Columbus Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson says Ryan Murray's shoulder is back to 100 percent.
Murray underwent surgery in mid-January and is expected to be ready for "game action" by sometime in early- to mid-July, according to Davidson. The No. 2 overall pick in last June's draft, Murray should be completely ready to go once training camp opens in September, where he'll try to crack the Jackets' NHL roster.

Sergei Bobrovksy knows there's a lot to improve upon next season, despite winning the Vezina Trophy this year.
"No question, there is a lot more to be done," Bobrovsky said through a translator after accepting the award. "This is not my final stage. I can still be better." Bobrovsky finished with a 2.00 goals-against average and .932 save percentage. "It's back-to-work time for Sergei," goalie coach Ian Clark said. "We've highlighted some areas in his game that we can work on, a few aspects he can sharpen up to get to an even higher level. "It was an amazing season. The award was deserved. But there's still so much more inside this guy, and he wants to show it."

Columbus Blue Jackets president John Davidson remains confident that they'll re-sign Sergei Bobrovsky.
Bobrovsky is scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer and he hasn't ruled out the possibility of signing with a KHL club. "We'll look at all the different options - short-term, long-term, arbitration . who knows?" Davidson said. "We think we'll get him signed."

Sergei Bobrovsky said on Saturday that "We'll see" when asked if he will play in the KHL next season.
Bobrovsky is slated to become a restricted free agent on July 5 and while the Columbus Blue Jackets would match any offer by another NHL club, they do not have that same luxury if a KHL club team inks him. SKA Saint Petersburg is rumored to be offering the Vezina Trophy winner big money to jump to the KHL so it appears that Blue Jackets could be in a fight to retain Bobrovsky's services. The Russian netminder played for SKA Saint Petersburg during the lockout before returning to the NHL when the lockout ended. Bobrovsky was sensational this past season as he led the Blue Jackets to the brink of the playoffs with a 2.00 GAA, a .932 save percentage and a 21-11-6 record.

Sergei Bobrovksy won the 2013 Vezina Trophy as the league's best goalie.
A well-deserved honor. The Blue Jackets netminder received 17 first-place votes and was named on 26 of 30 ballots. He had a remarkable year between the pipes, finishing fifth in the NHL with a 2.00 goals-against average and second with a .932 save percentage. The 24-year-old also had a 21-11-6 record. Henrik Lundqvist finished second, with Antti Niemi coming in third.

Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen says talks between the team and Sergei Bobrovsky's camp have picked up in recent days.
It was only last week that talks between the parties had stalled, but Kekalainen said things have progressed. Bobrovsky will find out this week if wins the Vezina Trophy, which normally would up his price. However, Kekalainen said he's proceeding in talks as if Bobrovsky has already won the award. If that's the case, then the goalie's agents are likely waiting for the RFA and KHL markets to develop in hopes of forcing Columbus into a bigger contract than planned.

Blue Jackets co-director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright is very encouraged by the quality of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft prospects.
It's been drawing comparisons to the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, which featured Eric Staal, Ryan Getzlaf, Thomas Vanek, Corey Perry, Zach Parise, Patrice Bergeron, and a number of other top NHL players. "This year's draft does remind a lot of people of that year," Wright said. That's good news for the Columbus Blue Jackets as they have three first-round picks at their disposal.

Contract talks between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Sergei Bobrovsky's camp are not progressing, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
The Dispatch postulates that talks have stalled because Bobrovsky's agent wants to wait to get into serious talks, which makes a lot of sense. For one, Bobrovsky's value would rise considerably if he wins the Vezina Trophy. As a restricted free agent, Bobrovsky could also receive an offer sheet from another NHL team or a contract offer from the KHL. The Jackets are on record as saying they'll match any NHL offer sheet regardless of cost, but the rumored KHL interest is a pretty big wild card. We still think Bobrovsky stays in the NHL, but time will tell.

The New York Rangers being booted out in round two means that the worst pick the Columbus Blue Jackets will get from that trade is the 19th selection in the 2013 NHL Draft.
It could go up to 18th depending upon how things shake out. This gives the new regime the 14th pick (their own), 18/19 from New York, the Kings' pick and the 44th selection in the first two rounds. Not bad for a team that showed promise late in this season.

