Columbus Blue Jackets at Edmonton Oilers, Game 26

Columbus Blue Jackets
@ Edmonton Oilers

Friday, Dec 2, 2011, 7:30 PM MST
Rexall Place

The Cannon

Scoring Chances: CBJ @ CGY 12/1/11 - The Cannon
I’ve been pretty hard on Dorsett in the past as well but he is playing really well lately. The Vermette, Pahlsson, Dorsett line has been our most consistent and best all around line for the last couple games IMO.

Following Sanford, The Jackets' Defense Improves - The Cannon
The biggest question is: which is the real team? Sanford can't possibly play this well for an indefinite period of time. So, the question that needs to be settled is: is it Sanford's recent play, or the improved play in front of him?

Steve Mason's Healthy, Now What? - The Cannon
On Saturday, Matt looked at all the possible scenarios for Steve Mason as he returns from concussion-like symptoms. But with Curtis Sanford clearly providing a certain level of stability in net and helping the Blue Jackets gain some respectability this season, does Scott Arniel really want to play with fire and go back to Mason in net?

Steve Mason: Is There A Road Back? - The Cannon
The Jackets announced on Friday that Mason was expected to be cleared for play today or tomorrow, making him eligible for the game vs. St. Louis (though it seems almost certain that Curtis Sanford will act as the starter, and Mason to play in the backup role). Most fans were nervous about this news, at best.

What's Good at the Quarter Point - The Cannon
Like all of his teammates, rookie Ryan Johansen started the season slowly. He was in and out of the lineup, but after putting up three game winning goals in the Jackets' first three victories of the season, he has become a fixture on the second line. He has improved in every game, and his playmaking skills are becoming more and more evident.

Sam Gagner – Shawn Horcoff – Ales Hemsky
Ryan Smyth – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jordan Eberle
Magnus Paajarvi – Eric Belanger – Ryan Jones
Darcy Hordichuk – Ryan O`Marra – Lennart Petrell

Ladislav Smid - Tom Gilbert
Ryan Whitney - Jeff Petry
Theo Peckham - Andy Sutton

Nikolai Khabibulin

G26 Jackets at Oilers - Lowetide
The Blue Jackets have righted the ship in net and are much improved over their last 10 games. This club isn't the one that sunk like a stone at the beginning of the year, and for an Oiler team that can't get out of its own way lately this is an extremely loseable hockey game.

Oilers vs. Blue Jackets – Game 26 – Putting on the Foil
This one should be a game that the Oilers power through fairly handily, but we all know how those "easy" games can go. Hopefully the Oilers take the Blue Jackets more seriously than the Flamers did last night! The Oilers are currently sitting in 11th in the conference, but are right in the mix. Every win is important from here on out.

Game Day "Blue Jackets - Oilers Jambalaya
Sometimes math and what you see does not always fit. Regardless of what math says even on the plus side, I see Horcoff out there on the PP and it doesn't look good. Sure he is getting points, but how many missed opportunities have the Oilers missed out on? I say the experiment time is over Renney, please leave Horcoff off the 1st PP unit. Let's develop someone else into that role.

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