NHL Hockey: Blue Jackets Team Report: Failing to gain ground.

Sports Network, The, January, 2003

Dec 21, 2002 (The Sports Network via COMTEX)

(Sports Network) - The Columbus Blue Jackets wasted a golden opportunity on Friday to close within three points of third-place Chicago in the Central Division.

Instead, they fell 3-1 to the Blackhawks and slipped seven points behind their divisional foes.

"They were a little hungrier than us," Blue Jackets coach Dave King said. "We had some chances on the power play, enough I thought to get a goal."

Sean Pronger netted the only goal for the Blue Jackets, who have lost two of their last three. Marc Denis turned aside 27-of-30 shots in the losing cause.

Columbus held a 1-0 lead after the first thanks to Pronger's tally at 12:18 of the period. David Vyborny dug the puck out of...

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