2008–09 Columbus Blue Jackets 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, 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. He again won Rookie of the Month honors in December, and was named to the YoungStars team at the 2009 All-Star Game in Montreal, though he declined to play after suffering back spasms. 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. 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.

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2008 pre-season game log: 4–4–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 1–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 23 Columbus 3–4 Chicago 0–1–0 Recap 2 September 24 Columbus 1–2 Minnesota 0–2–0 Recap 3 September 26 Nashville 3–4 Columbus 1–2–0 Recap 4 September 27 Columbus 1–3 Nashville 1–3–0 Recap 5 September 29 Chicago 1–7 Columbus 2–3–0 Recap 6 October 2 Buffalo 5–2 Columbus 2–4–0 Recap 7 October 3 Minnesota 3–5 Columbus 3–4–0 Recap 8 October 5 Columbus 5–4 Toronto SO 4–4–0 Recap

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 April: 1–2–2 (home: 0–1–1; road: 1–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 4 Columbus 4 - 5 Nashville OT Mason 16,750 40-29-9 89 Recap 79 April 5 Chicago 1 - 0 Columbus OT Mason 15,957 40-29-10 90 Recap 80 April 8 Columbus 4 - 3 Chicago SO Mason 21,536 41-29-10 92 Recap 81 April 10 Columbus 1 - 3 St. Louis Mason 19,250 41-30-10 92 Recap 82 April 11 Minnesota 6 - 3 Columbus Mason 19,013 41-31-10 92 RecapLegend:

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 RecapLegend:

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular season Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM 78 40 39 79 +11 52 74 21 35 56 +1 44 82 26 20 46 -10 53 80 9 29 38 +11 44 77 11 24 35 +9 28 82 9 25 34 +1 81 † 39 12 17 29 +5 16 50 9 16 25 +2 28 31 10 15 25 +12 17 81 5 19 24 +11 100 71 4 18 22 -6 58 49 8 14 22 +8 41 66 2 19 21 -10 28 82 3 18 21 +23 38 51 12 8 20 -4 23 66 4 13 17 +7 55 75 4 10 14 -6 180 † 17 7 6 13 +5 8 67 8 3 11 -6 10 34 1 8 9 +2 38 56 2 5 7 +5 32 42 4 3 7 +4 14 52 4 1 5 -1 150 8 4 0 4 +3 0 8 1 1 2 +1 0 † 6 0 1 1 +2 2 8 0 1 1 +1 0 19 0 1 1 -4 37 15 0 1 1 -1 26 ‡ 5 0 1 1 -2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 -1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0

Playoffs Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM 4 1 2 3 -4 2 4 3 0 3 0 0 4 1 1 2 -4 4 4 0 2 2 -3 2 4 1 1 2 0 2 4 0 1 1 0 0 4 1 0 1 -2 0 4 0 1 1 -2 2 4 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 1 1 +2 0 4 0 1 1 0 8 4 0 0 0 -2 0 4 0 0 0 +1 2 4 0 0 0 -7 18 4 0 0 0 -4 10 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 -3 2 3 0 0 0 -5 2 1 0 0 0 -2 0 3 0 0 0 -1 2

Goaltenders

Regular season Player GP Min W L OT GA GAA SA SV Sv% SO 61 3663 33 20 7 140 2.29 1658 1518 .916 10 ‡ 12 673 4 6 1 43 3.83 324 281 .867 0 8 323 1 3 2 17 3.16 133 116 .872 0 3 168 1 2 0 10 3.56 77 67 .870 0 3 155 2 0 0 4 1.54 80 76 .950 1

Playoffs Player GP Min W L GA GAA SA SV Sv% SO 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