The Puck Drops Here 1/3/17 #BlueJackets #CBJ

By Chris Lulovics, @CLulovics

Well here we are at the start of 2017 and the Columbus Blue Jackets are one of the hottest teams in the NHL.  Who would of thought that at the beginning of the season?  Head coach John Tortorella  (head coach of the USA team in the World Cup of Hockey) ran what players and analysts call a boot camp in order to get his players in top physical condition so come the 3rd period they aren't out of gas and can put away teams.  Well his plan is definitely working because the Blue Jackets play their best period in the 3rd.

On Saturday the Blue Jackets extended their franchise best winning streak to 15 games by winning 4-2 against the Minnesota Wild. The Wild were winners of 12 games in a row before Saturday. The Blue Jackets have outscored their opponents 62-26 during the streak. In fact they went a perfect 12-0 during the whole month of December. Leading the way has been goalie Sergei Bobrovski who seems to be back to his old self from a couple of years ago when the Jackets made the playoffs. Cam Atkinson is leading the way accounting for 16 points in the last 12 games. Nick Foligno has also returned to his old format after a disappointing season a year ago. Boone Jenner and Brandon Dubinsky while not producing on the score sheet like they would like too, have been playing a huge role with tremendous play away from the puck which helps other guys on the line to produce. And last but not least rookie defenseman 19 year old Zach Werenski. Last year at this time he was playing for the university of Michigan and then turning pro and helping the Lake Erie Monsters win the Calder Cup. Not only does Werenski hold the club record for most points by a rookie defenseman  (before the first half even ends) he is also the quarterback of the leagues best power-play. For a 19 year old to have that much responsibility shows the confidence that head coach John Tortorella has in him.

The Jackets are 2 games away from tying the NHL record.  They play Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers and Thursday against the Washington Capitals. They can set a new record at home Saturday night against the New York Rangers. I can only imagine the crowd that will be at that game. So far this season has been amazing after experts predicted the Jackets wouldn't amount to anything. There is a lot of hockey left and anything can happen but with their mentality of one game at a time let's just live in the moment right now and enjoy the ride. If you're not on the bandwagon you can always jump on now.

TV Tonight 11.3

By Raven Williams, @nevaRWilliams

NFL
NFL Thursday Night Kickoff (CBS/NFL Network, 8pm)
Falcons @ Buccaneers (NFL Network, 8:25pm)

NBA
Celtics @ Cavaliers (TNT, 8pm)
Thunder @ Warriors (TNT, 10:30pm)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Buffalo @ Ohio (CBS SportsNet, 6pm)
Oklahoma @ Iowa State (ESPN, 7:30pm)
UCLA @ Colorado (FOX Sports 1, 9pm)

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DC's Legends Of Tomorrow (The CW, 8pm)
Superstore (NBC, 8pm)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC, 8pm)
Rosewood (FOX, 8pm)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8pm)
IMPACT Wrestling (POP, 8pm)
The Good Place (NBC, 8:30pm)
The Great Indoors (CBS, 8:30pm)

Chicago Med (NBC, 9pm)
Notorious (ABC, 9pm)
Pitch (FOX, 9pm)
Supernatural (The CW, 9pm)
Mom (CBS, 9pm)
Life In Pieces (CBS, 9:30pm)

The Blacklist (NBC, 10pm)
How To Get Away With Murder (ABC, 10pm)
Pure Genius (CBS, 10pm)
Better Things (FX, 10pm)
Falling Water (USA, 10pm)
MTV Wonderland (MTV, 11pm)

TV Weekend 12.18 - 12.19

By @nevaRWilliams

Caught On Camera With Nick Cannon (FRI NBC, 8pm)
Last Man Standing (FRI, ABC, 8pm)
Frosty The Snowman (FRI, CBS, 8pm)
MasterChef (FRI, FOX, 8pm)
New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXS TV, 8pm)
Yes, Virginia (FRI, ABC, 8:30pm)
Frosty Returns (FRI, CBS, 8:30pm)

Shark Tank (FRI, ABC, 9pm)
A Home For The Holidays (FRI, CBS, 9pm)
World's Funniest (FRI, FOX, 9pm)
New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXS, TV, 9pm)

Blue Bloods (FRI, CBS, 10pm)
The Knick (FRI, Cinemax, 10pm)
Z Nation SEASON FINALE (FRI, SyFy, 10pm)
Satisfaction (FRI, USA, 10pm)

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Da Vinci's Demons (SAT, STARZ, 8pm)
Ash vs Evil Dead (SAT, STARZ, 9pm)
Imagine: John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert (SAT, AMC, 9pm)

Saturday Night Live: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (SAT, NBC, 11:30pm)

