CoyotOWNED!
Sunday, March 04, 2007
So I'm talking with my best friend's ex-girlfriend as I type this, just to see how she's doing. She recently moved to Canada, and she's going on and on with the giddiness of a schoolgirl about how hockey is so accessible there, and how now even she's getting in to hockey thanks to that. Additionally, apparently Tim Horton's is the Dunkin' Donuts of the North, except better ... by a mile.
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.
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
Game #66: Blue Jackets at Coyotes
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Team: Columbus Blue JacketsRecord: 25-33-7
On the road: 11-18-3
Last 10: 3-5-2
Bloggers and local media:
Death Cab for Woody
End of the Bench
The Jacket Times
New goaltender brings storied past - Columbus Dispatch (Portzline)
Synopsis:
So ... we won a shootout? Color me impressed.
I'm also impressed with Hitchcock sticking with his claim that he would put in the top players from the shootout drill during the practice prior to the game against Dallas. Or rather, maybe "impressed" isn't the right word ... or more specifically, I'm impressed with Hitch sticking to his guns. Either way, when you have Jason Chimera as one of the shooters, there's no way you're going to lose, right? Though Chimera has only taken part in the shootout twice in the past two seasons combined, my one lasting image of Chimmer in the shootout is from last year, where he deked the pants out of an Edmonton goalie with a move similar to what he did last night against Marty Turco. Kick the skate up, feign the shot, slide to the side and snap it through a sprawling goalie.
Just as impressive was the totally unexpected hero of the shootout, Fredrik Norrena. I've hardly been sparing when it comes to criticism of Norrena in the shootout, so I had no optimism or glimmer of a silver lining as the shootout began. But Norrena definitely earned two thumbs up as he stopped all three shots against him, especially the last one against deadly shootout specialist Jussi Jokinen.
For all intents and purposes, Jokinen had Norrena beat ... it looked like he would be easily sliding the puck past Norrena on his left side as he skated to Norrena's right. Norrena, however, immediately extended his goalie stick, and although he missed the poke-check of the puck itself, he had enough power in that poke to weaken Jokinen's attempted nudge of the puck to the net, and as a result the puck sailed wide.
So now the Jackets are at 57 points on the season, and they're facing the team they're tied with in the standings tonight. Norrena, who earned himself a rest, will be on the bench as newly acquired Brian Boucher takes on one of his former teams. Some of you might recall Boucher's five-game plus shutout streak, a modern NHL record, in the 03-04 season. After that, though, Boucher's career began to slowly circle down the drain. When the lockout ended, Boucher posted one of the most abysmal GAA's I've ever seen in just 14 games of the 05-06 season (3.97 in Phoenix with 11 games, and a 4.94 when with Calgary later that year for 3 games).
Boucher's one win this year? As recounted in the above linked Dispatch article ... it was against the Jackets, and a shutout, which ended up being the icing on the cake that would result in Gerard Gallant's canning. It's a small world, after all.
Adam Foote was injured in last night's game and looks to be out for at least a week or two, so it looks like either Aaron Johnson or Bryan Berard (who, having not been picked up by waivers before the deadline, is now traveling with the team) will be taking his spot. Berard, regardless of what happens in the final games, is gone with the wind at the end of the season ... so, in all honesty, it's probably best if Johnson gets the nod, so he gets both more experience and a chance to make up for lost time, after being scratched during much of Berard's return to make room for him.
Current Syracuse roster call-ups with the team? Geoff Platt, Zenon Konopka, Adam Pineault, Marc Methot, and Curtiss Glencross. Pineault did not end up playing last night, but you never know ... maybe he'll get a shot tonight. Although Platt has played with a lot of energy and Konopka certainly brings the hits, maybe one of them will be given a seat in one of the suites tonight so Pineault gets a shot. Might as well make the trip with the team worthwhile for the guy, right?
On the road: 11-18-3
Last 10: 3-5-2
Bloggers and local media:
Death Cab for Woody
End of the Bench
The Jacket Times
New goaltender brings storied past - Columbus Dispatch (Portzline)
Synopsis:
So ... we won a shootout? Color me impressed.
