CoyotOWNED!
Sigh.
But I shouldn't be so morose! I should be happy! The Blue Jackets finally beat a team that isn't in the playoff hunt for the first time since January 16th, when they managed to take down the Blackhawks in overtime on VERSUS ... since then, they had gone 0-6-1 against teams equal to, only slightly better then, or worse than them. Talk about your miserable droughts of miserably misery. In that same span, the Jackets proceeded to go 8-3-2 against teams that are in the playoff hunt or currently holding down a spot. I mean, wow ... that's insanity off the charts. That's just plain inconceivable, in the words of one favorite character from The Princess Bride.
Because in the grand scheme of things ... and I hate to rain on the parade of last night's hard-fought win against the Coyotes, if the Jackets had won just five of those games? They'd be 2 games under .500, and 9 points out of the playoff picture. Not that I would have expected them to make the playoffs even if they were within that distance of the 8th spot, but it puts some serious perspective on what could have been if the team hadn't thrown all these games against equally awful teams.
... I'm sad now. :-(
Ah well. Let's give a round of applause to Brian Boucher, who notched his first win since he, in an ironic twist, shut out the Jackets in November 1-0, and by affiliation sent Gerard Gallant on a one-way trip to the press box, where he now comfortably sits alongside Doug MacLean and 'scouts' the team. Although Boucher showed some real shakiness at times -- in particular when he flubbed on an only slightly screened shot from the blue line during a Jackets' penalty kill -- he managed to keep the ship steady for the most part. By the way, props on the "red tape" mask. I wouldn't be against him keeping that instead of re-painting the thing, if he decides to during a possibly short stint with the team until the end of the season.
Besides goaltending, it looks like we've finally found a bit of chemistry between some players. With Alexander Svitov out with what is apparently a mild concussion, feisty yet spritely Geoff Platt was nudged right up to the top line between Rick Nash and David Vyborny, starting with the game against Dallas on Friday. The results have been near-immediate, with Nash grabbing two goals in the 'Yotes game while Platt and Vyborny got assists on both goals. Prior to that, the line showed some energetic promise against the Stars, even though they came up empty.
Meanwhile, Manny Malhotra and Jason Chimera are once again clicking with one another, with Gilbert Brule thrown in as well. Brule now has two assists in two games, and both Manny and Chimmer have a goal and an assist in the same span. Also, Fredrik Modin has 5 points in 5 games, starting around just prior to the official public announcement of his re-signing. As long as Modin doesn't just pack it in now that the season's a wash and he has his money, he's O.K. in my book. But he needs to continue to prove that he's worth every penny he's now been signed to for the next three years.
On one final note of interest, there was an interesting note made in a recent article in the Edmonton Sun, where Bruce Garrioch muses aloud (thanks for posting that on your blog, Paul!) about the possibility of former Philadelphia Flyer's GM Bob Clarke coming to Columbus next season in the event that the trigger is pulled on the gun pointed at GMDM.
It's a little early to be making any judgments about such an out-of-left field comment, but maybe if more talk comes up about it in the near future, I might have to take some time to weigh and pros and cons of Mr. Clarke bringing his style of general management to the Blue Jackets, and whether it'd be a smart idea or not.
Before I go, I want to let everyone know that I should have an update to my NHL Draft post up sometime within the next ... 30 hours, I'd say. So stay tuned, as I'd like to continue laying things out and giving better information.
Labels: Blue Jackets, Coyotes, post-game, ranting
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At 3:01 PM,
Miss. Scarlett said…
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At 3:47 PM,
said…
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At 1:25 PM,
said…
Columbus has almost Canada-level Tim Hortons penetration, but it doen't taste quite the same. Honestly, I think they make the stuff in Canada, freeze it, and ship it here.
Interesting fact: the coffee cup sizes here are all one up from the Canadian sizes. The Medium here = Canadian large, etc. If you look at the lid, they use the same lids as in Canada, so it will be marked a size up. Took me awhile to get the hang of that when I first moved back...kept ordering my usual large coffee and getting the bladder-buster Canadian XL.
At least none of the Columbus Tim Hortons are anywhere near as scary as the biker hangout one around the corner from my place in Kingston -- although some woman here did supposedly get poop in a box of Timbits from the one down the street from my office (Dublin Rd) :( -
At 4:13 PM,
Miss. Scarlett said…
"I think they make the stuff in Canada, freeze it, and ship it here."
From a Timmy's insider, apparently that's how they make ALL their coffee ;D. Actually, that's how they make their soup.
Actually I think in Canada the medium and large lids are both the same anyways....could be wrong.
I've never tasted American Timmy's but I guess Canadian magic costs extra ;D.
Tim Horton's IS awesome. I think they have some in some of the American border cities.
Actually, it's pretty hit and miss with Timmy's. If you go to a good place their coffee is ridiculously awesome [for a decent price too] but get them on an off-day and their coffee tastes like crap.