Anton Forsberg has reportedly inked a three-year, entry-level deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Forsberg was taken with the 188th pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He had a 2.04 GAA and .933 save percentage in 33 games in Allsvenskan, which is Sweden's second-highest league.

Curtis McElhinney has agreed to a one-year, one-way deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
It looks like McElhinney will get a chance to serve as the Blue Jackets' backup next season. He had a 2.32 GAA and .923 save percentage in 49 AHL games in 2012-13.

SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League is reportedly willing to pay big money to sign Sergei Bobrovsky.
Bobrovsky is scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer. Although it's unlikely that Saint Petersburg will succeed in its goal of inking Bobrovsky, this should give the goaltender more leverage when he's negotiating with the Columbus Blue Jackets. It's worth adding that Bobrovsky played for Saint Petersburg during the lockout and had a 1.94 GAA and .932 save percentage in 24 KHL games.

Ilari Melart has agreed to a one-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but it is an entry-level contract. Melart had 18 points and 80 penalty minutes in 50 SM-liiga games last season. He's 24 and hasn't played professionally in North America before.

Sergei Bobrovsky's contract talks with the Columbus Blue Jackets have gone quiet.
"We've talked. We've exchanged ideas," Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said. "But we haven't made any progress, really. It's been pretty quiet for a while now." Bobrovsky can become a restricted free agent this summer if the Blue Jackets don't re-sign him. That would allow the goaltender to ink an offer sheet, but Kekalainen said that the team is prepared to match an offer sheet if it comes to that.

Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said he hopes Ryan Johansen takes his recent benching in stride but noted "I' don't really care' if Johansen was unhappy playing in the AHL.
Johansen was a healthy scratch for Springfield during Game 4 of the AHL playoffs and coach Brad Larsen said he didn't feel like Johansen's level of play was where it needed to be. "I think this is probably going to be a disappointment [to him], to say the least, maybe even a bit embarrassing," said Kekalainen, who also noted the fourth overall pick in 2010 will have to earn an NHL spot in training camp next fall. Johansen played in 40 NHL games this season, scoring five goals and 12 points.

Ryan Johansen spent Game 4 of the AHL playoffs as a healthy scratch for Springfield.
He recorded one assist and a minus-8 rating in the first three games of the series in what ended up as a second-round sweep for Syracuse. "I just felt like his level of play wasn't where it needed to be," coach Brad Larsen said. "We talked after Game 2, and I tried to ramp him up. In Game 3, we just felt like he wasn't all there, like he wasn't invested 100 percent." He didn't require permission from the team's brass to scratch Johansen, but they understood and supported his decision. Johansen played better defensively down the stretch for the Blue Jackets, but he recorded just 12 points in 40 games.

Ryan Murray is ahead of schedule after undergoing shoulder surgery in mid-January.
The Blue Jackets first round pick and second overall in the 2012 Draft, is in good shape to be ready for the Blue Jackets development camp in the summer. This is great news for the Blue Jackets as they hope Murray will crack their lineup out of training camp although he may need more time as he missed most of last season.

Boone Jenner has been making a good impression with Springfield of the AHL.
"To me, he's an improved player from what I saw at the end of last season (five games)," coach Brad Larsen said. "And I liked what I saw last year. He's just grown a lot. He's a confidence player, a big strong player. His speed has improved, and that's the No. 1 thing I've recognized. He's not lightning-fast. He'll never be that guy. But he's such a hard worker, and he's got enough speed to be where he needs to be." Jenner has two goals and an assist in six playoff games. He was a stud with the Oshawa Generals of the OHL this season as he had 45 goals and 82 points in 57 games.

Sergei Bobrovsky is looking to sign a new contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Bobrovsky is coming off his best season to date and is the favorite to win the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie. "A new deal could be done this week, or it could be done in August," club president John Davidson said. "You just don't know with these things, but there's a deal to be made there, and it'll get done. We have an affinity for Bob, and Bob likes Columbus." Bobrovsky was outstanding this season as he led the Blue Jackets to the verge of the playoffs after everyone thought they would be the worst team in the NHL. He was 21-11-6 with a 2.00 GAA and a .932 save percentage.