I'm also impressed with Hitchcock sticking with his claim that he would put in the top players from the shootout drill during the practice prior to the game against Dallas. Or rather, maybe "impressed" isn't the right word ... or more specifically, I'm impressed with Hitch sticking to his guns. Either way, when you have Jason Chimera as one of the shooters, there's no way you're going to lose, right? Though Chimera has only taken part in the shootout twice in the past two seasons combined, my one lasting image of Chimmer in the shootout is from last year, where he deked the pants out of an Edmonton goalie with a move similar to what he did last night against Marty Turco. Kick the skate up, feign the shot, slide to the side and snap it through a sprawling goalie.
Just as impressive was the totally unexpected hero of the shootout, Fredrik Norrena. I've hardly been sparing when it comes to criticism of Norrena in the shootout, so I had no optimism or glimmer of a silver lining as the shootout began. But Norrena definitely earned two thumbs up as he stopped all three shots against him, especially the last one against deadly shootout specialist Jussi Jokinen.
For all intents and purposes, Jokinen had Norrena beat ... it looked like he would be easily sliding the puck past Norrena on his left side as he skated to Norrena's right. Norrena, however, immediately extended his goalie stick, and although he missed the poke-check of the puck itself, he had enough power in that poke to weaken Jokinen's attempted nudge of the puck to the net, and as a result the puck sailed wide.
So now the Jackets are at 57 points on the season, and they're facing the team they're tied with in the standings tonight. Norrena, who earned himself a rest, will be on the bench as newly acquired Brian Boucher takes on one of his former teams. Some of you might recall Boucher's five-game plus shutout streak, a modern NHL record, in the 03-04 season. After that, though, Boucher's career began to slowly circle down the drain. When the lockout ended, Boucher posted one of the most abysmal GAA's I've ever seen in just 14 games of the 05-06 season (3.97 in Phoenix with 11 games, and a 4.94 when with Calgary later that year for 3 games).
Boucher's one win this year? As recounted in the above linked Dispatch article ... it was against the Jackets, and a shutout, which ended up being the icing on the cake that would result in Gerard Gallant's canning. It's a small world, after all.
Adam Foote was injured in last night's game and looks to be out for at least a week or two, so it looks like either Aaron Johnson or Bryan Berard (who, having not been picked up by waivers before the deadline, is now traveling with the team) will be taking his spot. Berard, regardless of what happens in the final games, is gone with the wind at the end of the season ... so, in all honesty, it's probably best if Johnson gets the nod, so he gets both more experience and a chance to make up for lost time, after being scratched during much of Berard's return to make room for him.
Current Syracuse roster call-ups with the team? Geoff Platt, Zenon Konopka, Adam Pineault, Marc Methot, and Curtiss Glencross. Pineault did not end up playing last night, but you never know ... maybe he'll get a shot tonight. Although Platt has played with a lot of energy and Konopka certainly brings the hits, maybe one of them will be given a seat in one of the suites tonight so Pineault gets a shot. Might as well make the trip with the team worthwhile for the guy, right?
Team: Phoenix CoyotesRecord: 27-34-3
At home: 14-13-2
Last 10: 2-7-1
Bloggers and local media:
Coyote's Corner
One Fan's Perspective
Thomas scores twice, but Coyotes fall - East Valley Tribune
Synopsis:
While I'm sure the Coyotes had a bit of fun adding on to the utter gloomfest in Edmonton after Ryan Smyth's trade to the Islanders earlier this week when they slapped the Oilers with a 3-0 shutout win, that's about all this team has had to be happy with as of late. With the exception of that win and an overtime win against the Flames on the 22nd of February, they've won no other games in their last 10. Prior to that? ... they shut out the Jackets in Nationwide, resulting in one of the bigger implosions of anger and frustration from the fanbase, considering how bad a of a night that game already was due to the blizzard weather, the half hour delay, and so on. I still remember how painful it was watching that, then trying to get home afterwards.
In their last 10 games, the 'Yotes have tallied just a smidgeon over 2 goals per game, and there's an even worse average when you go further back. The team recently unloaded enforcer Georges Laraque, and scoring forwards Yanic Perrault and Oleg Saprykin. In return, the team got a couple of 2008 picks in the second round, as well as an eighth round pick for this draft. Lastly, they got defenseman Brendan Bell, and forward agitator Daniel Carcillo. Neither player has played for the Coyotes so far.
