COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Cam Atkinson believes the Columbus Blue Jackets are getting better. Joe Pavelski Jersey . But hes also realizes just how far they have to go. "We got a little taste of what we wanted in making the playoffs," the 24-year-old winger said the day after the Blue Jackets were eliminated in Game 6 of their wild first-round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins. "We just won two games. Its a stepping stone." For years an NHL doormat, the Blue Jackets are both inspired and also realistic after the best season in the franchises mostly rocky 13 seasons. "I heard on the radio the other day that Game 4 is one of the great sports moments in this city," forward Mark Letestu said, referring to a three-goal comeback at home that was capped by a last-minute tying goal in regulation and Nick Folignos overtime winner. "I think theres a lot more that we can give. We can give series victories and further cement the Blue Jackets in the hearts of people here. Thats whats on guys minds right now." It was a season of firsts for the Blue Jackets, who have spent much of their existence toward the bottom of the NHL standings. They set club records with 43 regular-season wins, 21 road victories, 93 points and 231 goals. They had made the playoffs just once previously and their stay lasted only four games, all losses. But one of the leagues youngest teams overcame a 5-10-0 start with a strong finish to clinch a playoff spot. Then, they won Games 2 and 4 against the Penguins with stirring comebacks. In Monday nights Game 6, they were outclassed early and trailed 4-0 heading into the final period before scoring three goals in a 4:52 span to energize a crowd of 19,189 that stood and roared throughout the final minutes. The 4-3 defeat left them disappointed, but most will likely only remember the Jackets scrambling at the finish for a possible tying goal while the Penguins struggled to hold them off. "The building was rocking," defenceman Jack Johnson said. "But theres going to be a lot more and better times ahead." Beyond everything else they accomplished, they gave their patient followers some hope. Over their past 111 games, the Blue Jackets are 62-37-12 -- far and away the best such span in the franchises history, and exceeded by only seven other teams in the league. "Its been great to see where we came from halfway through last season to where we are now and how excited the city gets," said fourth-line centre Derek MacKenzie, an unrestricted free agent this summer. "Weve already talked about that. What would it be like if we could have a great start? Is that arena going to be like that all season long? We sure hope so." The Blue Jackets poor history has become, well, old news. "Everybody hears about the past," said rookie defenceman Ryan Murray, taken No. 2 in the 2012 draft. "It hasnt been very good. Everybody thats here now just wants to change that, to change the culture and bring in more fans and change the city into a hockey town." Judging from the capacity crowds down the stretch and in the playoffs, and the excitement generated around this city of 787,000. For the past few weeks, the Blue Jackets have been the talk of the town, pulling off a rare coup by bumping Ohio State football off the front page of the local newspaper. Now that the Blue Jackets have stamped themselves as a good team, the hard part is getting better. "I dont think were going to catch anybody by surprise anymore," defenceman James Wisniewski said. "Everybody realizes the identity that weve created here, that its going to be a hard-fought game and that theyre going to have to bring their A game or were going to run them out of the building." Many of the Blue Jackets had already shaved off their playoff beards before meetings with the coaching staff on Tuesday morning. Several of the younger players were barely able to grow one. So now a team that didnt know what it was missing when it didnt make the playoffs is disappointed that it has been eliminated. "Ill be watching (the playoffs) for sure," Atkinson said. "What else is there to do now? You wish you could be playing." Max Pacioretty Jersey . But Paul Osbaldiston, Hamiltons assistant special teams and kicking coach, said the team still relished the championship game workout. Cory Schneider Team USA Hockey Jersey . Altidore strained his left hamstring in the Americans opener against Ghana on June 16 and didnt play in their next two games. "We dont know how much because we need to see how hes going, but hes available," U.The New York Rangers opened the Eastern Conference Final with a 7-2 win in Montreal, embarrassing the Canadiens on home ice to start the series. Rangers D Ryan McDonagh led the way with a goal and three assists for the Blueshirts and, oh, thats not any kind of sore spot for the Canadiens. Remember, he was a first-round pick of the Canadiens in 2007 who was dealt to the Rangers as part of the deal to get (ahem) Scott Gomez. McDonagh only had three points, total, through the first