Marian Gaborik had successful abdominal surgery Thursday.
He will require 3-4 weeks to heal and is expected to spend most of that time in Columbus. Gaborik is expected to be OK in time for training camp after he had a "mesh patch," that was put in place during a sports hernia procedure he had in 2001, adjusted.

Jared Boll had successful surgery to repair a sports hernia on Thursday.
He'll need 4-6 weeks to recovery and is projected to be fine for training camp next fall. Boll played the final two weeks of the season with the injury.

Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards was naturally pleased to hear that Sergei Bobrovsky had been nominated for the Vezina Trophy.
"This great news for a lot of different reasons," Richards said. "I'm really happy for Bob because I know the time and effort he put into it. And from a team sense, it's great to have things like this happen because it validates a lot of the really good things this team accomplished this season. You're disappointed you didn't make the playoffs, but when a guy gets singled out for an award like this, it shows that people recognize the good things that happened for us." Bobrovsky should be considered the frontrunner for the award after posting a 2.00 GAA and .932 save percentage in 38 games.

Sergei Bobrovsky released a statement after being selected as a Vezina Trophy finalist.
"It is a great honor to be a finalist for this award, but I need to thank my teammates and coaches as it would not be possible without them," Bobrovsky said. "I just tried to work hard and get better every day and help the Blue Jackets win games. We missed the playoffs by one point, but it was a good year and I will just try to keep getting better because our goal is to win the Stanley Cup." If Bobrovsky is capable of staying at the elite level he was at during March and April, then anything is possible for the Blue Jackets. Before they get too far ahead of themselves though, they have to re-sign the soon-to-be restricted free agent.

Sergei Bobrovsky has been selected as a Vezina Trophy nominee.
The award will go to the league's best goaltender and is voted on by the league's general managers. Bobrovsky didn't get off to a particularly inspiring start this season, but he was incredible in the second half of the season and finished with a 2.00 GAA and .932 save percentage. Bobrovsky is a restricted free agent and is likely in line for a big raise. Henrik Lundqvist and Antti Niemi are the other two nominees.

Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen hasn't made a decision on whether to pursue pending unrestricted free agent Vaclav Prospal.
Kekalainen did add that he's very satisfied with Prospal's performance this season. "He made a big contribution," Kekalainen said. "He always scores. I've seen him since he was a young kid. You always wonder how he does it, but every year he does it. He scores goals and has assists and contributes that way. He's had a great career, and I have a lot of respect for his career and the way he played this year." Prospal had 12 goals and 30 points in 48 games.

Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen is optimistic that his team will re-sign Sergei Bobrovsky "in the near future."
Bobrovsky is a restricted free agent, so the Blue Jackets aren't in serious danger of losing him, but the question is if they'll be able to sign him to a long-term deal. Bobrovsky is likely seeking a big raise after posting a 2.00 GAA and .932 save percentage in 38 games in 2013.

Jared Boll will undergo sports hernia surgery this week.
Boll suffered the injury about a month ago but played through it as the Blue Jackets were in playoff contention until the last night of the season. He is expected to be healthy enough for training camp in September.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are looking to improve their goal scoring in the off-season.
The Blue Jackets were 5-13-4 in games that they gave up more than two goals as they were only 25th in the NHL in goals scored. "It's tough to win games 2-1 every night," GM Jarmo Kekalainen said. "It's going to be easier for us to win more games if we score more goals. Skill and speed are a great part of this game, and that's an area we're going to work on this summer." The Blue Jackets have three first round picks so they do have a lot of options in the off-season. Of course having Marian Gaborik for the whole season won't hurt either.

Marian Gaborik will have abdominal surgery on Wednesday or Thursday and he's projected to need three-to-four weeks to recover.
"Marian experienced some soreness towards the end of the season and after undergoing his exit physical and further examination today, it was decided that surgery is the best option for a quick and full recovery," said Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson. "Marian will have the surgery and after a three to four week recovery period will be able to resume off-season training." He won't get to play for Slovakia at the IIHF World Championships, but he should be ready for training camp in the fall. Gaborik notched three goals and five assists in 12 games with Columbus after he was traded by the New York Rangers.