The Jackets need to win this game to at least split the series this season. Though actually, it'd be more in the Jackets' favor, since one of their two losses was in the shootout. Nothin' says "In your face!" like splitting a series but still coming out on top when it comes to standing points, right?
In their last 10 games, the 'Yotes have tallied just a smidgeon over 2 goals per game, and there's an even worse average when you go further back. The team recently unloaded enforcer Georges Laraque, and scoring forwards Yanic Perrault and Oleg Saprykin. In return, the team got a couple of 2008 picks in the second round, as well as an eighth round pick for this draft. Lastly, they got defenseman Brendan Bell, and forward agitator Daniel Carcillo. Neither player has played for the Coyotes so far.
The Jackets need to win this game to at least split the series this season. Though actually, it'd be more in the Jackets' favor, since one of their two losses was in the shootout. Nothin' says "In your face!" like splitting a series but still coming out on top when it comes to standing points, right?
Labels: Blue Jackets, Coyotes, pre-game
Harsh realities; harsher comments.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
If Ken Hitchcock doesn't know what is wrong with this team, then don't expect me to do much better when trying to come up with any sort of logical conclusions, either. After watching the Blue Jackets get felled by the Coyotes as easily as taking the trash out to the curb, I feel stunned. Crestfallen, even. Once again the Jackets are at the bottom of the Central Division, and I really can't begin to fathom what the team should do next.
One thing that seemed surprising to me was not something that happened during the game, but what I read in today's edition of The Columbus Dispatch, when in the post-game article by Michael Arace, Hitchcock is asked if there might be something more to what's going on; something involving the team personnel.
Hitchcock was quick to dance around the question, and understandably so. While most fans in Columbus consider Hitch to be the team's savior -- if not now, then in the near future -- that doesn't mean that he won't get ousted by an angered Doug MacLean if he steps too far out of line. Keep in mind that MacLean, within the past year, has treated himself to a contract extension that adds an additional three years.
Maybe I'm reading too much in to the question, though; perhaps the question pertaining to team personnel related more to the Assistant Coaches, who I have not been merciful with as of late due to the horrid penalty kill (which actually managed to go 5-for-5 on the night) and the discombobulated power play, which since the game in Calgary has begun to creep itself right back in to the "suck" level.
Back on the topic of MacLean, however, I am mildly perturbed by the inactivity by the McConnell clan when dealing with his apparent inability to properly manage this team. The team has now been playing for just shy of six whole seasons, and has yet to even make it anywhere near the bubble of the playoffs. To put this in to perspective, consider the condition of the other three most recent expansion teams (Thrashers, Wild, and Predators).
The Predators will be making their third appearance in the Playoffs this year, and could even vie for the Presidents' Trophy for the best record in the league this season. The Wild have a "Cinderella Run" to their name from the 2002-2003 season when they made the Conference Finals, have at least stayed within the playoff hunt the past two seasons, and currently are hanging on to the 8th spot tooth and nail this season. Lastly, the Thrashers are going to make the playoffs this year no matter what it seems, as they hit the ground running at the start of the season and have managed to take advantage of that early momentum to stay ahead of a gruesomely rough Southeast Division. Don't forget their near-miss with the playoffs last season as well, which would have been in the bag had Kari Lehtonen managed to stay healthy and the team didn't have to rotate more goalies than a pickup game at the Chiller Easton.
These other three teams have held on to their General Managers from the very beginning as well, but they all at least have something to show for it. Each GM has managed to do at least one great thing with the players and the personnel they brought in, ranging from Presidents' Trophy runs to top division seeding to magic Conference Finals runs.
That leaves us with the Blue Jackets, who are now seven games below .500, 15 points out of the last playoff spot with just 28 games to go. Minnesota isn't going to stay at 62 points forever, and due to the fact that the 8th seed to the 10th seed are all in the Northwest Division, there is always going to be the sober reality that either Edmonton or Colorado will just push that minimal point requirement higher if Minnesota can't cut muster. If there was ever a time to hate the unbalanced schedule and its continuation next season, now would be the time.
Think about it this way, folks; once the Thrashers make the playoffs this season, there will be only one team in each of the big four American sports leagues that has never made the playoffs in their histories. Do you know who the other three teams are?
