five millimetres of rain each day.There is | Forum

PHOENIX -- The Columbus Blue Jackets led 13 seconds in and then poured on a flurry of shots -- and still needed a late rally and shootout to beat Mike Smith and the Arizona Coyotes. Thomas Jordan Jersey Signed .Columbus pummeled Smith with a franchise-record 60 shots, Alexander Wennberg scored with 2:16 left in the third period and the Blue Jackets beat the Coyotes 3-2 in a shootout Saturday night.Boone Jenner put Columbus ahead early off a pass from Jack Johnson, but then Smith stopped 47 consecutive shots until Wennbergs tying tally.I think they have a belief, Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. They werent playing terribly. Smitty played so well. But we kept working at it.Columbus is the first NHL team with 60 shots in a game since Toronto against the New York Islanders on Nov. 23, 2009, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Jackets previous high was 54 shots on April 3, 2012 -- a 2-0 loss to Smith and the Coyotes.Smith set a franchise record with 58 saves, but the Coyotes still lost their third straight. He has faced 40 or more shots in four of Arizonas past eight games.Frustration would be a good word, but its even more than that right now, Smith said. At some point, youd like to see the team move forward and take the step to be able to win hockey games. But we take one step forward and two steps back. Its hard to win hockey games like that.Cam Atkinson and Sam Gagner scored on Smith in the shootout while Curtis McElhinney stopped both Arizona shooters. Columbus has won three straight.The big thing for me is to give them a chance to win the game, said McElhinney, who made 32 saves and earned his first career overtime win. (Smith) was really good, so I had to do it on my end.Shane Doan got his 399th career goal and Radim Vrbata also scored for Arizona, which was playing its eighth overtime game in 23 contests.Doan put Arizona ahead 2-1 at 11:04 of the second when he redirected Michael Stones lobbed shot from just inside the blue line along the right boards.Wennberg tied it at 2 by backhanding the puck between Smiths pads off a pass from Brandon Saad.It was a heck of a pass from Saader, Wennberg said. It goes so quickly but the five-hole is my spot right there.After failing to take advantage of a two-man advantage late in the first, the Coyotes evened the score on Vrbatas rising shot off McElhinneys blocker from the left faceoff circle for a power-play goal 63 seconds into the second period.Smith helped preserve the lead with 5:30 left in the second, stopping Saads breakaway attempt with a sprawling pad save.In overtime, McElhinney stared down Doan on a 2-on-1 break to make a pad save. Thirty seconds later, Smith covered Wennberg on a breakaway the other direction.Game notes Smiths 58 saves were the most in the NHL this season. ... McElhinney was making his fourth start of the season and first since Nov. 21. ... The Blue Jackets activated LW Matt Calvert from injured reserve on Friday. Calvert, who had missed Columbus past five games with an upper-body injury, has two goals and an assist in 17 games this season. ... The Coyotes recalled C Tyler Gaudet from Tucson of the American Hockey League on Friday, giving Arizona 13 forwards on its roster. Its Gaudets second stint with the Coyotes following a one-game appearance in early November.UP NEXTThe teams will complete a home-and-home series Monday night in Columbus. Darrell Brown Jersey Signed . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Mark Price Jersey Signed . LOUIS -- St. https:///...field-jersey-signed/ . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.Tom Scudamore is keeping his fingers crossed he has made the right decision after siding with Ballynagour in the Crabbies Grand National on Saturday. The leading jockey, who has not been seen in competitive action since suffering a heavy fall at Uttoxeter on March 19, will make his comeback at Aintree on Thursday, when his rides include Betfred Bowl outsider Dynaste.Scudamore is set for a big afternoon on National day, when he will reunited with brilliant World Hurdle hero Thistlecrack in the Liverpool Stayers Hurdle before getting the leg-up on David Pipes Ballynagour in the National. Im not going to have any rides before Aintree, but Im feeling great and cant wait to get back, said the jockey.Im riding Dynaste on Thursday, but itll be a fairly quiet day and then it will be all systems go for Friday and Saturday.Scudamore has chosen Ballynagour over two other Pond House inmates in Soll (Conor OFarrell), who has completed in two previous Nationals, and Vieux Lion Rouge (James Reveley).He said: It was a very tough decision as all three have a similar chance.Soll loves it round there, but is higher in the weights now, while Vieux Lion Rouge is an improving young horse.I went for Ballynagour as he has some very strong form with the likes of Cue Card and Silviniaco Conti and his run at Cheltenham suggested he is coming back to form.The riders father, Peter Scudamore, was an eight-times champion jockey, but famously never managed to win the Grand National.Scudamore jnr is well known for showing emotion after riding a big-race winner, but he dare not even dream of landing the biggest prize of them all on Merseyside.I havent even thought about it. Im just concentrating on getting the job done, he said.Ballynagours owner Allan Stennett has been involved with a number of previous Crabbies Grand National runners, most notably Blowing Wind, who he owned