COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Cam Atkinson believes the Columbus Blue Jackets are getting better. But hes also realizes just how far they have to go. "We got a little taste of what we wanted in making the playoffs," the 24-year-old winger said the day after the Blue Jackets were eliminated in Game 6 of their wild first-round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins. "We just won two games. Its a stepping stone." For years an NHL doormat, the Blue Jackets are both inspired and also realistic after the best season in the franchises mostly rocky 13 seasons. "I heard on the radio the other day that Game 4 is one of the great sports moments in this city," forward Mark Letestu said, referring to a three-goal comeback at home that was capped by a last-minute tying goal in regulation and Nick Folignos overtime winner. "I think theres a lot more that we can give. We can give series victories and further cement the Blue Jackets in the hearts of people here. Thats whats on guys minds right now." It was a season of firsts for the Blue Jackets, who have spent much of their existence toward the bottom of the NHL standings. They set club records with 43 regular-season wins, 21 road victories, 93 points and 231 goals. They had made the playoffs just once previously and their stay lasted only four games, all losses. But one of the leagues youngest teams overcame a 5-10-0 start with a strong finish to clinch a playoff spot. Then, they won Games 2 and 4 against the Penguins with stirring comebacks. In Monday nights Game 6, they were outclassed early and trailed 4-0 heading into the final period before scoring three goals in a 4:52 span to energize a crowd of 19,189 that stood and roared throughout the final minutes. The 4-3 defeat left them disappointed, but most will likely only remember the Jackets scrambling at the finish for a possible tying goal while the Penguins struggled to hold them off. "The building was rocking," defenceman Jack Johnson said. "But theres going to be a lot more and better times ahead." Beyond everything else they accomplished, they gave their patient followers some hope. Over their past 111 games, the Blue Jackets are 62-37-12 -- far and away the best such span in the franchises history, and exceeded by only seven other teams in the league. "Its been great to see where we came from halfway through last season to where we are now and how excited the city gets," said fourth-line centre Derek MacKenzie, an unrestricted free agent this summer. "Weve already talked about that. What would it be like if we could have a great start? Is that arena going to be like that all season long? We sure hope so." The Blue Jackets poor history has become, well, old news. "Everybody hears about the past," said rookie defenceman Ryan Murray, taken No. 2 in the 2012 draft. "It hasnt been very good. Everybody thats here now just wants to change that, to change the culture and bring in more fans and change the city into a hockey town." Judging from the capacity crowds down the stretch and in the playoffs, and the excitement generated around this city of 787,000. For the past few weeks, the Blue Jackets have been the talk of the town, pulling off a rare coup by bumping Ohio State football off the front page of the local newspaper. Now that the Blue Jackets have stamped themselves as a good team, the hard part is getting better. "I dont think were going to catch anybody by surprise anymore," defenceman James Wisniewski said. "Everybody realizes the identity that weve created here, that its going to be a hard-fought game and that theyre going to have to bring their A game or were going to run them out of the building." Many of the Blue Jackets had already shaved off their playoff beards before meetings with the coaching staff on Tuesday morning. Several of the younger players were barely able to grow one. So now a team that didnt know what it was missing when it didnt make the playoffs is disappointed that it has been eliminated. "Ill be watching (the playoffs) for sure," Atkinson said. "What else is there to do now? You wish you could be playing." Ben Zobrist Cubs Jersey .ca presents its latest weekly power rankings for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season. Brandon Morrow Jersey . Now, he might be their hottest pitcher. Lobstein earned up his first major league victory Sunday night, allowing one run in 5 2-3 innings in the Tigers 6-1 win over the San Francisco Giants. http://www.thecubsteamshop.com/Cubs-Javier-Baez-Kids-Jersey/ .Mateo Kovacic and Andrea Ranocchia scored for Inter, which had goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to thank for several crucial saves.Its an important victory against a Chievo side which plays well, Mancini said. Yu Darvish Jersey .5 million. University officials released the term sheet signed by Harsin Wednesday, the day the former Broncos walk-on player and Boise native was named the successor to Chris Petersen, who left for Washington last week. Jason Heyward Jersey . Perhaps as important, shes sending a