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Columbus coach: “Our goalie was better than their goalie … by a wide margin”

Columbus Blue Jackets v Phoenix Coyotes

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 16: Head coach Todd Richards of the Columbus Blue Jackets talks to his team during a second period time out in the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on February 16, 2013 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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You don’t ever expect there to be beef between the Blue Jackets and Wild, but they do have something in common in Columbus coach Todd Richards. He once unsuccessfully led Minnesota before being relieved of duties and landing on his feet with the Jackets.

When Columbus knocked off Minnesota 3-2 in a shootout last night, he expressed his gratitude for the play of his goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky, and managed to take a poke at his former goaltender in the process as Michael Russo of The Star Tribune shares.

“Our goalie was better than their goalie … by a wide margin,” said former Wild coach Todd Richards, undoubtedly a back-handed slap at his former goalie, Niklas Backstrom.

Them’s fightin’ words but they were true in last night’s game as Bobrovsky stopped 39 shots to help the team win. They’re also true in the big picture when comparing stats to how he’s played this season compared to Backstrom’s two seasons under Richards in Minnesota.

That won’t do much to help keep fans in Minnesota quiet over their former coach taking a swipe at their goalie.