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2003–04 Columbus Blue Jackets
Division 4th Central
Conference 14th Western
2003–04 record 25–45–8–4
Home record 17–18–4–2
Road record 8–27–4–2
Goals for 177
Goals against 238
Team information
General manager Doug MacLean
Coach Doug MacLean
Gerard Gallant
Captain Luke Richardson
Arena Nationwide Arena
Average attendance 17,369
Team leaders
Goals Rick Nash (41)
Assists David Vyborny (31)
Points Rich Nash (57)
Penalty minutes Jody Shelley (228)
Wins Marc Denis (21)
Goals against average Marc Denis (2.56)

The 2003–04 Columbus Blue Jackets season was the Blue Jackets' 4th season in the NHL, as the team was coming off of a 29–42–8–3 record in the 2002–03 season, earning 69 points, finishing in last place in the Western Conference for the 2nd straight year.

Off-season[]

Columbus would undergo some changes during the off-season, as leading scorer and team captain, Ray Whitney, would leave the Blue Jackets and sign with the Detroit Red Wings. The Jackets would name veteran defenceman Luke Richardson to become the 3rd captain in club history.

Regular season[]

The Blue Jackets would get off to a solid start in 2003–04, winning 3 of their first 4 games, however, the club would go on a 7 game losing streak, and fall quickly out of playoff contention. Columbus would continue to struggle, and GM/Head Coach Doug MacLean announced on January 1, 2004, that he would step down from head coaching duties and hire Jackets assistant coach and former NHL player Gerard Gallant to replace him. Columbus had a 9–21–4–3 under MacLean. While the Blue Jackets would play better hockey with Gallant behind the bench, the team would fail once again to earn a playoff spot, as they finished the season with a 25–45–8–4 record, earning 62 points, which was 7 fewer than the previous season, and finish 29 points the Nashville Predators for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Columbus, though, climbed out of the basement in the Central Division for the 1st time in club history, as they finished ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Rick Nash had a memorable season, finishing in a 3 way tie with Ilya Kovalchuk from the Atlanta Thrashers and Jarome Iginla from the Calgary Flames to win the Rocket Richard Trophy, awarded to the player who scored the most goals during the season. Nash scored a club record 41 goals, and had a club best 57 points. David Vyborny led the Blue Jackets with 31 assists and finished 2nd to Nash with 53 points. Rookie Nikolai Zherdev had 34 points in 57 games. On the blueline, Anders Eriksson led the Jackets with 27 points, while Jaroslav Spacek contributed with 22 points in only 58 games. Jody Shelley provided the team toughness, earning a team high 228 penalty minutes.

In goal, Marc Denis was the go to guy, playing in a team high 66 games, winning 21 of them, posting a team best 2.56 GAA, and earning 5 shutouts along the way.

Season standings[]

Central Division
No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
1 1 Detroit Red Wings 82 48 21 11 2 255 189 109
2 7 St. Louis Blues 82 39 30 11 2 191 198 91
3 8 Nashville Predators 82 38 29 11 4 216 217 91
4 14 Columbus Blue Jackets 82 25 45 8 4 177 238 62
5 15 Chicago Blackhawks 82 20 43 11 8 188 259 59

[1]

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.


Game log[]

# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 October 9 Columbus Blue Jackets 1–2 Atlanta Thrashers 0–1–0–0 0
2 October 11 New York Rangers 0–5 Columbus Blue Jackets 1–1–0–0 2
3 October 13 Vancouver Canucks 2–3 Columbus Blue Jackets 2–1–0–0 4
4 October 16 Chicago Blackhawks 1–2 Columbus Blue Jackets 3–1–0–0 6
5 October 18 Columbus Blue Jackets 2–3 Nashville Predators 3–2–0–0 6
6 October 22 Columbus Blue Jackets 1–4 Detroit Red Wings 3–3–0–0 6
7 October 23 Tampa Bay Lightning 1–0 Columbus Blue Jackets 3–4–0–0 6
8 October 25 Dallas Stars 3–2 Columbus Blue Jackets 3–5–0–0 6
9 October 28 Columbus Blue Jackets 3–6 Vancouver Canucks 3–6–0–0 6
10 October 30 Columbus Blue Jackets 3–4 Edmonton Oilers 3–6–0–1 7
11 November 1 Columbus Blue Jackets 0–3 Calgary Flames 3–7–0–1 7
12 November 7 Atlanta Thrashers 2–4 Columbus Blue Jackets 4–7–0–1 9
13 November 9 Calgary Flames 3–4 Columbus Blue Jackets 5–7–0–1 11
14 November 11 Columbus Blue Jackets 1–1 Montreal Canadiens 5–7–1–1 12
15 November 13 Columbus Blue Jackets 2–5 Ottawa Senators 5–8–1–1 12
16 November 14 Boston Bruins 4–0 Columbus Blue Jackets 5–9–1–1 12
17 November 16 Phoenix Coyotes 2–2 Columbus Blue Jackets 5–9–2–1 13
18 November 19 Columbus Blue Jackets 1–5 Detroit Red Wings 5–10–2–1 13
19 November 20 Detroit Red Wings 0–3 Columbus Blue Jackets 6–10–2–1 15
20 November 22 New York Islanders 1–2 Columbus Blue Jackets 7–10–2–1 17
21 November 25 Edmonton Oilers 3–3 Columbus Blue Jackets 7–10–3–1 18
22 November 26 Columbus Blue Jackets 2–4 Nashville Predators 7–11–3–1 18
23 November 29 Washington Capitals 5–3 Columbus Blue Jackets 7–12–3–1 18
24 December 2 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 1–2 Columbus Blue Jackets 8–12–3–1 20
25 December 4 Nashville Predators 4–2 Columbus Blue Jackets 8–13–3–1 20
26 December 6 Columbus Blue Jackets 1–5 Colorado Avalanche 8–14–3–1 20
27 December 10 Philadelphia Flyers 1–1 Columbus Blue Jackets 8–14–4–1 21
28 December 12 St. Louis Blues 3–2 Columbus Blue Jackets 8–14–4–2 22
29 December 13 Columbus Blue Jackets 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–15–4–2 22
30 December 16 Columbus Blue Jackets 1–2 St. Louis Blues 8–15–4–3 23
31 December 19 Calgary Flames 2–1 Columbus Blue Jackets 8–16–4–3 23
32 December 20 Columbus Blue Jackets 2–5 Minnesota Wild 8–17–4–3 23
33 December 23 Phoenix Coyotes 2–1 Columbus Blue Jackets 8–18–4–3 23
34 December 26 Columbus Blue Jackets 4–1 Chicago Blackhawks 9–18–4–3 25
35 December 27 Dallas Stars 4–3 Columbus Blue Jackets 9–19–4–3 25
36 December 29 St. Louis Blues 3–2 Columbus Blue Jackets 9–20–4–3 25
37 December 31 San Jose Sharks 1–0 Columbus Blue Jackets 9–21–4–3 25
38 January 2 Columbus Blue Jackets 2–0 Tampa Bay Lightning 10–21–4–3 27
39 January 3 Columbus Blue Jackets 0–1 Florida Panthers 10–22–4–3 27
40 January 6 Columbus Blue Jackets 0–6 Colorado Avalanche 10–23–4–3 27
41 January 8 Columbus Blue Jackets 3–2 San Jose Sharks 11–23–4–3 29
42 January 10 Columbus Blue Jackets 2–2 Los Angeles Kings 11–23–5–3 30