Major League Baseball: Tampa Bay Devil Rays (est. 1998)
National Football League: Houston Texans (ext. 2002)
National Basketball Association: Charlotte Bobcats (est. 2004)
Charlotte and Houston are no more than three and five years old respectively, so they at least get a pass. But let me ask you, fans of the Blue Jackets:
How does it feel to be considered the Tampa Bay Devil Rays of hockey?
Let that sink in a little bit.
One thing that seemed surprising to me was not something that happened during the game, but what I read in today's edition of The Columbus Dispatch, when in the post-game article by Michael Arace, Hitchcock is asked if there might be something more to what's going on; something involving the team personnel.
Hitchcock was quick to dance around the question, and understandably so. While most fans in Columbus consider Hitch to be the team's savior -- if not now, then in the near future -- that doesn't mean that he won't get ousted by an angered Doug MacLean if he steps too far out of line. Keep in mind that MacLean, within the past year, has treated himself to a contract extension that adds an additional three years.
Maybe I'm reading too much in to the question, though; perhaps the question pertaining to team personnel related more to the Assistant Coaches, who I have not been merciful with as of late due to the horrid penalty kill (which actually managed to go 5-for-5 on the night) and the discombobulated power play, which since the game in Calgary has begun to creep itself right back in to the "suck" level.
Back on the topic of MacLean, however, I am mildly perturbed by the inactivity by the McConnell clan when dealing with his apparent inability to properly manage this team. The team has now been playing for just shy of six whole seasons, and has yet to even make it anywhere near the bubble of the playoffs. To put this in to perspective, consider the condition of the other three most recent expansion teams (Thrashers, Wild, and Predators).
The Predators will be making their third appearance in the Playoffs this year, and could even vie for the Presidents' Trophy for the best record in the league this season. The Wild have a "Cinderella Run" to their name from the 2002-2003 season when they made the Conference Finals, have at least stayed within the playoff hunt the past two seasons, and currently are hanging on to the 8th spot tooth and nail this season. Lastly, the Thrashers are going to make the playoffs this year no matter what it seems, as they hit the ground running at the start of the season and have managed to take advantage of that early momentum to stay ahead of a gruesomely rough Southeast Division. Don't forget their near-miss with the playoffs last season as well, which would have been in the bag had Kari Lehtonen managed to stay healthy and the team didn't have to rotate more goalies than a pickup game at the Chiller Easton.
These other three teams have held on to their General Managers from the very beginning as well, but they all at least have something to show for it. Each GM has managed to do at least one great thing with the players and the personnel they brought in, ranging from Presidents' Trophy runs to top division seeding to magic Conference Finals runs.
That leaves us with the Blue Jackets, who are now seven games below .500, 15 points out of the last playoff spot with just 28 games to go. Minnesota isn't going to stay at 62 points forever, and due to the fact that the 8th seed to the 10th seed are all in the Northwest Division, there is always going to be the sober reality that either Edmonton or Colorado will just push that minimal point requirement higher if Minnesota can't cut muster. If there was ever a time to hate the unbalanced schedule and its continuation next season, now would be the time.
Think about it this way, folks; once the Thrashers make the playoffs this season, there will be only one team in each of the big four American sports leagues that has never made the playoffs in their histories. Do you know who the other three teams are?
Major League Baseball: Tampa Bay Devil Rays (est. 1998)
National Football League: Houston Texans (ext. 2002)
National Basketball Association: Charlotte Bobcats (est. 2004)
Charlotte and Houston are no more than three and five years old respectively, so they at least get a pass. But let me ask you, fans of the Blue Jackets:
How does it feel to be considered the Tampa Bay Devil Rays of hockey?
Let that sink in a little bit.
Labels: Blue Jackets, Coyotes, post-game
I hab teh sniffels.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
No pre-game for tonight's Columbus v. Phoenix tilt. It feels like the Nationwide Insurance building fell over right on top of my head.
Still working tonight's game, however. I'll do my best to coherently watch what I can of the game and return with something of value!
Still working tonight's game, however. I'll do my best to coherently watch what I can of the game and return with something of value!
Labels: Blue Jackets, Coyotes, pre-game
Phoenix Coyotes: Super Geniuses.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Oh, yeah? Well, Jeremy Roenick's mother sucks eggs! Yeah! How about that, Phoenix!?
