2008–09 Columbus Blue Jackets season National Hockey League season
The 2008–09 Columbus Blue Jackets season was the ninth National Hockey League (NHL) season in Columbus , Ohio . On April 8, 2009, the Blue Jackets clinched a playoff berth after a shootout victory against the Chicago Blackhawks , the first berth in team history.
Preseason
The Jackets selected Russian forward Nikita Filatov with the sixth overall pick at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft . Filatov made an immediate impact with Columbus, scoring a goal in his NHL debut against the Nashville Predators . Columbus was rather aggressive in free agency, signing proven forward Kristian Huselius , and solidifying the defensive core with veteran Mike Commodore . General Manager Scott Howson also engineered two key pre-season trades, trading a draft pick to the Philadelphia Flyers for R. J. Umberger , and trading stars Nikolay Zherdev and Dan Fritsche to the New York Rangers in exchange for defensemen Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman .
Regular season
Rookie goaltender Steve Mason , who missed the first month of the season following knee surgery,[ 1] led the Blue Jackets into playoff contention at the All-Star break. Recalled from the American Hockey League 's Syracuse Crunch following Pascal Leclaire 's injury, Mason was named the Rookie of the Month by the NHL for November after recording five wins in eight decisions, including two shutouts.[ 2] He again won Rookie of the Month honors in December,[ 3] and was named to the YoungStars team at the 2009 All-Star Game in Montreal , though he declined to play after suffering back spasms.[ 4] Captain Rick Nash was the team's representative at the All-Star Game, his fourth appearance at the game. Rookie Nikita Filatov scored his first career hat trick on January 10, 2009, in a 4–2 win against the Minnesota Wild . Filatov's achievement marked the first hat trick by a Blue Jackets rookie. On the eve of the NHL trade deadline, Columbus traded recently oft-injured goaltender Pascal Leclaire and a draft pick to the Ottawa Senators for forward Antoine Vermette .[ 5] Vermette made an instant impact with the club, racking up seven points in his first six games.
The Blue Jackets struggled on the power play, finishing 30th in power-play goals (41) and power-play percentage (12.73%). They also had the most shutouts of any team in the league, with 11.[ 6] [ 7] [ 8]
Divisional standings
Conference standings
bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, p – Presidents' Trophy winner
CE – Central Division, NW – Northwest Division, PA – Pacific Division
Schedule and results
Pre-season
Regular season
2008–09 Game Log
October: 4–6–0 (Home: 2–2–0; Road: 2–4–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
1
October 10
Columbus
5 – 4
Dallas
OT
Leclaire
18,532
1–0–0
2
Recap
2
October 11
Columbus
1 – 3
Phoenix
Leclaire
17,125
1–1–0
2
Recap
3
October 14
Columbus
2 – 5
San Jose
Leclaire
17,496
1–2–0
2
Recap
4
October 17
Nashville
3 – 5
Columbus
Leclaire
17,930
2–2–0
4
Recap
5
October 18
Columbus
3 – 6
Nashville
Norrena
13,259
2–3–0
4
Recap
6
October 21
