It was a pretty eventful morning at Scottrade Center, where the Blues and Blue Jackets will meet tonight at 7:35. The Blues had the most jump I’ve seen at a morning skate this season, and the Blue Jackets were flying around as well.

Just to illustrate how pleasant it was to be at the rink this morning, Keith Tkachuk skated with the team AND stuck around to talk with reporters (just kidding Walt!)

“Both teams have got great spirit,” Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said. “That’s the reason we’re both in this race. Both organizations have come from a long ways back to get where they’re at. St. Louis has come as far back as we have. The only reason we’re here is not because of our talent level . . . it’s because of our spirit. Both teams made goaltending changes that seemed to really energize their teams. But both teams have carried a hard spirit. Neither team leads in goals for, nor do we lead in goals against. But both teams carry a real competitive spirit and to me that’s a direct result of the players buying into what the coaches are talking about, No. 1, and No. 2 is leadership. Both teams have had terrific leadership in keeping the spirit alive. That’s why we’ve both been able to come from a long ways back.”

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Both Hitchcock and Blues coach Andy Murray are hoping for fast starts from their team tonight.

Murray wanted a fast start against Vancouver Thursday. Instead of writing the game time as 7:35 on Thursday, Murray wrote: “7:30-FAST!”

“We talked about needing to play faster at the beginning of games,” Murray said. “To introduce the point, I said to Alex Steen, ‘What does 7:30-fast mean?’ He said, ‘That we’re ready to play at 7:30 and we’re ready to play fast.’”

While the Blues won the game 4-2 over the Canucks, they didn’t have a great start. “After the game, I asked Alex, ‘Did you not hear me right?’ He said, ‘No, I thought you said 7:40.’ The first 10 minutes didn’t look very comfortable.”

Murray complimented the crowd Thursday for getting the Blues into the game after that.

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The Blues will have the same lineup tonight, with Cam Janssen and Tyson Strachan as the healthy scratches. 

Janssen has not played in seven of the last 10 games. In the three he played, Janssen’s ice time was 27 seconds against Florida, 3:34 against San Jose and 3:21 against Calgary.

“It’s very, very tough (not playing),” Janssen said. “But as long as we’re winning games, that’s all that matters. On the other hand, it’s tough to watch, especially when the game gets physical. You’re sitting in the locker room working out and watching TV . . . you just want to beat somebody up. Nothing you can do. All you can do is work hard in practice. It’s a coach’s decision. I don’t like it, but that’s the way it is. I can’t mope in front of the boys. We’re winning games and I’d love to be a part of it.”

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An unknown Blues player made Janssen the butt of a joke at this morning’s practice. If I tried to describe it, I wouldn’t do it justice, so I took a picture with my cell phone so you could see for yourself:

This book was sitting on the edge of the dry-eraser board, with this message written next to it . . . “For kids who can’t read so good!”

“I think it’s hilarious, but there’s two S’s in Janssen . . . not one,” Janssen said.

Who did it?

“There could be a lot of guys, but I would say Barret Jackman,” Janssen said.

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Blues center Patrik Berglund scored his 18th and 19th goals Tuesday against Los Angeles. In their history, the Blues have had nine rookies reach the 20-goal plateau. Who was the last?

Jim Campbell, 1996-97 (23 goals)

Here’s the rest of the list: Nelson Emerson, 1991-92 (23); Rod Brind’Amour, 1989-90 (26); Doug Gilmour, 1983-84 (25); Joe Mullen, 1981-82 (25); Jorgen Pettersson, 1980-81 (37); Wayne Babych, 1978-79 (27); Bob MacMillan, 1975-76 (20); and Mike Muphy, 1971-72 (20).

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On David Perron’s game-winning power-play goal Tuesday, Blues play-by-play broadcasters Chris Kerber and John Kelly must have been scratching their heads after calling the goal:

“Keith Tkachuk, in the corner, feeds the puck in front of the net to David Perron . . . he scores!”

On the power play, you wouldn’t guess Tkachuk would be in the corner and Perron would be in front of the net. I talked to Perron this morning and he said he’s scored a number of goals in front of the net in his hockey career.

“I don’t know where he was playing,” Tkachuk quipped.

Tkachuk said he told Perron: “If you stick around the net, you’re going to get goals. Come join the party, that’s my line with a lot of guys. Come join the party.”

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The severe flooding in North Dakota has been devastating for a lot of folks in Fargo and Grand Forks. T.J. Oshie, who attended the University of North Dakota, said this morning that the water level is closing in on his old apartment. Oshie still has an ex-roommate that lives in the building, and he’s been getting updates on the developing story. 

The Blues had scheduled for a choir from Shanley High in North Dakota to drive to St. Louis and sing the national anthem at a recent Blues’ game, but the flooding prevented that from happening.

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One final note: Click here to read a feel-good story from the Columbus Dispatch . . . pretty heart-warming.

JR