CALGARY, Alberta -- Mike Commodore was short of breath and dripping sweat when he came off the ice yesterday following his first full practice in more than two weeks.

"The groin feels good," Commodore said. "The rest of me doesn't feel so great.

"It was a tough practice. This is like the third time I've tried to get in shape since the start of training camp. It's not easy."

Commodore, who has had two groin injuries and the flu since the start of training camp, will not play tonight when the Blue Jackets face the Calgary Flames in Pengrowth Saddledome.

It's also highly unlikely he'll dress on Thursday in Edmonton but the last two stops of the trip -- Saturday in Anaheim; Sunday in Los Angeles -- are possibilities.

Then again, if the Blue Jackets continue to play well with Mathieu Roy in the lineup as the sixth defenseman, they might decide to let Commodore take the rest of the trip off.

"I have no issue with the groin right now at all," Commodore said. "But I don't want to go out there, be out of gas in the second period, hurt the groin again and be back to square one all over again.

"If I go out there, I want to know that it's 100 percent and I can let it go and not worry about it."

Between friends

Rick Nash has maintained a close friendship with former Blue Jackets defenseman Aaron Johnson, now playing for the Flames.

The two will renew on-ice acquaintances tonight when Johnson makes his season debut.

Yesterday, Johnson joked to Calgary reporters that he had a plan to slow down Nash tonight.

"I'll send some room service at his hotel for about six in the morning."

Nash said he wouldn't answer the door, but he'd get back at Johnson.

"Two points. A win. A goal," Nash said. "That would be one way."

Mr. Clutch

Left winger Raffi Torres has 15 goals in 57 career games with the Blue Jackets. Seven of the goals have been game-winners, including his power play goal late in the second period Saturday against Los Angeles.

Another oddity: All three of his goals this season have been on the power play, tying Torres with seven others for second in the NHL behind only Philadelphia's Mike Richards.

"Raffi is a determined offensive player," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "That's one of his strengths, and it shows itself on the power play."

Chimera's cubicle

Wayne Gretzky's "office" was directly behind the opposing goaltender's net.

So what does that make the left faceoff "dot" for Blue Jackets left winger Jason Chimera, who has scored both of his goals this season with slap shots from precisely that spot?

Chimera beat Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick late in the first period Saturday, and scored on the San Jose Sharks' Evgeni Nabokov in the third game of the season.

Both times, Chimera was screaming down the left wing on a rush, then put the puck on a tee and blistered it.

"Maybe I'll throw a patent on it," Chimera joked.

Slap shots

Goaltender Mathieu Garon will likely start Thursday in Edmonton. Defenseman Rostislav Klesla (hip) left practice early but will play tonight.

aportzline@dispatch.com