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NFL
Jets @ Cowboys (SAT, NFL Network, 8:25pm)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
NCAA Division III Final: Mount Union vs. St. Thomas (FRI, ESPNU, 7pm)
NCAA FCS Semifinal: Richmond @ North Dakota State (FRI, ESPN 2, 8pm)

Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl: Alcorn State vs. North Carolina A&T (SAT, ABC, 12pm)
Gillian New Mexico Bowl: Arizona vs. New Mexico (SAT, ESPN, 2pm)
Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl: BYU vs. Utah (SAT, ABC, 3:30pm)

NCAA FCS Semifinal: Sam Houston State @ Jacksonville State (SAT, ESPNU, 4pm)
NCAA Division II Championship: Northwest Missouri State vs. Shepherd (SAT, ESPN 2, 4pm)

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl: Ohio vs. Appalachian State (SAT, ESPN, 5:30pm)
New Orleans Bowl: Arkansas State vs. Louisiana Tech (SAT, ESPN, 9pm)

NBA
Clippers @ Spurs (FRI, ESPN, 8pm)
Pelicans @ Suns (FRI, ESPN, 10:30pm)

Hornets @ Wizards (SAT, NBA TV, 7pm)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Incarnate Word @ St. John's (FRI, FOX Sports 1, 7pm)

Utah @ Duke (SAT, ESPN, 12pm)
Western Kentucky @ Louisville (SAT, ESPNU, 12pm)
Villanova @ Virginia (SAT, ESPN 2, 12pm)
Wichita State @ Seton Hall (SAT, FOX, 12pm)
Auburn @ Xavier (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 12pm)
Michigan State @ Northeastern (SAT, NBC Sports, 12:30pm)

North Carolina vs. UCLA (SAT, CBS, 1pm)
Creighton @ Oklahoma (SAT, ESPNU, 2pm)
Indiana @ Notre Dame (SAT, ESPN 2, 2pm)
Northwestern @ DePaul (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 2pm)
Kentucky vs. Ohio State (SAT, CBS, 3:30pm)
Cincinnati @ VCU (SAT, CBS SportsNet, 4pm)

Baylor @ Texas A&M (SAT, ESPNU, 9pm)
UNLV @ Arizona (SAT, ESPN 2, 9:30pm)
Tennessee @ Gonzaga (SAT, ESPNU, 11pm)
Texas @ Stanford (SAT, ESPN 2, 11:30pm)

NHL
Flyers @ Blue Jackets (SAT, FOX Sports Ohio, 7pm)
Canadiens @ Stars (SAT, NHL Network, 7pm)

MMA & BOXING
World Series Of Fighting 26 (FRI, NBC Sports, 9pm)
Premier Boxing Champions (FRI, Spike, 9pm)

UFC Fight Night - Prelims (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 5pm)
UFC Fight Night, dos Anjos vs. Cerrone 2 (SAT, FOX, 8pm)
Boxing: Bryant Jennings vs. Luis Ortiz (SAT, HBO, 10:15pm)

SOCCER
English Premier League: Newcastle United FC vs. Aston Villa FC (SAT, NBC, 12:30pm)

OTHER SPORTS
Swimming: Duel in The Pool (SAT, NBC, 4pm)

Cliff's Edge 5.27.15: An Ode to the King #Cavs

By @CLG2282

How about them Cavs???

All we heard was how difficult it was to defend Atlanta. They only thing people talked about was how short handed we are. And what did the Cavs do? Go out and sweep the #1 seed Atlanta Hawks.

Not only did they sweep, the Cleveland Cavaliers made it look easy. This may be the most efficiently I've seen a LeBron James lead Cavaliers squad play.

All lot of what I have talked about recently was the totality of the team. I've talked about how the Cavs have found rhythm and played together as a unit. One thing that was blatantly different about this Conference Finals series was about one man, LeBron James.

With the Cavs win tonight LeBron James, along with James Jones, has done something that Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird have never done. Make it to the NBA Finals for a 5th consecutive season. Doing so in quite an impressive fashion, might I add.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron James averaged a triple-double. Most memorable is probably the Game 3 overtime victory in Cleveland in which James notched 37 pts, 18 rebs and 13 asts. Not to mention the 3 steals he had during that contest or the late corner-three he hit to put the Cavs ahead for good.

James put his team on his back. Plain and Simple. No Kevin Love, a hobbled Kyrie Irving and against a hungry and lethal Atlanta Hawks team, LeBron James carried the Cavs to the Eastern Conference championship and the 2nd Finals appearance in franchise history.

Now I'm not saying he did not have help because that would purely be a lie. Shooters like JR Smith were key in the Cavs success. The scoring and defense of Shumpert and Delly were vital in stifling the Hawks. Thompson's rebounding, hustling and just courageous play helped lift the Cavs to another level. However, the most vital ingredient was the talent, leadership and example given by James.