Sergei Bobrovsky is in line for a big raise as a restricted free agent.
"Obviously, Bobrovsky is a high priority for us," Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said. Bobrovsky's efforts nearly propelled Columbus into the playoffs. He had a 2.00 GAA and .932 save percentage in 38 games this season.

Marian Gaborik is reportedly going to be examined by an abdominal specialist.
Team Slovakia GM Otta Sykora said that Gaborik has the Blue Jackets consent to play in the 2013 IIHF World Championship if he gets medical clearance. "It would, in the case of a positive report, mean that maybe on Thursday or by Friday morning, Marian could be in Helsinki," Sykora added. Gaborik played in 47 games this season, but it's worth noting that he's previously dealt with groin issues.

Sergei Bobrovsky changed his mind and won't play for Russia in the 2013 IIHF World Championships, according to Slava Malamud of Sport-Express.
It's hard to blame Bobrovsky for the decision considering he apparently would've been backing up former Flyers teammate Ilya Bryzgalov despite a Vezina-worthy season. Malamud reports Avs netminder Semyon Varlamov will take Bobrovsky's place.

Todd Richards admits it was "tough" to get out of bed the day after the Columbus Blue Jackets were eliminated from postseason consideration.
The Blue Jackets were eliminated on the final day of the regular season. Richards said he's not sure if he'll watch the playoffs. "It's going to be tough to watch. Really feeling that - 100 percent feeling, and the guys realy believe this, too - that we were a playoff team. If we had a chance, and we could have gotten there, I think we could have done something," Richards said Monday.

Nikita Nikitin won't play in the world championships due to either a right foot or ankle injury.
Nikitin missed the last week of the season with the ailments but will have plenty of time to get healthy before training camp. He had three goals and nine points in 38 games this season.

The Columbus Blue Jackets were a banged up team at the end of the regular season.
A lot of teams were but the Blue Jackets will not be sending a lot of players to the World Championships as players such as Brandon Dubinsky (knee), Cam Atkinson (high-ankle sprain), Tim Erixon (ankle), Jack Johnson (groin) and Nikita Nikitin (leg) need to recover. All should be okay for the start of training camp in September.

The Columbus Blue Jackets were a banged up team at the end of the regular season.
A lot of teams were but the Blue Jackets will not be sending a lot of players to the World Championships as players such as Brandon Dubinsky (knee), Cam Atkinson (high-ankle sprain), Tim Erixon (ankle), Jack Johnson (groin) and Nikita Nikitin (leg) need to recover. All should be okay for the start of training camp in September.

Jared Boll suffered a sports hernia injury a few weeks ago and could undergo surgery now that the Blue Jackets have been eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Now we know what the lower body injury was. "It wasn't (fun playing through it)," Boll said. "But these games are so important. I wanted to play, and do everything I could." Boll picks up a lot of penalty minutes and chips in with the occasional point so he is worth selecting late in pools that reward penalty minutes.

Columbus Blue Jackets Sergei Bobrovsky, Fedor Tyutin and Artem Anisimov will play for Russia in the 2013 IIHF World Championships.
It's not quite playing in the postseason, but the trio of Russian Blue Jackets will get to play their trade overseas instead of having an early vacation. Obviously, Bobrovsky deserves Vezina consideration.

The Colorado Avalanche fired head coach Joe Sacco on Sunday.
It's not really a shocking development since he's only taken the Avs to the playoffs in one out of his four campaigns and has never won a series. He finishes his days in Colorado with a 130-134-30 record in 294 games.

Dalton Prout will report to Springfield of the AHL to take part in their playoff chase.
Prout was a pleasant surprise for the Blue Jackets, recording seven points in 28 contests in the NHL. He'll be a welcome addition in Springfield.

With the Columbus Blue Jackets eliminated from postseason contention center Ryan Johansen will join the Springfield Falcons of the AHL to assist with their playoff chase.
Johansen made progress throughout the NHL season and will be a great asset for Springfield, who currently lead the Manchester Monarchs 1-0 in their opening round series.

Artem Anisimov returned to action on Saturday April 27.

