric.Smith@HockeyBuzz.com

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