Here's what we learned tonight:
-The Blue Jackets are having some pretty disgusting struggles with penalty issues. I chalk part of that up to having Don frickin' Koharsky for four consecutive games as the referee, but the other part is that the Jackets have been extremely undisciplined at times. It's hard to really tell how things will go on a game by game basis in the penalty department, as the team has sort of flip flopped from responsible to brash at times. Remember that even though they drubbed Ottawa 6-2 on Sunday, they also gave up seven power play opportunities. So this has actually been a nagging issue, only hidden by amazing penalty kill. Tonight, with a vulnerable penalty kill, this became very apparent.
-Fredrik Norrena, no matter how awesome he has been and how much we owe the amazing Finn, is still mortal. While two goals did indeed come on the power play, two other goals showed that Freddy was out of his comfort zone for much of this game. He seemed to start picking it up in the tail end of the third period, but soon after that it was too late, and the game became nothing but a crap shoot in the shootout.
-Rimer and Gare were absolutely right about one thing during the FSN Ohio telecast: the Phoenix Coyotes' "run and gun" game plan is what the team had to worry about, and as a result they got burned; and badly. Throughout overtime and the tail end of the second period, the CBJ did manage to pump up the volume and fire right back, but you can't always beat fire with fire.
-DON [EXPLETIVE] KOHARSKY!!
-Tellqvist might be nothing more than Maple Leafs' droppings, but he became big money from the end of the third period all the way through overtime, and into the shootout. I'm going to have nightmares about that save on Svitov(?) he made in overtime, despite the slick spin-o-rama.
Either way, a loss was invevitable sooner or later. I refuse to be some "THE SKY IS FALLING!" doomsayer over one loss, but this will bring up some good questions: how will the team handle a loss after such a strong winning streak? What will Ken Hitchcock do in response to this? Can the power play, which was on fire at the start of the weekend against a distraught Ottawa team, be salvaged?
Take solace in the fact that this was an overtime loss, Blue Jackets fans, meaning we still get a point. Also take solace in the fact that the team a step above us in the Central division standings, the Blackhawks, lost tonight to the Red Wings.
Lastly? Take solace in the fact that Rick Nash really does look like he's coming around, along with David Vyborny and Sergei Fedorov. We can all appreciate the energy that Nash put out tonight, as he practically gave this team a win they really should have had no right to have.
Here's what we learned tonight:
-The Blue Jackets are having some pretty disgusting struggles with penalty issues. I chalk part of that up to having Don frickin' Koharsky for four consecutive games as the referee, but the other part is that the Jackets have been extremely undisciplined at times. It's hard to really tell how things will go on a game by game basis in the penalty department, as the team has sort of flip flopped from responsible to brash at times. Remember that even though they drubbed Ottawa 6-2 on Sunday, they also gave up seven power play opportunities. So this has actually been a nagging issue, only hidden by amazing penalty kill. Tonight, with a vulnerable penalty kill, this became very apparent.
-Fredrik Norrena, no matter how awesome he has been and how much we owe the amazing Finn, is still mortal. While two goals did indeed come on the power play, two other goals showed that Freddy was out of his comfort zone for much of this game. He seemed to start picking it up in the tail end of the third period, but soon after that it was too late, and the game became nothing but a crap shoot in the shootout.
-Rimer and Gare were absolutely right about one thing during the FSN Ohio telecast: the Phoenix Coyotes' "run and gun" game plan is what the team had to worry about, and as a result they got burned; and badly. Throughout overtime and the tail end of the second period, the CBJ did manage to pump up the volume and fire right back, but you can't always beat fire with fire.
-DON [EXPLETIVE] KOHARSKY!!
-Tellqvist might be nothing more than Maple Leafs' droppings, but he became big money from the end of the third period all the way through overtime, and into the shootout. I'm going to have nightmares about that save on Svitov(?) he made in overtime, despite the slick spin-o-rama.
Either way, a loss was invevitable sooner or later. I refuse to be some "THE SKY IS FALLING!" doomsayer over one loss, but this will bring up some good questions: how will the team handle a loss after such a strong winning streak? What will Ken Hitchcock do in response to this? Can the power play, which was on fire at the start of the weekend against a distraught Ottawa team, be salvaged?
