HOCKEY LAST NIGHT: GOODBYE, COLUMBUS

Quickly, now:

Blue Jackets 6 Senators 2: Did you ever think you'd see the day when the Sens would lose 6-2 to Columbus? Martin Gerber (AKA Martin Garbage) got the mercy pull after giving up four goals on 13 shots, by which time it was clear his teammates were more interested in tracking down Ohio State's Troy Smith after the game and getting a picture with him and the Heisman Trophy than actually playing.

NHL scoreboard

Tonight's only game worth talking about: Alex Ovechkin vs. Sid the Kid, 7 p.m. in Washington

HOMETOWN BREAKDOWN

Some would call call the Kingston Frontenacs' 5-4 setback last night against the Kitchener Rangers a "quality loss," since the Rangers are the hottest team in the OHL and the Fronts were playing their first game without Chris Stewart, who's at the national junior team selection camp. Then again, that red-hot team was at the end of a stretch where it's played 15 games in 31 days, and Kitchener also started a rookie goalie, Charles Lavigne, so the Rangers might've been ripe for the taking.

This loss can be soon forgotten if the Fronts get no less than five of a possible six points out of the remaining games before the holidays -- a home-and-home with Belleville, followed by the Ottawa 67's visit Sunday. Of course, this being junior hockey, you can't count on any team around this time of year.

That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.