two rounds, so the first four-point game of his 298-game (regular season and playoffs) career was a great start for the Rangers. In a 7-2 rout, there were plenty of big contributors for the Rangers. The line of Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan and Rick Nash each had one goal and an assist. Yes, Nash scored his first goal in 15 playoff games this year, and Kreider, the rookie power forward was a tough match-up for the Canadiens. Nash and Kreider can be tough matchups if theyre playing well and, for various reasons, havent been major factors through the first couple rounds. Could be big trouble for Montreal if thats going to change now. Martin St. Louis and Derek Stepan each had a goal and an assist and Dominic Moore chipped in a couple of assists, while Mats Zuccarello delivered a goal and two assists. Zuccarello is now the Rangers leading scorer in the playoffs, with 11 points (4 G, 7 A) in 15 games, one ahead of St. Louis and Brad Richhards. T. J. Oshie Jersey. Richards scored a goal and registered a game-high 10 shot attempts. The Canadiens were getting outplayed at 5-on-5, but the Rangers also had seven of the games first eight power plays, with Montreal getting a couple of power plays in the last three-and-a-half minutes, long after the outcome was decided. Coming off a series against Boston in which the Canadiens were obviously invested emotionally, they certainly appeared flat in Game One against the Rangers. G Carey Price, who has been great in the playoffs, was pulled between the second and third periods after allowing four goals on 20 shots. Only twice, in 70 (regular season plus playoff) games this season, did Price allow at least four goals with 16 or fewer saves. Though his production was inconsequential, Canadiens C Lars Eller had a goal and an assist and hes the top scoring Montreal forward in the playoffs with five goals and 11 points in a dozen games. One negative for the Rangers was that C Derick Brassard left the game early with an apparent back injury. Hes considered day-to-day. If the Canadiens are to take a positive from this debacle of a game, it is that it only counts as one loss. Forget Game One, come back fresh for Game Two because, really, what other option do they have? Scott Cullen can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Cheap Jerseys Store Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Outlet Wholesale Black NFL Jerseys China NFL Gear NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL T-shirts From China ' ' '
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Cam Atkinson believes the Columbus Blue Jackets are getting better. Joe Pavelski Jersey . But hes also realizes just how far they have to go. "We got a little taste of what we wanted in making the playoffs," the 24-year-old winger said the day after the Blue Jackets were eliminated in Game 6 of their wild first-round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins. "We just won two games. Its a stepping stone." For years an NHL doormat, the Blue Jackets are both inspired and also realistic after the best season in the franchises mostly rocky 13 seasons. "I heard on the radio the other day that Game 4 is one of the great sports moments in this city," forward Mark Letestu said, referring to a three-goal comeback at home that was capped by a last-minute tying goal in regulation and Nick Folignos overtime winner. "I think theres a lot more that we can give. We can give series victories and further cement the Blue Jackets in the hearts of people here. Thats whats on guys minds right now." It was a season of firsts for the Blue Jackets, who have spent much of their existence toward the bottom of the NHL standings. They set club records with 43 regular-season wins, 21 road victories, 93 points and 231 goals. They had made the playoffs just once previously and their stay lasted only four games, all losses. But one of the leagues youngest teams overcame a 5-10-0 start with a strong finish to clinch a playoff spot. Then, they won Games 2 and 4 against the Penguins with stirring comebacks. In Monday nights Game 6, they were outclassed early and trailed 4-0 heading into the final period before scoring three goals in a 4:52 span to energize a crowd of 19,189 that stood and roared throughout the final minutes. The 4-3 defeat left them disappointed, but most will likely only remember the Jackets scrambling at the finish for a possible tying goal while the Penguins struggled to hold them off. "The building was rocking," defenceman Jack Johnson said. "But theres going to be a lot more and better times ahead." Beyond everything else they accomplished, they gave their patient followers some hope. Over their past 111 games, the Blue Jackets are 62-37-12 -- far and away the best such span in the franchises history, and exceeded by only seven other teams in the league. "Its been great to see where we came from halfway through last season to where we are now and how excited the city gets," said fourth-line centre Derek MacKenzie, an unrestricted