message to 17-year-old gold medal favourite Sara Takanashi of Japan. Iraschko-Stolz relegated Takanashi, who has 10 World Cup victories this season, to second place in two of three training jumps Saturday.SAN FRANCISCO -- Brandon Barnes isnt a classic power hitter. In fact, neither of the Colorado right fielders two home runs this season even left the park. They did help the Rockies to victories, however, and for that Barnes isnt making any apologies. Barnes hit a two-run, inside-the-park home run in the ninth inning and Colorado rallied for the second straight day to stun the San Francisco Giants 5-4 on Saturday. "Id really like to hit one out so I can jog around the bases to make it easier," said Barnes, who hit his first inside-the-park home run against Arizona on June 5. "I always seem to make it hard on myself. I hit the ball and Im going to run hard until something stops me." Charlie Blackmon singled with two outs off Giants closer Sergio Romo (3-3) before Barnes lined a hit to centre field. San Franciscos Angel Pagan misplayed the ball and it skipped to the fence as Blackmon and Barnes raced around the bases. Barnes, who had a walkoff triple to beat the Dodgers on June 7, had flown out to centre in three consecutive at-bats before helping Colorado extend its winning streak to four games. "My father made the trip up from Anaheim for Fathers day tomorrow and my step-mom and sister were here," Barnes said. "Its special to play in front of them, especially like a day like today." Its the second consecutive blown save and fourth this season for Romo, who gave up five runs in the ninth inning of Fridays 7-4 loss to Colorado. "I dont feel like I could have done much more there," Romo said. "I had two outs, one pitch away again ... and they found a way to stay alive. They got me again. What can I do?" Buster Poseys sacrifice fly in the seventh inning had given the Giants a 4-3 lead. Posey also doubled and homered to finish with a season-high three RBIs -- the most by San Franciscos two-time All-Star in more than 11 months. Hunter Pence hit his ninth home run of the year while Gregor Blanco had three hits for San Francisco. It wasnt enough to prevent the Giants fifth loss in six games. Barnes is the fourth opposing player to hit an inside-the-park home run at AT&T Park. Rex Brothers (3-4) pitched one inning for the win and became the 76th pitcher in history to strike out the side on nine pitches. LaTroy Hawkins worked the ninth for his 13th save, although he had to wait to celebrate. Angel Pagan appeared to ground into a game-ending double play and seveeral Rockies players came out of the dugout to celebrate.ddddddddddddSan Francisco manager Bruce Bochy, who successfully overturned a call earlier in the game, again challenged the ruling. After a brief review, the umpires upheld the original call. "There was talk about the games here and how crazy they are," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "It usually comes down to millimeters and milliseconds. Barnes has a tendency to be in the middle of things. Hes been a real clutch player for us." The Giants went into the game with the best record in the majors but were staggering on the heels of four losses in five games. They trailed late in this one, too, before Posey tied it with a two-run homer in the fifth then drove in Pagan with the go-ahead run in the seventh. San Franciscos bullpen couldnt make it hold up. Jean Machi pitched out of a two-on, two-out jam in the eighth before Romo took over in the ninth. The Rockies scored twice off Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong in the second then took a 3-1 lead in the third following back-to-back doubles from Morneau and Josh Rutledge. It could have been worse for Vogelsong, who needed instant replay to get out of a two-out jam in first after Rutledge appeared to leg out an infield single and load the bases. Bochy successfully challenged the call and Rutledge was ruled out to end the inning. Poseys two-run homer off Christian Bergman in the fifth tied it. Bergman lasted six innings in his second major league start. The Rockies rookie allowed eight hits, struck out three and didnt walk a batter. Pence homered off Bergman in the first. NOTES: Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was not in the starting lineup after injuring a toe running to first base on an infield single during the ninth inning of Fridays 7-4 win. Tulowitzki pinch-hit in the ninth and flew out to centre. ... The Rockies also rested C Wilin Rosario after he fouled a ball that ricocheted off the ground and hit him in the face. ... Giants reliever Santiago Casilla (hamstring) could be activated from the disabled list, depending on the outcome of his latest rehab appearance on Saturday. ... LHP Madison Bumgarner (8-4), who pitches the series finale for San Francisco, has a 1.24 ERA over his previous four starts. RHP Juan Nicasio (5-5) takes the mound for Colorado. ... Joe Torre, the executive vice-president of baseball operations for MLB, and California governor Jerry Brown attended the game. ' ' '