Blue Jackets: 4 ... Predators: 5
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
CRAAAWWWLLLIING IIIIN MY SKIIIIIIN!
THESE WOOOOUNDS THEY DOOOOOO NOT HEEEAAAAALLLLL~!
Sorry, Drew. I just had to after tonight's game, even though you told me not to bring back any Linkin Park to C-Bus. Any Blue Jackets' fan who isn't totally emo after coming back and taking the lead twice, only to blow it all twice -- the last time with about 8 minutes to go -- has most likely totally numbed themselves.
(Sidenote: Oh God! I can't stop laughing the moment they bust out in that trademark chorus! It's like no matter how hard I try to keep a straight face, I keel over in stitches. At least I feel better now.)
What to say, what to say. Jeez, I don't even know where to begin. I feel like my head is in a vice and a blender at the exact same time. Don't ask about the physics behind such a thing, as you'll just get a vacant stare if I had to explain how this feels or if that is even possible.
What did I say in my last post? That the offense was pathetic yet the defense had been pretty damn good and the goaltending was around the average/above average end of things? You know, maybe I should say both things suck, and see if that results in a 7-0 thrashing of the Avalanche this Thursday, right?
Yeah, wishful thinking. Anyway.
I guess there's really just a few things I can say about all of this, when it comes down to it. First? Don't call for Gary Agnew's head, CBJ fans. He had all of one practice and one day to pull a totally lost and disheveled team together after Gallant was dropped off the edge of a cliff by the ownership, and MacLean. In all honesty, who here thought Agnew would be able to will this team to a win? Come on, be honest. At that, who thought he could do something to make the offense actually spark itself?
I still don't think Agnew is the best guy for a head coach position. And I probably won't have enough time to decide for myself if he is the guy for it, or if we want to go with the flow of media speculation which states Hitchcock is the top candidate. I do hope Agnew continues to stay on as the head of the power play, if only because except for the recent few games, it has been good and shown solid effort, as I mentioned in the last entry and pointing out the current ranking in that department the CBJ have.
Besides coaching, how about Rick Nash, right? Two goals and an assist, after being largely lethargic, frustrated, and unable to do much of anything for the past month. He really got down and dirty tonight, doing all he could to get in people's faces and slam that puck right in to the net when he had the opportunity. That is the Rick Nash we want to see here in Columbus; someone who isn't afraid to bang around and use that big body to send people to the wayside.
But ... what's happened to Pascal Leclaire lately? It's actually really frustrating and upsetting to see him struggle the way he has been lately. Earlier in the season, many people -- including myself -- were quick to defend Pazzy, as a lot of times the defense left him hanging in so many ways. Even though the defense has been better on paper and statistically as of the past few games, they still let him down at several times, including odd man rushes and a shorthanded goal. But those issues aside, he struggled tonight. And he has been struggling for a little while now. Maybe he is just trying way too hard? I know if I was in his position I'd feel that way, since the team in front of him has had all sorts of trouble giving him goal support, among other things. And tonight when they finally give him that support, he just isn't on his game. It's very frustrating, and really makes you get angry.
In a manner of speaking, while one part of the Blue Jackets 'body' wants to go to the right, the other wants to go to the left. If the defense is working hard, the offense slacks ... and vice versa at other times.
Back to the old drawing board before Thursday rolls around, I guess. Let's see just how long Agnew has to run this team before he's chased back to assistant coach (or worse) if the team doesn't win on the 17th.
Labels: Blue Jackets, post-game, Predators
