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Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Columbus Blue Jackets had to wait a while for their chance to host the NHLs brightest stars, but, at long last, the franchises moment has finally arrived. Unfortunately for hockey fans in Columbus, Ohio, and everywhere else, the honor of participating in All-Star weekend is not as luring as the prospect of some much needed time off from the grind of the regular season. Some players will skip the festivities due to injuries and other big names simply declined to put themselves up as replacement options. Even this weekends hosts were not immune to the trend, as Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus star goaltender, will be forced to miss the All-Star activities due to a groin injury. The recent announcement that Pittsburgh Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin both will rest nagging lower-body injuries rather than go to Columbus is another blow for an All-Star weekend that will not feature some of the leagues most recognizable faces. In addition to Bobrovskys absence, goaltenders Jimmy Howard, Henrik Lundqvist and Pekka Rinne will not participate. Howard and Rinne are sidelined with injuries, while Lundqvist was snubbed but hinted hed rather use the break for rest anyway. There also will be no Zdeno Chara, as Bostons mammoth defenseman was not picked to be an All-Star and his absence will be noticed most when the players line up for the hardest shot competition at Saturdays skills showcase. But, of course, the show must go on. Even though some of the sports most recognizable faces wont be a part of All-Star weekend, this is still a great moment for the Blue Jackets, and one that was a long time coming. Columbus was originally slated to host All-Star weekend two years ago before the lockout knocked out half the season along with the midseason showcase. Last years Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia pushed back the Blue Jackets All-Star obligations even further, but like Norma Desmond, the franchise is finally ready for its close-up. Ohios capital city has never been considered an ideal locale for an NHL franchise, but the Blue Jackets enter this moment in the sun healthier than they have ever been. Columbus only has made the postseason twice in its first 13 seasons, but one of those times came last season when the Jackets gave the heavily favored Penguins a run for their money before exiting the first round in six games. Sure, the 2014-15 season has been an exercise in patience for Columbus and its fan base. The club was beset with injury issues from the start of the campaign and the fact the Jackets enter the All-Star break 14 points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference is in large part due to the teams inability to stay healthy. A terrific December seemed to put the Blue Jackets on track to make a run at the playoffs, but a 4-6-0 record in January has derailed those dreams temporarily. Columbus will need to jump out of the break playing near flawless hockey to qualify for the postseason. But even if they miss the playoffs in 2014-15, time still is on the Blue Jackets side. Bobrovsky recently signed an extension to stay in Columbus and with young forwards like Nick Foligno and Ryan Johansen in the fold (and also representing the Blue Jackets in this weekends activities), the once-derided expansion team could be on the verge of a renaissance. So, even if this All-Star contingent may not represent the absolute best and brightest the NHL has to offer, its going to be tough to dampen the mood in Columbus. The franchise has rarely held the spotlight since joining the league over a decade ago, and fittingly, the Blue Jackets are more prepared than ever to be the center of attention. Bobby Hull Jersey . The Major League Soccer teams were scheduled to play on Saturday night, but their game was rescheduled after Stu Tudor was hit during a pregame storm. The 54-year-old lieutenant in the Columbus Fire Department is in critical condition in the intensive care unit of the Ohio State Medical Center. Nikolaj Ehlers Jersey . Ben Street scored twice for the Heat (17-5-1), who won their fourth game in a row and 13th in their last 14 outings. Brett Bulmer scored the lone goal for the Wild (6-11-0), who dropped their sixth straight contest. http://www.officialwinnipegjetspro.com/Teemu-selanne-jets-jersey/ .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. Custom Winnipeg Jets Jerseys . Bookies were offering odds of 13/1 before kickoff that the home team Houston Dynamo would prevail by three goals to nil. Dale Hawerchuk Jersey . The Calgary Stampeders running back received the West Division nomination for the CFLs top individual award Thursday in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada and leagues eight head coaches.BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Buffalo Sabres dont care what the stats say, as long as they keep getting two points.Buffalo was outshot 45-19 on Thursday night, but Matt Moulson scored twice and Jhonas Enroth made 42 saves to lead the Sabres to a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames.It wasnt one of our better games, Sabres head coach Ted Nolan said. Its pretty special because we werent in the game but we still believed that we could come back.The surprising Sabres are 8-3 since starting the season 3-13-2, and the players think they know why their fortunes are turning around.I think heart, Ennis said. Were playing for each other and I think Jhonas deserves a lot of the credit.Enroth made a bevy of saves to keep Buffalo in the game, including a point blank elbow save on Curtis Glencross with 6 seconds to play.I had a lot of shots against me and felt pretty good all game, Enroth said. Its three goals but its not that bad, I thought.Zemgus Girgensons and Marcus Foligno also scored for the Sabres, while Tyler Ennis had three assists. Moulsons second goal of the game, on a pass from Ennis with 7:29 to go, broke the 3-all tie and gave the Sabres their second straight win.Mark Giordano, Sean Monahan and David Jones scored for Calgary, losers of three in a row.The Sabres have won four straight at home, and are 4-4 against the Pacific Division.Our team confidence is in a good place, said Tyler Myers. I think were doing the right things, were trying to do the right things ... I think that confidence will grow even more.Monahan scored on a rebound at 3:14 of the third to give the Flames a 3-2 lead. Girgensons then tied it when he took a pass through the crease from Ennis and shot into an open net at 7:59.After a tepid start to the game, Girgensons faked Karri Ramo down to the ice before the Flames goalie recovered to stop the centres wrap around attempt.And Paul Byron split two Sabres defencemen to earn a breakaway, but Enroth grabbed the high backhand shot and held it for a whistle.ddddddddddddThe scoreless first period gave way to a four-goal second.Ennis stripped the puck from TJ Brodie in the corner and found Moulson streaking to the net. Moulson wristed the puck over Ramos left shoulder to make it 1-0 at the 5:54 mark.We worked hard, Ennis said. Their defence got up in the play and I think we capitalized on a couple of turnovers and got it in and worked it.With Foligno already in the penalty box for slashing, a delay of game penalty to Nicolas Deslauriers gave Calgary a two-man advantage and the Flames instantly capitalized with Giordanos slap shot goal to tie the score with 8:29 to go in the period.We shot ourselves in the foot tonight, Giordano said. I thought we played a good game but the times we did break down were easy goals for them.Stafford made a highlight-reel play to restore Buffalos lead. Using a body fake to lose Derek Engelland in the corner, Stafford skated around the net before sending a no-look pass through the crease to Foligno, who finished his chance with 5:19 remaining.Foligno was denied a second goal by video review with 3:43 left when it was ruled he deflected Nikita Zadorovs shot from above the legal height.Calgary took advantage of the disallowed goal when Jones stick-checked Josh Gorges in front of Enroth and flipped the puck past the Sabres goaltender to even the score with 2:54 to go.Now the Flames arent panicking despite being tasked with putting an end to season-worst losing streak.Weve got to cut it off now though, Giordano said. Weve got to find a way to get points next game, get the win, and move on from there.NOTES: The line of Girgensons, Moulson and Ennis accounted for seven points for the Sabres. ... Enroth was playing in his 100th career game. ... Buffalo C Cody Hodgson was a healthy scratch. ... Matt Stajan missed the game for Calgary after returning from a knee injury two games ago ... This was the 100th game between the Sabres and Flames. ' ' '