Sergei Bobrovksy made 19 saves in the Blue Jackets' 3-1 win over the Predators on Saturday night.
One of the frontronners for the Vezina Trophy, Bobrovsky had yet another stingy night in a must-win contest. Even though Columbus won't make the postseason, the arrow is certainly pointing up and it can attribute that to a bonafide number-one in net. Bobrovsky ends the year with a 22-11-6 record, 2.00 goals-against average and .932 save percentage. Those of you who took a chance on him this season were handsomely rewarded.

Brandon Dubinsky enjoyed a two-point night with a goal and an assist as the Blue Jackets topped the Predators on Saturday 3-1.
The Blue Jackets still won't be heading to the playoffs because of the Wild's win against the Avs. Still, it was a very promising season for Columbus, which finished 24-17-7, with 55 points, 10 shy of their full-season total from last year. Cam Atkinson also had a goal and an assist, while Jack Johnson potted the other marker. This is a team on the rise in the West.

Cam Atkinson has inked a two-year extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Atkinson was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer. It's a one-way deal reportedly worth $2.3 million. He has eight goals and 16 points in 34 games this season.

Jack Johnson blocked a team-high seven shots on Thursday.
Johnson matched the entire Dallas Stars squad in that regard to lead Columbus to a 3-1 victory. Johnson also recorded an assist and logged a team-high 25:59 minutes of ice time.

Columbus picked up a vital 3-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday.
The Blue Jackets have just one game left in their regular season schedule and will probably need to win it in order to make the playoffs. However, if the Minnesota Wild lose their final two games in regulation, then Columbus could sneak in with an overtime/shootout loss.

Brandon Dubinsky recorded two assists on Thursday.
Dubinsky has stepped up this month with nine assists in nine games. He has 18 points in 28 points and isn't a bad bet to reach the 50-point mark next season if he can stay healthy.

Cam Atkinson found the back of the net twice for the Blue Jackets in a 3-1 win over Dallas Thursday.
What could have been a solid rookie campaign for Atkinson was derailed by an untimely injury, but he snapped a five-game pointless drought with tonight's effort, which also included seven shots on goal. Mark Letestu added his 13th of the season in the victory.

Sergei Bobrovsky continued his exceptional second half by stopping 31 of 32 shots in a 3-1 win over Dallas Thursday night.
The Blue Jackets needed a big performance in order to keep their playoff hopes alive and Bobrovsky delivered just that. He has won seven of his last eight appearances.

Artem Anisimov (concussion) skated Wednesday in Columbus, but he's doubtful to play Saturday.
It appears to be unlikely that he'll play before the end of the regular season, but could return during the playoffs if the Blue Jackets can climb their way back into the top eight of the Western Conference.

Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards isn't worried about Michael Leighton getting rusty.
Leighton has played in just one NHL game this season and it sounds like the only way he'll play is if Sergei Bobrovsky suffers an injury. "He's played in some big games in his career and proved that he can be a good goaltender at this level," Richards said. ". If something happens and he has to go in, he's keeping himself ready."

Detroit's 3-1 victory against Los Angeles on Wednesday shifts the pressure to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the battle for a playoff spot.
Columbus is now one point behind the eighth place Red Wings with two games left. That means that Columbus could be eliminated from playoff consideration Thursday night if they lose to Dallas and Detroit beats Nashville. Even if Nashville wins on Thursday, a loss to Dallas would be devastating to the Blue Jackets' chances of advancing to the postseason.

Veteran left winger Marian Gaborik, acquired in a blockbuster trade from the New York Rangers three weeks ago, has three goals and four assists in 10 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Blue Jackets are 7-3 with Gaborik in the lineup. They are coming off a five-game trip that netted four victories. Their sudden and surprising ascension is among the most captivating stories of the post-lockout NHL. Columbus coach Todd Richards on Gaborik: "What I see," Richards said, "is a player who is engaged." Forward Vinny Prospal added: "He's a huge part in the way other teams have to respect his ability to score, and it opens up a lot of holes for other players," Prospal said. "He knows we're a hard-working team and we don't necessarily score a lot of goals. He also knows in our system, we don't give up a lot, either. He understands all of this and how he fits into it."

Saturday's season finale against Nashville is expected to sell out in Columbus.
It would be the first sellout at Nationwide Arena since the second home game of the season on Jan. 26 vs. Chicago.

