Minnesota Wild v Columbus Blue Jackets Live

Click here to Watch Minnesota Wild v Columbus Blue Jackets Live

                         

Coming off a short post-season appearance last year, the Columbus Blue Jackets underwent a costly off-season and are hoping to move further up in the Western Conference. In their first game of the 2009-10 NHL season, they will take on the Minnesota Wild at home on Saturday at midnight GMT.

Given the fact that Columbus made it to the playoffs before falling to the eventual Western Conference champions from Detroit, the Blue Jackets’ front office seemed fairly confident that their core can be a competitive force in the NHL for years to come. Thus, GM Scott Howson spent no-less than $94 million for re-signing future franchise centerpieces Rick Nash, Derick Brassard and Antoine Vermette. Considering that the aforementioned players are in their early-mid twenties, the move could turn out to be a wise investment for the future of the team. Last year, Nash made his third appearance in a row at the NHL All-Star game while Vermette and Brassard came to Columbus half-way through the season and immediately made an impact on the offensive end of the ice. Furthermore, the Jackets were able to sign defensive center Samuel Pahlsson to a three year contract.

In contrast, Minnesota’s off-season could be summarized as an odyssey to replace NHL All-Star Marian Gaborik after the latter decided to sign a multi-year deal with the New York Rangers. Most importantly, the Wild were able to secure the services of Petr Sykora and one-time All-Star Martin Havlat. Last year, right wing Havlat scored 29 goals and added 48 assists for a total of 77 points in 81 appearances. Even though Sykora and Havlat might be able to compensate for the loss of Gaborik, it seems rather unlikely that they will put the franchise over the hump in 2009-10.

Considering last year’s performance of both teams and their respective off-season, the game can be expected to be a hard-fought battle between two relatively even teams. Both will be in the playoff race if their core stays healthy, yet a post-season appearance is not a given. Although the Wild beat the Blue Jackets 2-0 in a preseason game in September, the Jackets’ home crowd will do their best to neutralize any slight edge Minnesota might have on Saturday.

You can watch all games of the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets right here on www.watchlivenhl.com, the home of NHL live streaming.

Posted: 11th January 2009

The Minnesota Wild are sitting on the edge of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Minnesota will travel to Ohio and take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. Watch NHL Live on Sunday January 11, 2009 at 00:00 GMT as the Wild at 20-17-3 with 43 overall points take on the Blue Jackets, who are 19-18-4 for 42 total points. This game will have huge implications on the final spot in the Western Conference, to this point.

NHL Live Streaming features the Minnesota Wild, who have won two of their last three games. Minnesota has out scored opponents 98-90 on the season, and are 9-10-0 on the road this season. Mikko Koivu leads the team in points, goals scored and assists. Koivu has scored 11 goals and dished out 26 assists for a team high 37 points.

NHL Streaming will present the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are in third place in the Central Division of the Western Conference. The Blue Jackets trail Detroit and Chicago within their division. Overall, the Blue Jackets are just one point behind Minnesota for the 8^th position. The Blue Jackets are 5-4-1 in their last ten games, and have played well at home this season with a 11-6-1 record.