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Brian Hedger

@brianhedger.bsky.social

1.5K followers 210 following 2.7K posts

#BlueJackets #CBJ for The Columbus Dispatch, [email protected] ... I take your question.

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Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · Jun 29

5 #CBJ takeaways from the 2025 NHL Draft ->

"It’s our board, so we’ll see in a few years if we’re right or not."

www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Columbus Blue Jackets: 5 takeaways from the 2025 NHL Draft

Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell has no regrets about tabbing another defense-heavy class in the 2025 NHL Draft: 5 takeaways

www.dispatch.com

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Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 23h

#CBJ a.m. reads/pics after another loss that should've been a win in their sold-out home opener ->

Gallery by @adamcairns.bsky.social
www.dispatch.com/picture-gall...

Recap
www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Takeaways
www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Oller column
www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

New Jersey Devils spoil Columbus Blue Jackets' home opener after surviving early push

The Columbus Blue Jackets dominated another first period, but couldn't score early before dropping their home opener.

www.dispatch.com

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

Sellout crowd of 18,627 here at Nationwide to watch #CBJ and #NJDevils

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

Fantilli has a fantastic shift to pump some life into the #CBJ and draws a penalty on Gritsyuk 4:42 into the third. Devils up 2-1.

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

Jake Allen has been replaced in the #NJDevils net by Jacob Markstrom. Not sure why. He's got a 4.04 GAA and .837 sv% in his two prior appearances.

#CBJ

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

Jenner draws a penalty, Simon Nemec to the box for hooking. #CBJ to the PP trailing #NJDevils 2-1 with 5:11 left 2nd.

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

That too.

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

And another PPG allowed late in the PP, this time with four seconds left. Gritsyuk cross-ice pass to Mercer for a one-timer that beats Greaves to the far side. Palat with the second assist.

It's 2-1 #NJDevils

Jackets are now 0 for 2 tonight and 7 for 14 for the season killing penalties.

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Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

Now Sillinger's off for hooking with 10:47 left in the second, right after Marchenko's goal. Really bad timing, putting #NJDevils on the PP. Score 1-1.

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

Marchenko rips it at his own blue line, turns it into a breakaway and scores it top shelf past Allen. It's 1-1 with 11:11 left 2nd. Fourth goal of the season and fourth in the past two games.

Unassisted.

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

Wood will not return after his facial injury, which they're officially calling an upper-body injury.

#CBJ

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

That PPG allowed makes the #CBJ PK just 7 of 13 through their first seven periods of the season. That's an unsightly 53.8% success rate.

Evason said they liked how the PK has played, especially vs a whopping eight power plays in Minny, but this is now an early trend ... a very bad one.

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

End of the first period. The #CBJ dominated the first period ... and trails #NJDevils 1-0 after 20 mins.

Attempts (28-16) and shots (19-8) favor the Blue Jackets.

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

#NJDevils score the first goal with one second left on the power play. It's 1-0 with 4:13 left. That was only the fifth shot of the game for New Jersey.

Meier scores it.

#CBJ pays a price for not being able to beat Jake Allen.

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

#CBJ absolutely dominating this game, and it's 0-0 because of Jake Allen. That usually doesn't turn out well for teams that can't convert on lots of scoring chances. Fantilli now off for hooking with 6:13 left.

4v4 for 31 seconds and then a #NJDevils 5v4 PP

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

Pesce trips up Olivier below the goal line in the #NJDevils zone. #CBJ back to the PP with 7:42 left 1st, 0-0.

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

Sigenthaler went back to the #NJDevils room after the Voronkov hit. #CBJ

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

Vorkonkov smoked Siegenthaler behind the #NJDevils net as he sent an exit pass, and he struggled getting off the ice.

#CBJ have been all around the Devils' net, but Allen is starting to look like Juuse Saros on Thursday. He's goalie'ing the Jackets for now. 0-0 with 8:13 left 1st.

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Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

#NJDevils kill off the 4 min #CBJ PP. Jackets had some great sustained pressure early to make Allen keep the puck out but things fizzed in the final minute.

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

Wood takes a stick blade to the face from Dougie Hamilton, who for some reason reached his stick around to the front of Wood's face from behind as Wood was cutting to the front of the net.

Wood's cut. Hamilton boxed. It's a 4 min #CBJ PP score 0-0 6:08 into the game.

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

OK, here we go ... first home game of 2025-26 for the #CBJ is under way.

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

We'll see how it turns out.

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

Earlier today, the #CBJ activated forward prospect Jordan Dumais (hip) and loaned him to AHL Cleveland.

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Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

#CBJ skate report: Greave back in, Gudbranson out and Christiansen to make his season debut.

www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Gudbranson out and Greaves to start for Columbus Blue Jackets vs New Jersey Devils

Columbus Blue Jackets skate report: Greaves gets back in net for home opener vs New Jersey Devils; Christiansen to replace injured Gudbranson.

www.dispatch.com

Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

Greaves gets the start for #CBJ tonight vs #NJDevils

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Brian Hedger @brianhedger.bsky.social · 1d

Same lineup otherwise. Chinakhov remains out. Not too surprising. Top three lines have played well and he’s not a fourth line type of player.

#CBJ

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