Matt Calvert and the Columbus Blue Jackets have agreed to a two-year contract extension that will reportedly pay him nearly $1 million per season.
He is not expected to play this week after suffering a broken index finger, but has recorded nine goals and 16 points in 42 games this campaign.

Nikita Nikitin (lower body) is not expected to play against the Dallas Stars on Thursday.
Nikitin was injured Wednesday and hasn't played since. The Blue Jackets only have two games left this season so it's possible Nikitin won't dress again unless Columbus qualifies for the postseason.

Artem Anisimov (concussion) will not play Thursday night.
Anisimov hasn't played since being struck in the head April 13. The Blue Jackets are holding out hope he'll return before the end of the season but that's starting to look doubtful. Keep him sidelined for now and we'll update you as we know more.

Ryan Murray started skating Tuesday as he attempts to return from shoulder surgery in mid-January.
Murray also did some light shooting Tuesday but is not expected to return this season. Murray, the No. 2 overall pick in 2012, should be ready for the start of training camp in September.

Vaclav Prospal is the Columbus Blue Jackets nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy.
The trophy is awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. "Vinny has helped us (coaches) out in a lot of ways," coach Todd Richards said. "It's his preparedness. It's his professionalism. It's his passion. He brings it all to the table, and he has for a long time now. He's a guy who knows how to have fun. He makes the work fun, and the guys feed off that. But he's also a guy who knows when it's time to get busy and get to work, and the guys see that, too." Prospal will become a UFA at the end of the season but does want to return to the Blue Jackets. Prospal has 12 goals and 29 points in 46 games this season.

Artem Anisimov (concussion) missed his fourth straight game on Sunday.
The Blue Jackets are still hopeful that Anisimov will return before the end of the season but with only two games left, things are getting tight. He wasn't on the ice Saturday and that may have caused some concern. "I don't know if there has been a step back," coach Todd Richards said. "I don't know if there has been a step forward, either. It's status quo." Stay tuned.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have sent David Savard back to the minors.
Savard was returned as Adrian Aucoin was healthy enough to play after missing a couple of games. Savard was minus-three for the Blue Jackets in four games this season.

Mark Letestu's power play marker Sunday broke an 0-18 slump.
The Blue Jackets went 10 games without a power play goal before Letestu's goal. The Blue Jackets are the surprise team of the NHL as most pundits thought they would finish 30th and last in the NHL but right now, with only a week left in the regular season they are sitting in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Adrian Aucoin returned to action on Sunday April 21.

Colton Gillies returned to action on Sunday April 21.

Mark Letestu scored two goals and added an assist for the Blue Jackets in a 4-3 win over San Jose on Sunday.
Letestu came up big when the team needed it most, as the victory keeps the Jackets in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Ryan Johansen and Vaclav Prospal also scored goals for Columbus in the win.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 32 of 35 shots as the Blue Jackets defeated San Jose by a score of 4-3 Sunday.
Columbus blew a two-goal lead in the third period, but Bobrovsky was the main reason the team was in such a position so late in the contest. Amazingly, this was only the second time all season San Jose has suffered a regulation loss on home ice.

Defenseman Nikita Nikitin is out for Sunday's tilt against the San Jose Sharks.
Nikitin left Wednesday's game against the Ducks after suffering a lower body injury and did not skate with his teammates Saturday, confirming he won't dress against the Sharks. Look elsewhere if you need help on defense in a deep league.

Adrian Aucoin (lower body) will be a game-time decision on Sunday.
The good news is that Aucoin skated Saturday. He has missed Columbus' last two games.

Artem Anisimov (concussion) wasn't on the ice Saturday.
Anisimov should be regarded as very doubtful for Sunday's contest. He has 11 goals and 18 points in 34 games this season.

Blake Comeau could find himself with an expanded role now that Matt Calvert has gone down with a broken finger.
Comeau is the most likely candidate to replace Calvert on a line with Brandon Dubinsky and Cam Atkinson and given that the former Flame has scored in back-to-back games despite limited ice time, we like his chances of succeeding in this role.

Forward Colton Gillies may return to the Columbus lineup after the injury to Matt Calvert opened up a vacancy.
Gillies has been a healthy scratch on multiple occasions this year, but he may be called upon now while the Blue Jackets try to force their way into a playoff spot. His addition to the lineup could be a temporary one, as Columbus hopes to have center Artem Anisimov (concussion) back shortly.