43 January 11 Columbus Blue Jackets 2–2 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 11–23–6–3 31
44 January 15 Columbus Blue Jackets 3–5 St. Louis Blues 11–24–6–3 31
45 January 16 Los Angeles Kings 2–3 Columbus Blue Jackets 12–24–6–3 33
46 January 18 Edmonton Oilers 4–4 Columbus Blue Jackets 12–24–7–3 34
47 January 21 St. Louis Blues 1–3 Columbus Blue Jackets 13–24–7–3 36
48 January 22 Columbus Blue Jackets 0–7 Chicago Blackhawks 13–25–7–3 36
49 January 24 Chicago Blackhawks 3–4 Columbus Blue Jackets 14–25–7–3 38
50 January 27 New Jersey Devils 4–3 Columbus Blue Jackets 14–26–7–3 38
51 January 29 Nashville Predators 6–4 Columbus Blue Jackets 14–27–7–3 38
52 January 31 Minnesota Wild 1–2 Columbus Blue Jackets 15–27–7–3 40
53 February 2 Columbus Blue Jackets 3–3 Phoenix Coyotes 15–27–8–3 41
54 February 4 Columbus Blue Jackets 0–1 Dallas Stars 15–28–8–3 41
55 February 11 Los Angeles Kings 2–3 Columbus Blue Jackets 16–28–8–3 43
56 February 12 Columbus Blue Jackets 1–4 Toronto Maple Leafs 16–29–8–3 43
57 February 14 San Jose Sharks 2–1 Columbus Blue Jackets 16–29–8–4 44
58 February 16 Nashville Predators 2–4 Columbus Blue Jackets 17–29–8–4 46
59 February 18 Columbus Blue Jackets 1–3 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 17–30–8–4 46
60 February 20 Columbus Blue Jackets 2–3 Phoenix Coyotes 17–31–8–4 46
61 February 21 Columbus Blue Jackets 3–4 Los Angeles Kings 17–32–8–4 46
62 February 23 Columbus Blue Jackets 2–4 San Jose Sharks 17–33–8–4 46
63 February 25 Chicago Blackhawks 4–3 Columbus Blue Jackets 17–34–8–4 46
64 February 27 Columbus Blue Jackets 4–3 Chicago Blackhawks 18–34–8–4 48
65 February 28 Colorado Avalanche 4–5 Columbus Blue Jackets 19–34–8–4 50
66 March 2 Columbus Blue Jackets 3–0 Carolina Hurricanes 20–34–8–4 52
67 March 3 Columbus Blue Jackets 2–4 Dallas Stars 20–35–8–4 52
68 March 6 Vancouver Canucks 4–0 Columbus Blue Jackets 20–36–8–4 52
69 March 8 Carolina Hurricanes 4–1 Columbus Blue Jackets 20–37–8–4 52
70 March 11 Detroit Red Wings 4–2 Columbus Blue Jackets 20–38–8–4 52
71 March 13 Columbus Blue Jackets 3–5 St. Louis Blues 20–39–8–4 52
72 March 14 Columbus Blue Jackets 2–3 Minnesota Wild 20–40–8–4 52
73 March 16 Columbus Blue Jackets 2–3 Edmonton Oilers 20–41–8–4 52
74 March 18 Columbus Blue Jackets 0–2 Calgary Flames 20–42–8–4 52
75 March 21 Columbus Blue Jackets 5–4 Vancouver Canucks 21–42–8–4 54
76 March 24 Minnesota Wild 0–2 Columbus Blue Jackets 22–42–8–4 56
77 March 26 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 1–3 Columbus Blue Jackets 23–42–8–4 58
78 March 27 Columbus Blue Jackets 3–2 Nashville Predators 24–42–8–4 60
79 March 29 Columbus Blue Jackets 0–6 Buffalo Sabres 24–43–8–4 60
80 March 31 Detroit Red Wings 3–2 Columbus Blue Jackets 24–44–8–4 60
81 April 2 Colorado Avalanche 4–2 Columbus Blue Jackets 24–45–8–4 60
82 April 3 Columbus Blue Jackets 4–1 Detroit Red Wings 25–45–8–4 62
  • Green background indicates a win.
  • Red background indicates a regulation loss.
  • Yellow background indicates an overtime loss.
  • White background indicates a tie.