Vancouver
2 - 4
Columbus
Leclaire
12,057
3-3-0
6
Recap
7
October 24
N.Y. Rangers
3 - 1
Columbus
Leclaire
14,724
3-4-0
6
Recap
8
October 25
Columbus
1 - 2
Minnesota
Leclaire
18,568
3-5-0
6
Recap
9
October 27
Anaheim
3 - 2
Columbus
Norrena
10,494
3-6-0
6
Recap
10
October 30
Columbus
4 - 2
Colorado
Norrena
14,945
4-6-0
8
Recap
November: 6–4–3 (Home: 4–3–1; Road: 2–1–2)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
11
November 1
Chicago
4 - 3
Columbus
SO
Norrena
14,680
4-6-1
9
Recap
12
November 3
Columbus
3 - 4
N.Y. Islanders
OT
Norrena
10,184
4-6-2
10
Recap
13
November 5
Edmonton
4 - 5
Columbus
Mason
11,228
5-6-2
12
Recap
14
November 7
Montreal
3 - 4
Columbus
SO
Mason
14,603
6-6-2
14
Recap
15
November 8
Calgary
1 – 3
Columbus
Mason
14,088
7–6–2
16
Recap
16
November 12
Phoenix
5 – 2
Columbus
Mason
11,350
7–7–2
16
Recap
17
November 14
Columbus
6 – 1
Buffalo
Leclaire
18,690
8–7–2
18
Recap
18
November 15
Columbus
2 - 3
Minnesota
SO
Mason
18,568
8-7-3
19
Recap
19
November 18
Edmonton
7 - 2
Columbus
Leclaire
12,689
8-8-3
19
Recap
20
November 22
Columbus
2 - 0
Atlanta
Mason
15,561
9-8-3
21
Recap
21
November 26
Phoenix
3 - 2
Columbus
Mason
14,569
9-9-3
21
Recap
22
November 28
Columbus
3 - 5
Detroit
Leclaire
20,066
9-10-3
21
Recap
23
November 29
Washington
0 - 3
Columbus
Mason
17,448
10-10-3
23
Recap
December: 7–6–1 (Home: 5–1–0; Road: 2–5–1)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
24
December 1
Vancouver
2 - 3
Columbus
Mason
13,299
11-10-3
25
Recap
25
December 4
Columbus
2 - 3
San Jose
Mason
17,496
11-11-3
25
Recap
26
December 6
Columbus
0 - 3
Los Angeles
Mason
15,235
11-12-3
25
Recap
27
December 7
Columbus
3 - 5
Anaheim
Leclaire
16,914
11-13-3
25
Recap
28
December 11
Nashville
1 - 2
Columbus
SO
Mason
13,484
12-13-3
27
Recap
29
December 13
N.Y. Islanders
1 - 3
Columbus
Mason
15,443
13-13-3
29
Recap
30
December 14
Columbus
1 - 3
Chicago
Mason
21,379
13-14-3
29
Recap
31
December 17
San Jose
1 - 2
Columbus
OT
Mason
13,884
14-14-3
31
Recap
32
December 18
Columbus
5 - 6
Dallas
SO
Leclaire
16,281
14-14-4
32
Recap
33
December 20
Columbus
0 - 2
Phoenix
Mason
16,125
14-15-4
32
Recap
34
December 23
Los Angeles
3 - 0
Columbus
Mason
15,145
14-16-4
32
Recap
35
December 27
Philadelphia
0 - 3
Columbus
Mason
18,402
15-16-4
34
Recap
36
December 29
Columbus
2 - 0
Los Angeles
Mason
18,118
16-16-4
36
Recap
37
December 31
Columbus
2 - 0
Anaheim
Mason
16,758
17-16-4
38
Recap
January: 7–5–1 (Home: 4–2–0; Road: 3–3–1)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
38
January 2
Columbus
6 - 1
Colorado
Mason
14,482
18-16-4
40
Recap
39
January 3
Columbus
2 - 5
St. Louis
Mason
19,150
18-17-4
40
Recap
40
January 6
Columbus
0 - 3
Detroit
Mason
19,717
18-18-4
40
Recap
41
January 9
Columbus
3 - 0
Washington
Mason
18,277
19-18-4
42
Recap
42
January 10
Minnesota
2 - 4
Columbus
Mason
16,605
20-18-4
44
Recap
43
January 13
Colorado
3 - 4
Columbus
Mason
15,343
21-18-4
46
Recap
44
January 16
New Jersey
2 - 1
Columbus
Mason
17,738
21-19-4
46
Recap
45
January 18
Columbus
6 – 5
Vancouver
SO
Mason
18,630
22–19–4
48
Recap
46
January 20
Columbus
3 – 4
Edmonton
Mason
16,839
22–20–4
48
Recap
47
January 21
Columbus
4 – 5
