Week 3 Power Rankings + Modin out 7 - 10 days

Alright Jacket fans -- here are the latest power rankings and the Jackets are moving in a positive direction in most:

FoxSports.com: All the way up to #11 here based on solid goaltending
(.500) Solid goaltending in Week 1 allowed the Blue Jackets to finish high in the rankings, as Columbus only surrendered three goals in the two games it played. Pascal Leclaire recorded the team's only win, shutting out the defending Stanley Cup champs, the Anaheim Ducks, 4-0 on Friday night.

TSN.ca: The Jackets jump from 25 to 15 again on strong early goaltending
With two shutouts in three starts, Pascal Leclaire is taking the lead in goal, and giving the Blue Jackets a chance to be competitive. With Ken Hitchcock involved, having a strong last line of defence is imperative.

CBSSports.com: Modest jump here from 29 to 27
Still a work in progress, but there have been signs of improvement in different areas, although the Jackets need someone to step up and claim the center spot on the No. 1 line.

CBC.ca: Down here from 19 to 22
Defensive play much improved.

CNNSI.com: Up from 30 to 26:
Sure, nothing went right in Saturday's loss to the Avs. But Pascal Leclaire shined in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Coyotes -- stopping all 32 shots he saw while earning his second shutout in less than a week. Well, reader John Ravotti, deserving or not, the Jackets are slowly climbing toward the top 15 of the Power Rankings.

So far only one publication has the Jackets falling even after a 5-1 drubbing in Colorado. Even though its early I think its apparent even the harshest of critics are starting to see that although this team is not going to be world beaters this year, they are going to be competitive and play strong defensive hockey in the process.

In other CBJ news its has been reported that Fredrik Modin will be out for 7-10 days to rest his strained groin. This goes against my thoughts that he was going to try to play through by resting during practices and playing the game but it appears all involved decided to just give it the time it needs to heal. This team will miss #33 in the lineup and hopefully will hold down the fort until his return.

Also it does appear that Curtis Glenncross (or what many posters are calling him as "GlennX") will see his first action of the season with the Blue Jackets tomorrow night against Dallas.

Finally Nash did not practice this morning according to Tom Reed of the Dispatch. My guess is its another groin problem although that cannot be confirmed (what is it with all these groin injuries -- Peca/Modin/Foote/maybe Nash?) Here are the lines in practice as of this morning:

Chimera-Peca-Zherdev
Glencross-Fedorov-Vyborny
Shelley-Malhotra-Boll
Brule-Novotny-Fritsche

Of course I expect Nash to be in the lineup tomorrow so these lines will obviously change come game time.

Is good to see Boll back!

-LTL