LeBron was singlehandedly able to impose his will on the Hawks. In moments throughout the series, James was able to get into a zone where it seemed like he knew that he could change the game with every possession.  He attacked and picked apart the Atlanta defense. James also impaired the Hawks offense playing the passing lanes and being everywhere it seemed.

This thing is far from over but I just want to stop and give credit where it is do. LeBron, I tip my hat you you fella. When it started looking rough, you strapped the old work boots up and put the young guys on your back. You lead this young team in the way that champions do. Only four more games left to win. It's far from over but it's oh so close. Let's get this done Cleveland.

GO CAVS!!!

TV Weekend 2.27 - 2.28

By @nevaRWilliams

Last Man Standing (FRI, ABC, 8pm)
World's Funniest Fails (FRI, FOX, 8pm)
The Amazing Race (FRI, CBS, 8pm)
Heart Of Dixie (FRI, The CW, 8pm)
Cold Justice (FRI, TNT, 8pm)
Cristela (FRI, ABC, 8:30pm)

iMPACT Wrestling (FRI, Destination America, 9pm)
New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXS TV, 9pm)
12 Monkeys (FRI, SyFy, 9pm)
Glee (FRI, FOX, 9pm)
Hawaii Five-O (FRI, CBS, 9pm)

VICE Special Report: Killing Cancer (FRI, HBO, 10pm)
Helix (FRI, SyFy, 10pm)
Banshee (FRI, Showtime, 10pm)

------

Black Sails (SAT, Starz, 9pm)
Saturday Night Live, Dakota Johnson, Alabama Shakes (SAT, NBC, 11:30pm)

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NBA
Cavaliers @ Pacers (FRI, FOX Sports Ohio, 7pm)
Heat @ Pelicans (FRI, ESPN, 8pm)
Thunder @ Trail Blazers (FRI, ESPN, 10:30pm)

Kobe Bryant's Muse (SAT, Showtime, 9pm)
Spurs @ Suns (SAT, NBA TV, 9pm)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Ohio @ Akron (FRI, ESPNU, 8pm)
Valparaiso @ Cleveland State (FRI, ESPNU, 10pm)

Georgetown @ St. John's (SAT, CBS, 12pm)
Michigan @ Maryland (SAT, ESPN, 12pm)
Louisville @ Florida State (SAT, ESPN 2, 12pm)
Missouri @ Georgia (SAT, ESPNU, 12pm)

Villanova @ Xavier (SAT, FOX, 2pm)
North Carolina @ Miami (SAT, CBS, 2pm)
Northern Iowa @ Wichita State (SAT, ESPN, 2pm)
Cincinnati @ Tulane (SAT, ESPNews, 2pm)
TCU @ Oklahoma (SAT, ESPNU, 2pm)
Dayton @ VCU (SAT, ESPN 2, 2pm)

Arkansas @ Kentucky (SAT, CBS, 4pm)
Oklahoma State @ Texas Tech (SAT, ESPNews, 4pm)
West Virginia @ Baylor (SAT, ESPNU, 4pm)
Iowa State @ Kansas State (SAT, ESPN 2, 4pm)
Texas @ Kansas (SAT, ESPN, 5pm)

Tennessee @ Florida (SAT, ESPN2, 6pm)
Syracuse @ Duke (SAT, ESPN, 7pm)
Boise State @ San Diego State (SAT, ESPN 2, 8pm)
Arizona @ Utah (SAT, ESPN, 9pm)
BYU @ Gonzaga (SAT, ESPN 2, 10pm)

NASCAR
XFINITY Series: Atlanta (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 2pm)
Camping World Truck Series (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 5:30pm)

NHL
Blackhawks @ Lightning (FRI, NHL Network, 7:30pm)

Devils @ Blue Jackets (SAT, FOX Sports Ohio, 5pm)
Maple Leafs @ Canadiens (SAT, NHL Network, 7pm)
Rangers @ Flyers (SAT, NBC, 8pm)

GOLF
Honda Classic, Third Round (SAT, NBC, 3pm)

MMA & BOXING
Bellator MMA Live: British Invasion 134 (FRI, SPIKE, 9pm)
Friday Night Fights (FRI, ESPN 2, 9pm)
Golden Boy LIVE Boxing: Randy Caballero vs. Alberto Guevara (FRI, FOX Sports 1, 10:30pm)
UFC 184: Rousey vs. Zingano - Prelims (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 8pm)

OTHER SPORTS
English Premier League Soccer (SAT, NBC, 12:30pm)
World of X Games: Air & Style, Los Angeles (SAT, ABC, 3pm)
Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular (SAT, ABC, 4pm)