The broken finger suffered by Matt Calvert typically comes with a 2-4 week recovery timeline.
The Blue Jackets haven't offered any official word about his condition, but if that timeframe holds his season is very likely over. It's an unfortunate turn of events for the forward who had been very productive of late, recording 16 points in 42 games while also serving as one of the team's primary penalty killers. Reserve him immediately.

The NHL has decided to rescind the match penalty Brandon Dubinsky received at the end of Thursday's game.
That means Dubinsky's suspension has also been lifted. The Blue Jackets and Kings players on the ice traded blows following the game. Dubinsky was probably initially given the match penalty because he appeared to punch Kings defenseman Drew Doughty as Doughty attempted to skate away. However, it's worth noting that Doughty initially chose to engage Dubinsky when Dubinsky was focused on other players.

Fedor Tyutin is on a four-game points streak.
Tyutin assisted on Dalton Prout's first career goal. He has four goals and 21 points in 45 games this season.

Matt Calvert left Thursday's game with a broken finger.
"He's probably going to be out ... our (orthopaedic specialist) has to see him yet, but he's probably going to be out a little while," Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said. "It was a big blow, losing him." Calvert has nine goals and 16 points in 42 games this season.

Brandon Dubinsky received a match penalty for his actions during a postgame fight on Thursday.
Dubinsky appeared to punch Los Angeles' Drew Doughty as the defenseman was trying to skate away. "Just a cheap shot, and that's his personality," Kings forward Kyle Clifford said, referring to Dubinsky. "We've got guys out there and he goes after Doughty, who is not our toughest player." Dubinsky has been suspended until the league rules on the incident.

Dalton Prout recorded the only Columbus goal Thursday night as the Blue Jackets dropped a 2-1 decision to the Kings in Los Angeles.
It was the defenseman's first goal of the season.

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 21 of 23 shots but his teammates produced only one goal in a 2-1 loss to the Kings in Los Angeles Thursday night.
Bobrovsky has been playing spectacular hockey and had his five previous starts. His record in 2013 is 18-10-7. He is generally perceived as a strong candidate to win the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goalie.

Artem Anisimov (concussion) took to the ice Thursday.
He won't play Thursday night but coach Todd Richards is hoping that Anisimov could return as early as Sunday's game versus San Jose. Anisimov sustained a concussion last Saturday on his first shift against Minnesota.

David Savard will suit up Thursday night.
He will fill in for Nikita Nikitin, who has a lower-body injury, when the Blue Jackets play on the road against Los Angeles. Savard has no points and a minus-3 rating in three games this campaign, so he probably won't get much ice time.

Nikita Nikitin wasn't able to finish Wednesday's game due to a lower body injury.
Nikitin was questionable for the contest to begin with due to what had been described as general soreness. It's not clear if he aggravating an existing injury on Wednesday or is dealing with an entirely new problem. He will be re-evaluated on Thursday.

Matt Calvert scored a goal in a 3-2 overtime win.
Calvert has been decent this month with three goals and five points in eight games. He might have some fantasy value in standard leagues in a couple of seasons.

Marian Gaborik registered an assist on Wednesday.
Gaborik has three goals and seven points in eight games with Columbus. He's successfully turned his season around since being acquired by the Blue Jackets and shouldn't slow down as they try to claw their way into the playoffs.

Blake Comeau scored a goal on Wednesday.
Comeau has now found the back of the net in two straight games. Since being acquired by the Calgary Flames, Comeau has averaged just 9:01 minutes per contest, so we can't recommend taking a chance on him even given his recent success.

Sergei Bobrovsky managed his fifth consecutive victory as the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 in OT.
Bobrovsky stopped 26 out of 28 shots in the victory, pushing his record to 18-10-6 in 2013. While that record is solid, his individual stats are fantastic (.931 save percentage and 2.03 GAA with four shutouts).

Fedor Tyutin collected the game-winning goal in the Columbus Blue Jackets' 3-2 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks.
This extends the defenseman's point streak to three games. He now has 20 points in 44 contests this season.

