After a relatively successful European road trip to start off the Columbus Blue Jackets 2010-2011 season, expectations were high to open their season in the United States in the friendly confines of Nationwide Arena.
The Jackets were facing the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, but the Hawks were depleted because of the players traded away to pare down their salary cap-busting payroll, injuries to Patrick Kane and Brian Campbell, and Nicklas Hjalmarsson's two-game suspension for a vicious boarding of Jason Pominville.
Add to that the excitement of the pregame festivities to celebrate the Blue Jackets' 10th season in the National Hockey League, complete with appearances of former Blue Jackets and footage from their inaugural campaign. A standing room only crowd of 18,305 was chomping at the bit to see the new look Blue Jackets take on the seemingly vulnerable Blackhawks.
And then they dropped the puck.
The Blackhawks came in and drilled a listless Blue Jacket team, 5-2, but the game was never as close as the score would indicate. The Blue Jackets were manhandled, caught in numerous odd-man rushes and gener ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Ed Cmar
Columbus Blue Jackets Drop Disappointing Home Opener to Chicago Blackhawks
October 16th, 2010 by Ed Cmar Leave a reply »
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