in partnership with Peter Deal and John Dale, and finished third in both 2001 and 2002.Stennett said: Ballynagour is a bit like Blowing Wind in that he has good form over shorter distances of between two and a half to three miles.The horse has had a problem with bleeding in some of his races but what he has shown since we have had him is that he does seem to show his best form in the spring.After his run in the Betfred Bowl last year, when he ran Silviniaco Conti to a head, he had me in tears. He appeared to show improved form that day, about 20lb above his handicap mark. Some people questioned the form but I pointed out that he had the likes of Holywell, Smad Place and Menorah behind him.After Aintree last year, he went out to France and won the Grade Two Prix La Barka. Although officially it is a hurdle race, the hurdles at Auteuil are more like fences.We are going to the Crabbies Grand National with him on Saturday and the nerves are jangling! I think he goes there with a chance although the connections of the 39 other runners will be feeling the same I am sure. Sky Racing Tickets Fast, secure racing tickets: Exclusive racing offers near you Rebecca Curtis revealed Brian Hughes will be aboard OFaolains Boy and Trevor Whelan will ride stablemate The Romford Pele.OFaolains Boy, winner of the 2014 RSA Chase, was seventh in last months Cheltenham Gold Cup.The Romford Pele was eighth over hurdles in the Coral Cup and is the last horse guaranteed a run in the Grand National as the 40th on the list.Curtis said: I think Brian has a good record round Aintree and hes a straightforward horse. Im delighted to have Brian riding him.The other horse gets in with a nice, low weight and I think the race should suit him. Hell definitely stay and he has a touch of class. Leadding owners Gigginstown House Stud are set to have three runners, with retained rider Bryan Cooper having the choice of First Lieutenant, Rule The World and Sir Des Champs. Jack McCloskey Jersey Signed. Gigginstown Stud manager Eddie OLeary said: Bryan will ride one, David Mullins will ride another and well see who is available to ride the third horse.Nina Carberry is not expecting to have a ride if Knock House fails to make the cut.Carberry, who has completed the National course on four of her five rides, has partnered Mick Channons chaser twice this season, winning at Cheltenham in November and finishing fourth in the Kim Muir last month.However, he currently need two horses above him in the list to come out to get a run.Carberry said: Hopefully Ill ride him (Knock House) if he gets in. You never know how theyll take to it until they go, so well see.Fergal OBrien has resigned himself to the likelihood Grand National regular Alvarado will miss out on a place in the starting line-up.Alvarado has finished fourth for the last two years, but the 11-year-old is number 48 on the list.OBrien said: Its like complaining about the weather - its one of those things and theres nothing we can do about it.Thats the way it goes, you have to roll with it.Should Alvarado not make the cut, OBrien will aim him at the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on April 16.In the new order of elimination, Kerry Lees Bishops Road needs just one horse to come out as he is number 41 thanks to his victory in the Betfred Grand National at Haydock in February.Dr Richard Newlands Pineau De Re, the Grand National hero two years ago, is number 46, while the well-fancied Cause Of Causes, trained by Gordon Elliott, is 49. Robbie Dunne is excited about having his first ride in the big race.The 31-year-old, who partners the Dermot McLoughlin-trained Vics Canvas, has enjoyed clear rounds over Aintrees unique fences on his only two attempts so far - he finished fourth in the Betfred Becher Chase in 2014 and fifth in the same race in 2015.He said: Im really looking forward to riding in the Crabbies Grand National - its what you dream about when you first get involved in racing.Its any Jump jockeys dream. Riding over the Grand National fences is totally different to riding in any other race - its a real test of horse and jockey, and a great thrill.Jeremiah McGrath will have his first National ride on the Nicky Henderson-trained Triolo DAlene.McGrath commented: Hes already won over these fences which is always nice (Crabbies Topham Chase 2013).Hes a great jumper and hes in good form at home at the moment - hes been working and schooling well so Im really looking forward to Saturday.Another drying day at Aintree has seen the going descriptions tighten slightly, despite four millimetres of overnight rain at the course.The Grand National Course at Aintree is now described as Good to Soft, Soft in places at the Canal Turn as against Good to Soft, Soft in places yesterday afternoon.The going has also changed on the Mildmay Course and is now Good to Soft, Good in Places from Good to Soft, while the Hurdle Course remains Good to Soft, Soft in places in the home straight.Andrew Tulloch, Regional Head of Racing Jockey Club Racecourses North West and Clerk of the Course at Aintree, said at 4.45pm: It has been another drying day, with temperatures getting up to 12 Celsius.The forecast is for unsettled weather and we could have rain each day from showers, along with sunny intervals and cooler conditions.Showers, being unpredictable and intermittent, may deliver between two and five millimetres of rain each day.There is plenty of moisture in the ground after a wet winter. 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