Player stats[]

Regular season[]

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Nash, RickRick Nash LW 80 41 16 57 87 -35 19 0 7
Vyborny, DavidDavid Vyborny RW 82 22 31 53 40 -26 8 4 2
Zherdev, NikolaiNikolai Zherdev W 57 13 21 34 54 -11 5 0 1
Marchant, ToddTodd Marchant C 77 9 25 34 34 -17 4 0 2
Letowski, TrevorTrevor Letowski RW 73 15 17 32 16 -12 4 0 1
Sanderson, GeoffGeoff Sanderson LW 67 13 16 29 34 -9 5 0 1
Eriksson, AndersAnders Eriksson D 66 7 20 27 18 -6 2 0 1
Cassels, AndrewAndrew Cassels C 58 6 20 26 26 -24 2 0 0
Malhotra, MannyManny Malhotra C 56 12 13 25 24 -5 1 0 2
Spacek, JaroslavJaroslav Spacek D 58 5 17 22 45 -13 2 1 2
Wright, TylerTyler Wright C 68 9 9 18 63 -19 2 0 3
Sydor, DarrylDarryl Sydor D 49 2 13 15 26 -19 1 0 0
Klesla, RostislavRostislav Klesla D 47 2 11 13 27 -16 0 0 1
Pirjeta, LasseLasse Pirjeta C 57 2 8 10 20 -6 0 0 0
Walser, DerrickDerrick Walser D 27 1 8 9 22 -6 1 0 0
Johnson, AaronAaron Johnson D 29 2 6 8 32 -2 0 0 1
Svitov, AlexanderAlexander Svitov C 29 2 6 8 16 -8 0 0 0
Westcott, DuvieDuvie Westcott D 34 0 7 7 39 -15 0 0 0
Shelley, JodyJody Shelley LW 76 3 3 6 228 -10 1 0 0
Richardson, LukeLuke Richardson D 64 1 5 6 48 -11 0 0 1
Hartigan, MarkMark Hartigan C 9 1 3 4 6 -2 1 0 0
Knutsen, EspenEspen Knutsen C 14 0 4 4 2 -5 0 0 0
Lachance, ScottScott Lachance D 77 0 4 4 44 -23 0 0 0
Jackman, TimTim Jackman RW 19 1 2 3 16 -7 0 0 0
Ling, DavidDavid Ling RW 50 1 2 3 98 -3 0 0 0
McDonell, KentKent McDonell RW 29 1 2 3 36 -7 0 0 0
Nedorost, AndrejAndrej Nedorost LW 9 2 0 2 6 0 0 0 0
Moran, BradBrad Moran C 2 1 1 2 2 -1 0 0 0
Denis, MarcMarc Denis G 66 0 2 2 10 0 0 0 0
Rohloff, ToddTodd Rohloff D 24 0 2 2 8 -12 0 0 0
Fritsche, DanDan Fritsche C 19 1 0 1 12 -5 0 0 0
Holzinger, BrianBrian Holzinger C 13 1 0 1 2 -4 0 0 0
MacLean, DonDon MacLean C 4 1 0 1 0 -1 0 0 0
Reich, JeremyJeremy Reich LW 9 0 1 1 20 -3 0 0 0
Scoville, DarrelDarrel Scoville D 8 0 1 1 6 -4 0 0 0
Brathwaite, FredFred Brathwaite G 21 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
Grand-Pierre, Jean-LucJean-Luc Grand-Pierre D 16 0 0 0 12 -3 0 0 0
Komarniski, ZenithZenith Komarniski D 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Leclaire, PascalPascal Leclaire G 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mauldin, GregGreg Mauldin C 6 0 0 0 4 -2 0 0 0
Motzko, JoeJoe Motzko RW 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Pandolfo, MikeMike Pandolfo LW 3 0 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0
Pushor, JamieJamie Pushor D 7 0 0 0 2 -2 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T/OT GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Denis, MarcMarc Denis 3796 66 21 36 7 162 2.56 5 1970 1808 .918
Brathwaite, FredFred Brathwaite 1050 21 4 11 1 59 3.37 0 574 515 .897
Leclaire, PascalPascal Leclaire 119 2 0 2 0 7 3.53 0 69 62 .899
Team: 4965 82 25 49 8 228 2.76 5 2613 2385 .913

[2]

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals
      MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T/OT = Ties/Overtime Losses; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; SO = Shutouts; SA=Shots Against; SV=Shots saved; SV% = Save Percentage;

Draft picks[]

Columbus' draft picks at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft:

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 4 Nikolai Zherdev Flag of Ukraine Ukraine HC CSKA Moscow (Russia)
2 46 Dan Fritsche Flag of the United States United States Sarnia Sting (OHL)
3 71 Dmitry Kosmachev Flag of Russia Russia HC CSKA Moscow (Russia)
4 103 Kevin Jarman Flag of Canada Canada Stouffville Spirit (OPJHL)
4 104 Philippe Dupuis Flag of Canada Canada Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)
5 138 Arsi Piispanen Flag of Finland Finland Jokerit (Finland)
6 168 Marc Methot Flag of Canada Canada London Knights (OHL)
7 200 Alexander Guskov Flag of Russia Russia Locomotiv Yaroslavl (Russia)
8 233 Mathieu Gravel Flag of Canada Canada Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
9 283 Trevor Hendrikx Flag of Canada Canada Peterborough Petes (OHL)


References[]

  1. (2009) in Dinger, Ralph: The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2010. Dan Diamond & Associates, 162. 
  2. 2003-04 Columbus Blue Jackets Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com. hockey-reference.com. Retrieved on 2009-06-02.


This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at 2003–04 Columbus Blue Jackets season. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Ice Hockey Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA).


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