Standings Update.. March 17th

It is that time again, after a dramatic week of hockey and a dominant performance from the Blue Jackets.  Time to see where they stand with only a small number of games remaining in the season on this fine St. Patrick's Day afternoon...

The Jackets remain in 6th place, with 3 points separating them from 7th place Nashville, and 3 points separating them from 5th place Vancouver.  Now, based on the week they had, optimism would have hoped for a better result, however, Nashville and Vancouver are both playing strong hockey, and will likely remain above the red bar by years end.  Both have 7-2-1 records in their last ten games, which is only slightly better than Columbus' 6-4-0.

But let's make it interesting.  Chicago was considered practically untouchable in the early stages of the season, remaining unquestionably in 4th only because of how well Detroit has played.  But now on a 3-6-1 slide, and a game against Columbus the coming weekend, the Jackets have a chance to really gain some ground to try and finish second in the division.  This could be huge for not only the teams optimism, but the fans as well.

Finally, the random tidbit.  St Louis has also been on a tear recently(7-3-0), and are currently making a strong bid for the post season as well.  Could this be the first time in Columbus' history not only they make the playoffs, but their entire division makes it?  It would certainly make for some interesting articles and discussion from the round tables, and one very rival filled post season in the West.

Carry the Flag (and wear green)!

Unfamiliar Territory..

There are a couple of things I would like to discuss today considering the Jackets past week.

First, I would like to put a bit of perspective on what they accomplished, to assure that fans do not take to heart the 4-0 beating yesterday.  They beat some of the best teams in the league in Boston and Detroit, and punished the Blackhawks and Penguins for not preparing themselves.  They took 8 of 10 points in a week that basically spelled potential disaster towards their playoff hopes, and it will most definitely go into the local record books as one of the best weeks in their history.

Now, to my second point of optimism..  The last time they played this dominant, it was rebounded with three or four very poor efforts, which leads me to believe they got over confident in their abilities and did not show up for games.  I would like to think that the embarrassing effort against the Red Wings yesterday will be enough to make sure they do not take their next opponent lightly.

Finally, the last wishy washy 'love my team' point.  They have already become the best Jackets team on paper, with their overall record.  Everything they do from here is rewriting their statistical best, and if they are the team I think they are, it will be rewritten a couple times within the next 2-3 years.  They are now playing for the fans, not for the expectations from management, because they have already gone above and beyond what most thought they would this year.

With only two games this week, against an always potent Chicago, and a playoff contending Florida, the points will again come at a price.  The Jackets will need to stay focused on a number (hopefully one in the 90s) and aim for it prior to the year ending.  Expect a standings update very soon!

Carry the Flag!

Rounding Out the Week..

Tonight, the Jackets finish one of their biggest statement weeks of the year against the Detroit Red Wings, who they beat 8-2 last weekend.  Confidence will not be of short order, as both teams are coming off wins.

That being said, the Jackets had better acknowledge what they did to Detroit last weekend rarely ever happens to them, and they will most likely take offense to the drubbing.  Hitchcock has stated that Mason will make the start tonight, and there are some mistakes to point out.

Aaron Rome is scratched in favour of Christian Backman, who is arguably one of the worst defenders to suit up for the Jackets.  Backman is the cause of many turnovers, and for whatever reason, Hitchcock likes to put him on the ice during pressure situations.  With a team like Detroit playing in town, there are four lines that will take advantage of a defensive breakdown when the opportunity is there.

Andrew Murray is replacing Derek Dorsett in the lineup.  Murray is a neutral player who rarely adds anything to the lineup, but usually takes nothing away.  When you think about depth, Murray is the last guy you think of, and by taking out a guy like Dorsett, who plays with an edge, you have to consider it digression.

There is also the potential for Jiri Novotny to replace Chris Gratton in the lineup.  Consider this the trifecta of things I would most certainly not do against a team like Detroit.  Hopefully these players are not a huge detriment on the ice, but it certainly does not provoke optimism in this fan.

Carry the Flag!

Jackets Avoid Upset..

For two periods of play tonight, the Blue Jackets continued their unstoppable play.  Consistent with their effort against both Detroit and Boston, Columbus came out of the gate with the desire to win, and gained a three goal advantage.

I must give credit to Marc-Andre Fleury, who made some of the best saves I have seen all year, specifically his glove save on a driving Umberger who claimed a rebound and tried to push it home.  Not only did the entire crowd expect the goal (including me, who sat on my couch not-so quietly screaming to go to the war room) to count, the players on the ice could not believe what they had just witnessed.

While three goal advantages are exciting, they do not allow for any error, and teams who obtain them can not sit back and give away any momentum.  Unfortunately, a goal was scored on the man advantage, giving Pittsburgh and their fans (I can not believe how many Pens fans acquired tickets) back into the game.  Two bad mistakes later - ahem Commodore and Novotny - found Columbus tied and going into overtime.

Before I go any further, I have to talk about Mason's answer to Fleury's incredible save.  A solid pass across the slot was one timed towards the goal late in the game, and again much to the surprise of the crowd, it was saved, this time by Mason.  It was one of those saves you never really expect your goalie to make, but seeing it getting saved makes you jump out of your chair.