free agent this summer. "Weve already talked about that. What would it be like if we could have a great start? Is that arena going to be like that all season long? We sure hope so." The Blue Jackets poor history has become, well, old news. "Everybody hears about the past," said rookie defenceman Ryan Murray, taken No. 2 in the 2012 draft. "It hasnt been very good. Everybody thats here now just wants to change that, to change the culture and bring in more fans and change the city into a hockey town." Judging from the capacity crowds down the stretch and in the playoffs, and the excitement generated around this city of 787,000. For the past few weeks, the Blue Jackets have been the talk of the town, pulling off a rare coup by bumping Ohio State football off the front page of the local newspaper. Now that the Blue Jackets have stamped themselves as a good team, the hard part is getting better. "I dont think were going to catch anybody by surprise anymore," defenceman James Wisniewski said. "Everybody realizes the identity that weve created here, that its going to be a hard-fought game and that theyre going to have to bring their A game or were going to run them out of the building." Many of the Blue Jackets had already shaved off their playoff beards before meetings with the coaching staff on Tuesday morning. Several of the younger players were barely able to grow one. So now a team that didnt know what it was missing when it didnt make the playoffs is disappointed that it has been eliminated. "Ill be watching (the playoffs) for sure," Atkinson said. "What else is there to do now? You wish you could be playing." Max Pacioretty Jersey . But Paul Osbaldiston, Hamiltons assistant special teams and kicking coach, said the team still relished the championship game workout. Cory Schneider Team USA Hockey Jersey . Altidore strained his left hamstring in the Americans opener against Ghana on June 16 and didnt play in their next two games. "We dont know how much because we need to see how hes going, but hes available," U.The New York Rangers opened the Eastern Conference Final with a 7-2 win in Montreal, embarrassing the Canadiens on home ice to start the series. Rangers D Ryan McDonagh led the way with a goal and three assists for the Blueshirts and, oh, thats not any kind of sore spot for the Canadiens. Remember, he was a first-round pick of the Canadiens in 2007 who was dealt to the Rangers as part of the deal to get (ahem) Scott Gomez. McDonagh only had three points, total, through the first two rounds, so the first four-point game of his 298-game (regular season and playoffs) career was a great start for the Rangers. In a 7-2 rout, there were plenty of big contributors for the Rangers. The line of Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan and Rick Nash each had one goal and an assist. Yes, Nash scored his first goal in 15 playoff games this year, and Kreider, the rookie power forward was a tough match-up for the Canadiens. Nash and Kreider can be tough matchups if theyre playing well and, for various reasons, havent been major factors through the first couple rounds. Could be big trouble for Montreal if thats going to change now. Martin St. Louis and Derek Stepan each had a goal and an assist and Dominic Moore chipped in a couple of assists, while Mats Zuccarello delivered a goal and two assists. Zuccarello is now the Rangers leading scorer in the playoffs, with 11 points (4 G, 7 A) in 15 games, one ahead of St. Louis and Brad Richhards. T. J. Oshie Jersey. Richards scored a goal and registered a game-high 10 shot attempts. The Canadiens were getting outplayed at 5-on-5, but the Rangers also had seven of the games first eight power plays, with Montreal getting a couple of power plays in the last three-and-a-half minutes, long after the outcome was decided. Coming off a series against Boston in which the Canadiens were obviously invested emotionally, they certainly appeared flat in Game One against the Rangers. G Carey Price, who has been great in the playoffs, was pulled between the second and third periods after allowing four goals on 20 shots. Only twice, in 70 (regular season plus playoff) games this season, did Price allow at least four goals with 16 or fewer saves. Though his production was inconsequential, Canadiens C Lars Eller had a goal and an assist and hes the top scoring Montreal forward in the playoffs with five goals and 11 points in a dozen games. One negative for the Rangers was that C Derick Brassard left the game early with an apparent back injury. Hes considered day-to-day. If the Canadiens are to take a positive from this debacle of a game, it is that it only counts as one loss. Forget Game One, come back fresh for Game Two because, really, what other option do they have? Scott Cullen can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Cheap Jerseys Store Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Outlet Wholesale Black NFL Jerseys China NFL Gear NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL T-shirts From China ' ' '
