The Jacketsblog: An Unofficial Columbus Blue Jackets Blog

Apparently no one reminded the Jackets they had a game to play today and things ended up pretty ugly. Besides giving up an early goal the Jackets were able to tie it up and bring some life back to Nationwide Arena… then Steve Mason pulled his best impression of Marty Turco giving the Blues a 2-1 lead in which they never looked back from. Combined with poor play and a joke officiating job it was a terribly boring night at the rink.

Story of Mason’s night…

I’m not trying to incite panic but with the lack of effort and seemingly complacent attitude of the team and fans, a very Blue Jackets like collapse doesn’t seem as impossible as it once did. There were moments of obvious desparation tonight as the players made uncharacteristic plays (in a bad way), as the coaches jumbled lines all over the place, even changing up defensive pairings, and Mason’s shocking turnover for what was basically the game winner (Nash’s goal was a garbage goal).

The best argument to not panic is found when you go back and look at Thursday’s game vs. the Flames. The offense was finishing chances, getting the puck deep, the defense was on complete lock down and Mason wasn’t giving anything up.

With all of that said it seems that mental toughness is where the team is the most lacking. When they play a typically weaker opponent, they overlook them and don’t put forth the effort they do against the Detroit/San Jose/Calgary’s of the NHL. It is also disconcerting that Steve Mason has been less than good against the Blue this season giving up 5-4-3-4-5 in 5 games against the Blues, only one of those resulting in a win.

The Jackets are still 7 points from 100% guaranteeing themselves a playoff spot, but that number will probably go down. There are only 6 games remaining, 3 at home, 3 on the road, the CBJ MUST WIN a bare minimum of 2 more games to reach the 90 point benchmark that has been the usual cut-off in previous seasons.

I think it goes without being said that Tuesday’s game vs. the Predators will be huge as the Preds look to take over 6th place from the slumping Jackets. Thankfully the CBJ are still 4 points clear of 9th place Anaheim, but let’s not look any farther than Tuesday vs. Nashville and reaching 88 points NOW.

Since this is the midpoint of the back-to-back series this will be a little less than the normal amount of effort (which is probably none).

The Jackets pretty much decided not to show up until the 3rd period after this hit by TJ Oshie on Rick Nash.

No elbows involved, but it could be argued that Oshie charged Nash from the second he stepped out of the penalty box.

After that Juice decided to make things look easy drawing the Jackets within 1 goal. Soon after Rick Nash “counted the cash” to tie it up.

http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?hlp=8470041&event=STL425

Jump if you want to see it, until I figure out how to embed NHL.com videos.

Anyway, the Jackets held on to force OT then a Shootout in which the Jackets lost 2-1 in 4 rounds.

This game was pretty whatever. The Jackets needed a boost early to win this one, but didnt get it, hopefully the home crowd will be enough tonight to ignite the team.

Lots of stuff happening in the last few days around Columbus. There’s definitely a sense that Blue Jackets fever is ramping up with the increased news coverage and articles/stories on national media sites and television shows.

First the most important:

“It’s pretty neat,” Salmons said. “The curtain window (in the living room) was open and I saw Manny and Jason coming to the door. It really caught me off guard. But what really surprised me was to see Scotty (Howson). He presented me with the contract. It’s really amazing.”

That’s an excerpt from the The Dispatch’s story on Ryan Salmons a 19 year old dealing with terminal cancer. The Blue Jackets signed Ryan to a 1-day contract and was paid a visit by Malhotra, Chimera, and GM Scott Howson. Puck-rakers had this to add:

Chimera says that Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson was awesome during the “contract offer” to Ryan, that Howson went methodically through the contract, page by page, the way he would any potential player. The GM told Ryan he hadn’t seen him play, but that he heard a lot of good things from his scouts.

Howson said his contract would include two tickets to the first playoff game, if the Blue Jackets qualify. Ryan’s father, Brad, sat in amazement as Howson went over the entire deal, making his son feel special.

“This is the general manager of a major professional sports team,” Brad said. “Who would take that kind of time?”

Absolutely amazing people are running the Blue Jackets organization. Between Mr. Mac and now Howson and Hitch, the Columbus Blue Jackets are an outstanding example of class and dignity for all professional sports.

Here’s the video from ESPN’s First Take: http://bluejackets.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=705&id=37893

Probably already heard about this, but Blue Jackets Rookie Phenom was the victim of death threats during Thursday night’s CBJ vs. Calgary game. This dude was arrested later that night:

Epic

Since the Dispatch’s website is down right now, Puck-daddy gets linked instead…

(Almost done) This little tidbit looking forward to the 2010 Olympics next year in Vancouver:

I think Umberger is going to be on the American team in Vancouver, as part of a pretty strong forward corps that includes Zach Parise, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler and Dustin Brown.

Ask yourself who team GM Brian Burke would select instead of Umberger. Jason Blake? George Parros? Dan LaCouture? I don’t think so, definitely not, and hell no. Umberger is in.

Nice to see a non-Canadian Blue Jacket getting some love.

-The Hockey News

Last but not least, Puck Daddy sizes up the Western conference race and doesn’t really consider the Jackets on the bubble anymore… he must be drinking the Aaron Portzline kool-aid.

It feels like the Jackets have not played in Nationwide Arena for over a month, but tonight brings the 4th and final regular season match-up with my least favorite non-central division team. The Flames have worn on me hard ever since last season’s “golfing incident”, then this year’s blow to the head of RJ Umberger in the 2nd game of the season series, this is certainly a team the Blue Jackets seem to be developing some bit of a rivalry with.

There is one thing I like about the Flames.. [thanks to The Pensblog]

Actually this is the only thing I like about the Flames. The Sea of Red during the playoffs… simply awesome.

Oh yeah, the game, anyways… if the CBJ expect to play like they did the last two games and have a chance against the Flames, they are smoking something. Calgary has better special teams and scores more goals, simply put. It should be noted that the Flames have (pardon the pun) cooled off as of late, especially on the defensive end.

Last night the Flames looked lethal but ran up against an outstanding defensive effort from the Pittsburgh Penguins. It will take just that for the Blue Jackets to stand a chance tonight, especially a BIG effort from the Penalty Killers who have struggled as of late. The Flames are going to be pissed after a shutout in such a good road effort.

CARRY THE FLAG