DBJ's 5 Thoughts On Game 39: San Jose

San Jose 2 - Columbus 1
10-24-5, 5th in Central Division, 15th in Western Conference

(While DBJ is on vacation for the next couple of weeks, the rest of us here on the team will be filling in with our 5 Thoughts. )

In the first of a four game road trip out west, the Blue Jackets lost to the San Jose Sharks by a score of 2-1 last night.

1. Dr. Jekkyl If you have watched the Blue Jackets at all this season, you are painfully aware of their propensity to go all Dr. Jekkyl and Mr Hyde on us. It usually happens in the third period. Last night it happened about 10 minutes into the game.

The Jackets took the ice and, as has often been the case, and as one might expect of a team coming off of a four day break, they looked explosive. They looked fast, fearless and frisky. San Jose couldn't match their energy and looked like a team that was on the second night of a back-to-back, which they were. The Blue Jackets scored their first goal of 2012 just 2:13 into the game when Antoine Vermette chased down a BIG rebound off of Shark's goalie Thomas Griesse (yet another backup) and found Mark Letestu behind the net, who quickly fed Vinnie Prospal with a slick behind the back pass. Prospal stuffed it home, 1-0 Jackets.

Live Long and Prospal

Vinnie, vidit, vicit

Tonight will be the 1,000th game in Vinnie Prospal's long and winding road through the NHL. There is also a a 67% chance that he will register his 700th career point in tonight's contest against Buffalo (based on the fact that he has scored a point in 14 of the Blue Jackets' 21 games this season).

To put those accomplishments in the proper perspective, let's look at the Blue Jackets career leaders in these categories. Rick Nash leads all Blue Jackets, past and present, in games played at 613. In other words, he's only 61.3% of the way to accomplishing what Prospal will tonight. Who is second among all Blue Jackets players? David Vyborny at 543. And third place goes to Rusty Klesla with 515 games.

In terms of points scored, Nash again leads all Blue Jackets, past or present, with 503. Vyborny is second with 317, not even half of what Prospal has done so far. And you would never guess who is third, because you would probably never guess Nikolai Zherdev, who stands at 181 points.

These are milestones the likes of which fans in Columbus have never had the chance to stand and acknowledge, nor will they anytime soon. And that is why I am going to try like all heck to go to Nationwide tonight. Our hats are off to you Vinnie Prospal! Well done, sir. May you live long and Prospal for years to come.

Update: Dannie at Strait Jackets has designed a very cool tee shirt to celebrate Vinnie. Check it out,