Rookie Players Spurring Jackets' Run

After seven seasons spent in hockey's purgatory, the Columbus Blue Jackets are one of the hottest teams in the league.

By: Associated Press | NBC4i.com
Published: November 10, 2008

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After seven seasons spent in hockey's purgatory, the Columbus Blue Jackets are one of the hottest teams in the league.
The only club in the NHL to never play in the postseason is suddenly brimming with a fresh outlook -- a lot of it due to their rookie players.
On Wednesday against Edmonton, rookie goaltender Steve Mason turned away 22 shots, then came back with 33 saves in Friday's 4-3 shootout win over Montreal. He was sent back out last night, when he had 34 saves in an impressive 3-1 victory over Calgary.
On offense, 21-year-old center Derick Brassard was named the NHL's rookie of the month for October, when he had six goals and seven assists. And 19-year-old winger Jake Voracek has been almost as good, with three goals and seven assists in 15 games.