The Columbus Blue Jackets’ matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday brings back one of the wildest nights in franchise history.
On January 11, 2006, Columbus met Pittsburgh at Nationwide Arena and lit up the scoreboard early, scoring three goals in the first period and three more in the second to roll to a 6-1 win. Rick Nash, David Výborný, Nikolay Zherdev, Jaroslav Balaštík, who scored twice, and Sergei Fedorov all found the net.
But the real story was everything else that happened around the goals.
The Blue Jackets set a franchise record by taking 21 penalties in the game, a mark that still stands. They piled up 68 penalty minutes, the second-most in a game in team history, behind the 70 they collected in 2003 against the San Jose Sharks.
Columbus seemed determined to make life difficult for itself from the start. The Jackets were whistled for five penalties in the first period, nine in the second and seven in the third. Pittsburgh earned eight power plays out of the chaos, but Columbus killed off all eight.
The Penguins were hardly clean, either. They took 21 penalties of their own for 84 penalty minutes, which gave the Blue Jackets six power-play chances. Columbus scored twice on those opportunities.
The game even included a fight between Rick Nash and Lyle Odelein, who had been the first captain in Blue Jackets history and was playing for Pittsburgh at the time.
Here’s how the Columbus penalties broke down in that game:
Jody Shelley - 20 PIMs - Multiple Fights
Ron Hainsey - 14 - Multiple Fights
Rick Nash - 9 - Fight
Mike Rupp - 5 - Fight
Nikolay Zherdev - 4
Dan Fritsche - 4
Cale Hulse - 4
Radoslav Suchy - 2
Rusty Klesla - 2
The Blue Jackets’ all-time record against Pittsburgh sits at 20-30-11, which is why some fans still hope the series eventually grows into a real rivalry. For now, though, the numbers say Columbus still has a lot of catching up to do.
In Other News...
Blue Jackets May Have A Prospect Rising Faster Than Expected
Alessandro Di Iorio is giving Columbus something worth tracking in a hurry. The Blue Jackets picked him 94th overall, and the early returns with the Sarnia Sting have been encouraging, with the center already making an impact as the junior season opens and helping a team that looks sharper than it did a year ago.
Di Iorio is still wearing the captains letter for Sarnia, which matters almost as much as the production itself. For Columbus, the appeal is obvious: a prospect who is not only putting up offense, but also driving results in a bigger role and starting to look like more than a long-term project. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Suddenly Have A Pavel Zacha Decision They Wanted To Avoid
Pavel Zachas name has been in the Bruins trade conversation before, and the timing matters now. NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported Boston weighed the idea of moving him in a potential deal that would have involved Kirill Marchenko and the Columbus Blue Jackets, though nothing came together. With one year left on his contract, Zacha is heading toward unrestricted free agency, which already put the Bruins in a delicate spot with a player they would rather not have to sort through midseason.
The larger issue is that Boston may not get a clean resolution anytime soon. Extension talks have stalled, and if the Bruins stumble this season while Zacha still lacks a new deal, the front office could be pushed back toward the same uncomfortable decision near the trade deadline. For Columbus, it is another reminder that Marchenkos name has been valuable enough to surface in bigger league conversations, even when those talks never get over the finish line. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Early Surge Comes With One Clear Warning Sign
The early returns around Columbus have been encouraging enough to justify a closer look, especially in the wake of the clubs recent games. Matthew Knies has fit in quickly on the top line and has already added to the offense, while the Blue Jackets are also leaning hard on their blue line depth as injuries have pushed young defensemen like Mateychuk into bigger minutes than anyone would prefer this early.
Zach Werenskis workload has been especially heavy, a reminder that the Jackets are still operating with an incomplete roster and some obvious strain points. It is still a very small sample, and the column makes clear that the picture should change as injured players filter back in, with Damon Severson among the names expected to help stabilize things if he gets through the week without any setbacks. [Read more 🡒]