Blue Jackets' Bobrovsky feels responsible for Richards' firing

Sergei Bobrovsky is bearing a considerable burden.

Not only is he the worst goaltender through the season's first two weeks - on the basis of statistics, at least - but Bobrovsky is now feeling culpable in the Columbus Blue Jackets' firing of former head coach Todd Richards.

"He's a good coach, a good man," Bobrovsky told Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch. "It's definitely a tough feeling right now. I didn't play well for him this season. I feel responsibility for (his firing), of course."

Richards stuck with the former Vezina winner despite his early-season struggles, and also admitted that the decision might have led to his downfall.

"I've said it before that he has made me a good coach through his goaltending. He was my guy. If you're going to go down, you go down with your guy."

Bobrovsky will be in net Thursday night in Minnesota as the John Tortorella era gets underway in Columbus.