Calgary
SO
Mason
19,289
22–20–5
49
Recap
48
January 27
Detroit
2 - 3
Columbus
OT
Mason
16,348
23-20-5
51
Recap
49
January 30
Ottawa
0 - 1
Columbus
Mason
17,080
24-20-5
53
Recap
50
January 31
Dallas
7 - 3
Columbus
Dubielewicz
18,049
24-21-5
53
Recap
February: 7–4–1 (Home: 4–2–1; Road: 3–2–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
51
February 3
St. Louis
4 - 2
Columbus
Mason
13,560
24-22-5
53
Recap
52
February 6
Columbus
1 - 4
Pittsburgh
Dubielewicz
17,050
24-23-5
53
Recap
53
February 7
San Jose
2 - 3
Columbus
OT
LaCosta
18,144
25-23-5
55
Recap
54
February 10
Colorado
0 - 3
Columbus
LaCosta
14,506
26-23-5
57
Recap
55
February 13
Detroit
2 - 3
Columbus
Mason
18,802
27-23-5
59
Recap
56
February 14
Columbus
5 - 1
Carolina
Mason
18,680
28-23-5
61
Recap
57
February 16
Dallas
3 - 2
Columbus
SO
Mason
15,006
28-23-6
62
Recap
58
February 18
St. Louis
3 - 4
Columbus
Mason
14,305
29-23-6
64
Recap
59
February 19
Columbus
4 - 3
Toronto
SO
Mason
19,179
30-23-6
66
Recap
60
February 21
Anaheim
5 - 2
Columbus
Mason
18,628
30-24-6
66
Recap
61
February 24
Columbus
1 - 4
Calgary
Mason
19,289
30-25-6
66
Recap
62
February 26
Columbus
1 - 0
Edmonton
Mason
16,839
31-25-6
68
Recap
March: 9–4–2 (Home: 6–2–0; Road: 3–2–2)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
63
March 1
Columbus
1 - 3
Vancouver
Mason
18,630
31-26-6
68
Recap
64
March 3
Los Angeles
4 - 5
Columbus
Mason
15,049
32-26-6
70
Recap
65
March 5
Columbus
2 - 4
Nashville
Mason
13,064
32-27-6
70
Recap
66
March 7
Columbus
8 - 2
Detroit
Mason
20,066
33-27-6
72
Recap
67
March 10
Boston
0 - 2
Columbus
Mason
16,675
34-27-6
74
Recap
68
March 12
Pittsburgh
3 - 4
Columbus
SO
Mason
19,167
35-27-6
76
Recap
69
March 13
Columbus
5 - 3
Chicago
Dubielewicz
22,176
36-27-6
78
Recap
70
March 15
Detroit
4 - 0
Columbus
Mason
18,685
36-28-6
78
Recap
71
March 18
Chicago
3 - 4
Columbus
OT
Mason
15,190
37-28-6
80
Recap
72
March 21
Columbus
3 - 1
Florida
Mason
17,032
38-28-6
82
Recap
73
March 24
Columbus
1 - 2
Tampa Bay
OT
Mason
14,454
38-28-7
83
Recap
74
March 26
Calgary
0 - 5
Columbus
Mason
16,327
39-28-7
85
Recap
75
March 28
Columbus
3 - 4
St. Louis
SO
Mason
19,250
39-28-8
86
Recap
76
March 29
St. Louis
5 - 2
Columbus
Mason
17,095
39-29-8
86
Recap
77
March 31
Nashville
1 - 2
Columbus
Mason
14,495
40-29-8
88
Recap
Legend :
Win (2 points)
Loss (0 points)
Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)
Playoffs
The Blue Jackets have reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Western Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (2) Detroit Red Wings: Detroit won series 4–0
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Goaltender
Attendance
Series
Recap
1
April 16
Columbus
1–4
Detroit
Mason
20,066
0–1
Recap
2
April 18
Columbus
0–4
Detroit
Mason
20,066
0–2
Recap
3
April 21
Detroit
4–1
Columbus
Mason
19,219
0–3
Recap
4
April 23
Detroit
6–5
Columbus
Mason
18,889
0–4
Recap
Legend :
Win
Loss
Player statistics
Skaters
Goaltenders
Playoffs
Player
GP
Min
W
L
GA
GAA
SA
SV
Sv%
SO
Steve Mason
4
239
0
4
17
4.26
139
122
.878
0
† Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Blue Jackets. Stats reflect time with the Blue Jackets only.
