The Jacketsblog: An Unofficial Columbus Blue Jackets Blog

NSH 2 – CBJ 3

When the Blue Jackets power play looked futile through two attempts last night, there was little hope that we’d see something different on the 3rd power play of the evening. Even more disconcerting up to this point was the lack of shots that the CBJ had generated on Pekka Rinne. In the limited action Rinne had seen it looked to me that he was just not feeling the puck well.

Luckily the Jackets were able to get it going last night thanks to the power play, the positive momentum generated on the 3rd power play lead to a great re-direct of a Milan Jurcina point shot by Derick Brassard. The Blue Jackets were able to carry the momentum into the 3rd period where 8 minutes in, when Juice cashed in on the CBJ’s 4th power play of the night. 39 seconds later, Freddy Modin took advantage of a mishandled puck and rammed home the Blue Jackets 3rd goal of the evening with just over 11 minutes remaining.

We all knew what could happen in the time that remained, and sure enough Nashville stormed back. As long as I can remember following the Blue Jackets, two things have never changed about the Predators, Barry Trotz and resiliency like a lawn weed. Thankfully the Jackets and Steve Mason were able to ride out the storm and came away with a 3-2 victory in the end.

A couple thoughts about last night:

-Raffi Torres was fairly invisible. He registered only 2 shots and didn’t have a single hit.

-Jake Voracek is not completely up to speed. Granted Jake did not play much (10:27), but he was unable to register a SOG, and just didn’t look “with it”.

-Interesting to see that 9 different players registered a point in the win.

-The only skater on the ice for both Nashville goals? You guessed it, Fedor Tyutin

-Steve Mason was solid stopping 29 of 31 shots and will now look to win back-to-back starts for the first time since October on Thursday against the Kings

That’s it, Go Jackets!

It would be a good start for the Blue Jackets if they can avoid giving up the first goal, let alone doing so in the first 2:29 tonight in Minnesota.

9:00pm EST, Fox Sports Ohio, Standard Definition

In case you missed it on Thursday night, Fox Sports Ohio proved how much they care about the hometown team:

Yeahhh… that on top of cutting away from a fight… unfortunately we have no other way to watch the Blue Jackets, but this low-level of coverage cannot continue.

The Jackets are walking into a dangerous game. The Wild have lost 4 straight games, including a valiant effort Thursday night in a comeback against the Red Wings that fell short in the shootout.

When it comes to playoff hopes, the Jackets’ are nearly evaporated:

The cut-off sits right around 95-97 points, which for the CBJ to reach would need a herculean effort at this point.

Match-ups against the Wild through the years have been relatively “boring” defense-heavy games but interestingly enough Goaltender Steve Mason is 0-1-1 in two starts in Minnesota posting a 1.93 GAA. Seems to me, if Mason can continue earning back his playing time, and the offense can continue to manufacture goals one way or another, the Jackets could be in good shape.

The Jackets MUST survive the opening period being tied or only down one goal if they to have a chance to win. We all know they can do it… question is, will they?

GO JACKETS!!!!

TEAM COCO!

CBJ 3 – PHI 5

No surprises last night in Philadelphia. The Blue Jackets gave up a goal in the opening 2:29 for the 5th straight game (remarkable that they’ve won games in that span), showed some fight, but withered in the end.

A night after having arguably his best night of the season, Center Derick Brassard (6-16-22, -14) won only 33% of his face-offs and took two obstruction penalties, one of which led to a Flyers goal in the waning moments of the 2nd period.

It was a bizarre game, not hard-bizarre as Hitch likes to say sometimes, but weird in many ways. I’m going to try to offer various thoughts, one bizarre, one not bizarre:

Bizarre: Mathieu Roy in a fight – Not Bizarre: Marc Methot returning to spectacular levels of suck after his injury absence

Bizarre: Giving up goals to 2 different goons (Asham/Carcillo) – Not Bizarre: Giving up 5 or more goals

Bizarre: Dorsett and Boll not agitating the crap out of the opposition – Not Bizarre: RJ Umberger and Rick Nash carrying the team

Bizarre: Jan Hejda posting a -3 – Not Bizarre: Marc Methot posting a -3

Bizarre: Throwing hats on the ice for the opposition – Not Bizarre: Honoring a former player beloved by fans

Overall the Blue Jackets had a less than stellar night, but the story of the night was had to be the play of RJ Umberger who carried the Jackets about as far as he could. In the 3rd period when it looked as if Umberger had scored his 3rd goal of the night, the Flyer faithful threw their newly acquired hats in what was a classy salute to the former Flyer. A couple links about the gesture and about Umberger’s time in Philadelphia:

Fans Show Appreciation for Umberger

Umberger – A Young Player Who Got It

A bit of other news about the CBJ:

A look at Man-Games Lost by Mirtle – The Jackets are 11th

West Side gets Casino nod – Possibly not going to be a part of the Arena District, time will tell.

Restoring the Rosters – A look at an “all-time” best players drafted at Forward, Defense and in Goal.

STL 2 – CBJ 4

Yes they did. No way. No really, they won. I still don’t believe you.

The Blue Jackets pulled out of the slump and won their 19th game of the season last night. Spurred on my winger Raffi Torres’ two-goal night and goals from Chris Clark and Rick Nash, the Jackets stood tall and defended the home turf.

After giving up a goal barely a minute into the game to Blues forward Paul Kariya, it seemed as if we all faced “another night at Nationwide”, but two straight goals by Raffi Torres sent the Blue Jackets into the locker room with the lead and momentum after the first period.

The second period saw a surge by the Blues, but the Jackets would have nothing to do with it. Keith Tkachuk drew St. Louis even at 2 a piece, but Rick Nash seized the lead on the power play for the boys in Blue make the Columbus lead 3-2, and they would not relinquish.

During the last period Chris Clark notched his first goal as a Blue Jacket and that would be all the insurance necessary. There were a couple negatives during the 3rd period however. One major issue was the power play… or lack thereof. In two opportunities on the man-advantage the Blue Jackets registered 1 shot. To me the game began to reek of yet another blown 3rd period lead, but thankfully the Blues did not garner the expected momentum from successfully dominating the CBJ’s power play. Another bit of disappointment came from Ken Hitchcock not putting Raffi Torres back on the ice to try to earn the hat trick. His explanation from Puck-rakers:

“I was trying to get the damn puck out of our own end,” Hitchcock said. “We’ve had some bizarre-ness happen to us all year. I got blasted by the players and the coaches, and now the fans – and now the media. So, I’m batting a thousand.”

Amusing if nothing else, but disappointing to not see Raffi earn the ‘trick.

A couple quick thoughts:

• RJ Umberger is on the verge of having some big scoring nights. He was very close on 4 or 5 occasions last night but just seemed a slight bit off.
• Jake Voracek needs to simplify his game and get out of his slump. It seems to me he is just trying too hard and gripping the stick too tight to be productive.
• Derick Brassard broke out of a bit of a slump and had an outstanding game all around.
• Derek Dorsett played his first game with an alternate captain’s “A” on the jersey. He was a force everywhere on the ice when given the chance. A huge congratulations is deserved for one of the hardest working players on the team.