And on it goes. The Jackets continue to try to find consistency, but have struggled game-to-game. The Predators are coming into Columbus after losing 3 straight and look to make things right against the 14th place Jackets.
7:00PM EST, Fox Sports Fail-hio, High Definition
In 4 games this season the Blue Jackets are win-less against the Nashville Predators, but have been able to keep it close and gain points in 3 of those losses.
Throughout the season, it has become clear that the Blue Jackets just aren’t the same team they were last year. This isn’t some overnight realization, but its time to take a step back, and look at what was done last year and what’s being done now. Simply put, the same guys who came up big last year, have not been reliable in 2009-10. This has caused major strife for the team, management, and coaches. It should be obvious to most by now, that barring something catastrophic, Hitchcock will not be fired this season. Why pull the trigger on the Head Coach when the Calder Trophy winner has flat-out sucked it up? In all honesty, Hitch would’ve been fired last year if Mason had been this average, and it wouldn’t have helped his cause that the Jackets would have had no chance at the playoffs without Mason’s surprise season.
In just over a month, the NHL trade deadline will be here, and there may be some tough goodbyes for the fans and players. Players like Raffi Torres, Fredrik Modin, Milan Jurcina, and Jared Boll could all fetch something in return, and at least one of those 4 will surely be wearing a different sweater after March 3rd. Now is the time to enjoy watching them play for our team and cheer them on, because regardless where they end up, you root for the team, not the player. Sure you can hold a special place for them, but Columbus comes first, and should always.
Previews for tonight:
And finally, I was fortunate enough to have my opinion published in The Dispatch today. Check out the article titled “Jackets’ home games test fan support“
CARRY THE FLAG!!!!