‡ Traded mid-season
Italics denotes franchise record
Awards and records
Awards
Steve Mason - Calder Memorial Trophy
Rick Nash – NHL Foundation Player Award
Records
Player
Record
Number
Reached
Steve Mason
Consecutive shutout minutes
199:19
January 2, 2009
Rick Nash
Most Points Scored - Career
318 pts
January 18, 2009
Team
Most Goals Scored - Game
8 goals
March 7, 2009
Team
Largest Margin of Victory
6 goals
March 7, 2009
Steve Mason
Most Wins - Season
28 wins
March 12, 2009
Team
Most Wins - Season
36 wins
March 13, 2009
Team
Most Points - Season
82 points
March 21, 2009
Steve Mason
Most Shutouts - Season
10 shutouts
March 26, 2009
Rick Nash
Most Points Scored - Season
79 pts
April 8, 2009
Jan Hejda
Highest Plus/Minus Rating - Season
+23
April 11, 2009
Milestones
Regular Season
Player
Milestone
Reached
Jakub Voracek
1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point
October 10, 2008
Derek Dorsett
1st NHL Game
October 11, 2008
Mike Commodore
300th NHL Game
October 17, 2008
Nikita Filatov
1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point
October 17, 2008
Marc Methot
1st NHL Goal
October 18, 2008
Derek Dorsett
1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point
October 21, 2008
Derek Dorsett
1st NHL Assist
October 30, 2008
Steve Mason
1st NHL Game 1st NHL Win
November 5, 2008
Steve Mason
1st NHL Shutout
November 22, 2008
Maksim Mayorov
1st NHL Game
January 3, 2009
Nikita Filatov
1st NHL Hat Trick
January 10, 2009
Fredrik Modin
800th NHL Game
January 10, 2009
Ken Hitchcock
500th NHL Victory
February 19, 2009
Transactions
Trades
Free agents
Claimed from waivers
Draft picks
The Blue Jackets entered the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa with the sixth overall selection. Columbus drafted Russian forward Nikita Filatov with the pick.[ 9] Filatov started the season with the Jackets' American Hockey League affiliate, scoring two goals in two games for the Syracuse Crunch before being recalled to the NHL.[ 10] Filatov made his NHL debut on October 17, scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators .[ 11]
See also
Farm teams
American Hockey League
Syracuse Crunch
ECHL
Johnstown Chiefs : GM Scott Howson announced on August 22, 2008 that the Blue Jackets reached an agreement with the Johnstown Chiefs to serve as the club's ECHL affiliate for the 2008–09 season, replacing the Elmira Jackals .
References
^ "Blue Jackets lose Steve Mason for 4-6 weeks" . CBC . September 23, 2008. Archived from the original on February 6, 2009. Retrieved December 2, 2008 .
^ "Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason named NHL rookie of the month" . Canadian Press . December 2, 2008. Archived from the original on December 13, 2008. Retrieved December 2, 2008 .
^ "Blue Jackets G Steve Mason named rookie of the month again" . National Post . January 2, 2009. Archived from the original on February 7, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2009 .
^ "Columbus Blue Jackets Goaltender Steve Mason to Miss this Weekend's NHL YoungStars Game" . Columbus Blue Jackets Hockey Club. January 20, 2009. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved January 22, 2009 .
^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - News: Columbus Blue Jackets Acquire Center Antoine Vermette from the Ottawa Senators in Exchange for Goaltender Pascal Leclaire and a Second Round Pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft - 03/04/2009" . Archived from the original on March 9, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2009 .
^ "2008-09 Columbus Blue Jackets Roster and Statistics" .
^ "2008-09 NHL Summary" .
^ "2008-09 NHL Schedule and Results" .
^ "2008 Entry Draft – First round tracker" . TSN. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved October 24, 2008 .
^ "Jared Boll on IR, Nikita Filatov joins Blue Jackets" . Canadian Press. October 15, 2008. Retrieved October 24, 2008 . [dead link ]
^ "Valiquette blanks Leafs; Filatov nets first goal" . Associated Press. October 17, 2008. Retrieved October 24, 2008 . [dead link ]
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