Take solace in the fact that this was an overtime loss, Blue Jackets fans, meaning we still get a point. Also take solace in the fact that the team a step above us in the Central division standings, the Blackhawks, lost tonight to the Red Wings.
Lastly? Take solace in the fact that Rick Nash really does look like he's coming around, along with David Vyborny and Sergei Fedorov. We can all appreciate the energy that Nash put out tonight, as he practically gave this team a win they really should have had no right to have.
Labels: Blue Jackets, Coyotes, post-game
Image post at second intermission.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
That pretty much sums up things when they were down 4-2.
Silly images and D&D references over. Third period now.
Silly images and D&D references over. Third period now.
Labels: Blue Jackets, Coyotes, insanity
Who? What? Huh? ... yeah. Um.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
With the possibly permanent hiatus being taken by Predsguy over at Predspage, I find myself a little antsy at the sudden lack of any real blogs for three particular teams in the league. More so because two of those teams are also members of the Central Division. In no particular order ...
Blackhawks - Come on, people. There has to be at least one blogger out there that covers and follows the Blackhawks, despite the way that Billy Wirtz has just about buried this team in a mile deep grave. This team has such a long and storied history, it's a depressing surprise that there isn't a single blog out there on them. It also makes talking about them during game time depressing; I have no one to rib!
Predators - I think what surprises me the most is that it was only Predsguy who I knew of that wrote about the Predators, considering how they've been moderately successful over the past three seasons now (this one included). And now that he's gone, I'm even more concerned. Is it really that dead in Nashville? I know that James Mirtle has a link to a forum-based blog by the Predators themselves it seems, but it isn't really the same.
Coyotes - Yeah. The 'Yotes. I guess I can't really blame the lack of a blog for this team on anything in particular. Even so, there must be someone out there that writes about this team and follows them. Anyone? ... anyone? ... Bueller? ... Bueller?
In any event, I also just wanted to thank the recent string of a few people who added me to their blogrolls. Every new link definitely means a lot, since it gives me even more to read when I manage to squeak in some free time amidst new jobs and bucketloads of classwork. Incidentally, if I ever improperly put down someone's blog's name? Feel free to let me know and I'll fix it post-haste. As it stands, I get that often enough: "The Army of Ohio", "Army of Ohio", and so on (I take full responsibility for the name being "armyofohio" in the URL, but that was just so it wouldn't be pointlessly long).
Don't blame me, though, for the rather broken English name: Army of the Ohio. Blame those geniuses back during the 19th century and the American Civil War, since the name is based off of the real Army of the Ohio.
Blackhawks - Come on, people. There has to be at least one blogger out there that covers and follows the Blackhawks, despite the way that Billy Wirtz has just about buried this team in a mile deep grave. This team has such a long and storied history, it's a depressing surprise that there isn't a single blog out there on them. It also makes talking about them during game time depressing; I have no one to rib!
Predators - I think what surprises me the most is that it was only Predsguy who I knew of that wrote about the Predators, considering how they've been moderately successful over the past three seasons now (this one included). And now that he's gone, I'm even more concerned. Is it really that dead in Nashville? I know that James Mirtle has a link to a forum-based blog by the Predators themselves it seems, but it isn't really the same.
Coyotes - Yeah. The 'Yotes. I guess I can't really blame the lack of a blog for this team on anything in particular. Even so, there must be someone out there that writes about this team and follows them. Anyone? ... anyone? ... Bueller? ... Bueller?
In any event, I also just wanted to thank the recent string of a few people who added me to their blogrolls. Every new link definitely means a lot, since it gives me even more to read when I manage to squeak in some free time amidst new jobs and bucketloads of classwork. Incidentally, if I ever improperly put down someone's blog's name? Feel free to let me know and I'll fix it post-haste. As it stands, I get that often enough: "The Army of Ohio", "Army of Ohio", and so on (I take full responsibility for the name being "armyofohio" in the URL, but that was just so it wouldn't be pointlessly long).
Don't blame me, though, for the rather broken English name: Army of the Ohio. Blame those geniuses back during the 19th century and the American Civil War, since the name is based off of the real Army of the Ohio.
Labels: Blackhawks, blogosphere, Coyotes, Predators