Overime was rather relaxed, with few great chances, and the shootout was not all that special, although I would like to credit Huselius for scoring the goal I did not think he could, and kudos to Mason for saving all three shots he faced.  Hopefully what was said in the dressing room during the post game will remind the boys that giving up on a game with a big lead in the "new" NHL rarely bodes well for anyone.

Some quick notes...

• Vermette scored his first goal as a Blue Jacket, and his 10th goal of the season.  He also got an assist on the Williams goal, which was one of the better plays of the game
  
• The Jackets are 3-0 with Vermette in uniform
  
• They have tied their franchise best in wins at 35, and expect to shatter that record before the season ends
  
• Mark Methot suffered a blow to the head during the game, and a concussion has not been ruled out
  
• The crowd was also a record at 19,167 aka 105.7% full

Carry the Flag!

Welcome Back Klesla

A familiar face returned to the Jackets lineup recently. Marred by injury this season, Rusty Klesla is finally off IR and making a difference on the ice. I personally was on the train that pegged Klesla as good deadline trade bait, but it is time for me to digress and appreciate his talent.

While the Columbus defensive corps are full of promise and potential, there is always room for a player like Klesla, who has the size advantage, and a lot of the time a hockey sense advantage over many of the other d-men on our depth chart. With Tollefson on IR with an injury, the need for physicality will be filled perfectly by either Mark Methot or Rusty Klesla, which leads me to wonder.. Who are the odd ones out?

I would be fairly comfortable in assuming Commodore and Hejda will be safe on the roster for the remainder of the season. Both are playing strong defensive games, and have been known to step it up against the opposition’s best lines. Tyutin and Russell are staples on the powerplay, and seem to have earned their spot on Hitchcock’s depth chart.

That leaves a recovering Klesla, injured Tollefson, Christian Backman, Aaron Rome, and Mark Methot in limbo. Based on any kind of consistency, Klesla will outplay every one of them, (unless something unexplainable happened to his abilities) and OKT will be recovering, which would leave the remaining four players competing for a single roster spot. Now, the fact that Hitch has had the common sense to sit Backman through multiple games gives me some confidence. I know his contract is robust for what he can (and clearly can not) do on the ice, which leads me to believe that when push comes to shove, the position will not go to him.

The concern I have is whether or not Hitchcock will be willing to sit Aaron Rome. He would have to clear waivers to return to Syracuse, and from what I have heard and read, the organization really likes what he can do, meaning that Methot will flat out have to be brilliant to obtain a position that in reality should be his.

What are your thoughts Jackets fans? Will Rome take the spot by default, or will Mehtot get a fair crack at the roster down the stretch?

Carry the Flag!

Giant Killers Indeed..

There is a lot to talk about.

First off, how about our rookie sensation, Steve Mason.  Turning aside some very serious offensive efforts last night for his league leading 9th shutout has his name being shoveled once again to the top of the Calder list, and he absolutely deserves it.

Secondly, how good is our new special teams?!  A powerplay goal, along with two straight games without a PK goal against, and even getting serious chances while on the penalty kill.  Could we ask any more from our newest member Antoine Vermette?

Not only was Vermette one of the hardest skaters on the ice last night, he won very important faceoffs, and played on what I believe (and based on playing time, apparently so did Hitch) to be the number 1a line last night.  Williams, Umberger, and Vermette were playing with ridiculous chemistry, and seemed to be all over the ice.

I have a lot more to say about the game, but not quite the time this morning to express it all, so I will leave it with these few quick points to get your blood going on this fine hump day.

Carry the Flag!

Giant Killers?

Tonight the Jackets match up against the Boston Bruins who are statistically the best team in the Eastern Conference.  Unlike their matchup against familiar division rival Detroit on Saturday, this game marks the first meeting of the two teams this season.  Looks like the team will have a meeting with Antoine Vermette to find out the Bruins tendencies.

I would say the keys to the game are quite logical:

1 - Hit the net, and hit it often..  They were badly outshot by Detroit, but took advantage of a weak netminder in Chris Osgood.  It is very unlikely that they will be that fortunate against any of the Bruins goaltenders.  While most of their goals were impressive, those opportunities will decrease heavily with the big bodied defense that the Bruins have.

2 - Take advantage of the Bruins skid...  Boston has lost four of their last five games, including a game against Phoenix.  The one consistent number remains shots on goal, and the Bruins have had that advantage even in their losses.  That means..

3 - Steve Mason, be A Mase Ing....  He looked confident against Detroit, and made some incredible saves.  Consider that a warm up for what Krejci, Kessel, Savard, and co. can bring.  Steve has been lackluster in the last month or so, fending off the after effects of mononucleosis and dealing with a few really poor defensive breakdowns, but tonight, first saves are key, and first saves without rebounds could be even more important.

The Bruins are not invincible, and their recent slide has proved that.  It is time for the Jackets to show the rest of the conference they mean business in 6th place, and will not stop until they have secured 4th place.

Carry the Flag!