"At some point late last month, the Blue Jackets began to lose their way. It was gradual at first - their skating slowed, the forecheck faded and so forth - until the mojo of a 14-6-0 start was altogether missing. Is it back now? It's too early to say with confidence, but, in a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday in Nationwide Arena, the Jackets showed lots of positive signs - and sounds. Yes, the Blue Jackets forecheck was so crisp, fast and relentless that many of the hits deep in the Rangers' zone could be heard all the way up in the rafters. "It's got to be the way we play," said Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash, who had two goals and an assist Saturday. "I thought we did a better job in the third period in St. Louis (on Thursday), and it carried over to Saturday night." The Blue Jackets would settle for a repeat performance at 9 tonight when they play the Calgary Flames in the Pengrowth Saddledome. Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel was getting speed, energy and checking out of all four lines on Saturday, so he kept rolling them. By the end of the game, the Rangers appeared to be worn down, allowing the Jackets - with the two goals from Nash - to pull away. "It's the best forecheck we've had in two weeks," right winger R.J. Umberger said. The Jackets had 47 hits, 21 of them in the first period. The third line (Ethan Moreau, Sammy Pahlsson and Derek Dorsett) combined for 14 hits, and the second line (Tom Sestito, Antoine Vermette and Umberger) combined for 12. "It can't just be your role players, it's got to be everyone doing it," Arniel said. "The biggest thing to me is, it forces us to move our feet. And secondly, it takes away time from the other team to make plays. It's not about how tough you are, it's just about getting in there and banging." Read more: http://www.bluejacketsxtra.com/live...-jackets-forecheck-back-for-good.html?sid=101