Nikita Nikitin skated with the team Wednesday morning and it looks like he'll return when the Blue Jackets play at Anaheim tonight.
He will participate in the pregame warmup before getting the go ahead to play. David Savard is up with the club on an emergency basis and he'll suit up if Nikitin isn't ready.

Tim Erixon will dress Wednesday night versus Anaheim.
He will take Adrian Aucoin's place on the Jackets' third defense pairing with James Wisniewski. Aucoin won't play due to a lower-body injury. Erixon hasn't played since March 29 because of an upper-body aiment.

Nikita Nikitin is dealing with what's being described as general soreness.
It is evidently serious enough that Nikitin's availability for Wednesday's game is in question. The Columbus Blue Jackets called up David Savard, who will play on Wednesday is Nikitin is unable to.

Adrian Aucoin (lower body) is questionable for Wednesday's game.
Aucoin left Monday's contest due to the ailment. He has four points and 14 penalty minutes in 33 games this season.

David Savard has been summoned by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Savard was called up as an insurance policy in case Nikita Nikitin (undisclosed) is unavailable. Savard has five goals and 31 points in 60 AHL games this season.

The Columbus Blue Jackets still have two games left in their five contests in seven days stretch.
They won the first three matches in that rough stretch, but they can't afford to let up as they're still just outside of eighth place. R.J. Umberger admitted that the schedule is tough but he added that "at this moment we're just excited to play, so bring 'em on, let's play. We want to get these five games over and get our playoff spot." They will play against the Ducks tonight.

Artem Anisimov has a concussion and won't play Wednesday or Thursday but isn't being ruled out beyond that.
Anisimov is traveling with the Blue Jackets but remains without any defined return timetable. The concussion diagnosis confirms what we originally suspected and throws his return into serious question due to the nature of those injuries. We'll just have to wait and see how he recovers.

Adrian Aucoin suffered a lower body injury in the second period and did not return.
Aucoin has only four points in 33 games with a minus-eight rating. He should not be active in fantasy hockey.

Netminder Sergei Bobrovsky delivered another solid performance Monday night in the Columbus Blue Jackets' 4-3 overtime win over the Avalanche in Colorado.
Bobrovsky stopped 29 of 32 shots. He has emerged as a bona fide Vezina Trophy candidate at the same time as he's helped the previously lamentable Columbus Blue Jackets chase a playoff berth.

Nick Foligno notched two points, including the winning goal with only 29 seconds left in the overtime period, to lift the surging Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-3 triumph over the Avalanche in Colorado Monday night.
The goal was Foligno's sixth of the season and his assist was his 12th of the season. The Jackets are trying to put an exclamation mark on their 2013 season with a playoff berth after finishing dead last in the NHL last season. Also scoring for Columbus on Monday were R.J. Umberger, Nick Letestu and Blake Comeau.

Sergei Bobrovsky has been named the NHL's first star of the week.
Bobrovsky had a 0.97 GAA and .971 save percentage in his last three starts. Bobrovsky has emerged as a Vezina Trophy candidate and it's his raise that has vaulted the Columbus Blue Jackets into the race for a playoff spot. He has a 2.01 GAA and .932 save percentage in 32 games this season.

Sergei Bobrovsky has to be considered when talking about Vezina Trophy candidates.
Bobrovsky has led the Blue Jackets to the brink of the playoffs as they are just two points out of a spot with two weeks to go. Most analysts thought the Blue Jackets were a shoo-in for the 30th and last spot in the NHL standings heading into the season and therefore the best shot at the top pick in the draft but Bobrovsky has been standing on his head, especially since the start of March. He is 16-10-6 with a 2.01 GAA and a .932 save percentage and gives the Blue Jackets a chance to win every night despite the third lowest scoring team in the league averaging 2.31 goals per game.

Boone Jenner scored the game winner Sunday as Springfield defeated Connecticut 4-3.
It was Jenner's first AHL point and it occurred in his second game. The Blue Jackets are quite high on the all-round center and he could appear in an NHL game before the end of the season. He had 45 goals and 82 points in 57 OHL games and played for Team Canada at the World Juniors although he picked up a three game suspension for a charge on Jesper Petterssen in a tune-up game before the start of the Worlds.