Jackets Stop The Bleeding With A Solid Effort

With grumblings of fan discontent echoing loudly in their ears, the CBJ responded in resounding fashion with a 3 - 0 shutout of the Florida Panthers, a team equally desperate to end their current slide.

Tonight's game featured a resurgent defensive effort -- sorely needed after surrendering more goals than virtually any other team in the league through 29 games. Mike Commodore and Fedor Tyutin played their best games of the season, and Marc Methot was also a solid contributor.  Kris Russell continued his excellent play -- being responsible in his own zone, and leading transition with sharp passing and elusive skating. 

However, the most notable contributor of the evening was Steve Mason.  Dubbed the #1 Star for his effort, Mason invoked images from last season with some stellar play.   He stood tall, aggressively took the top of the crease as his own, and was more active with his stick than at any time this year.  While Florida did not exert extended period of high pressure, there were several flurries of activity, and Mason responded with aplomb.  He appeared energized by the revitalized defense around him, and may also have been motivated by some rather harsh public appraisals of his attitude by goalie coach Dave Rook.  Rook implied that Mason might have allowed last year's Calder Trophy success get to his head a bit.  While Mason has not been the primarily culpable party for the recent failings, he has also not been the exceptional netminder of last year.   With a shutout under his belt, he could be poised for a run. 

The Jackets came out of the chute strong, dominating possessoin in the first period, but proving unable to convert on their opportunities.  Chimera made a nifty forehand/backhand move on Vokoun, to no avail, then somehow managed to miss the net entirely from an unmolested position about 6 feet dead on to the goal.   Nash, Huselius and Vermette put on a clinic of puck possession and scoring opportunity at the 13 minute mark, but failed to convert.  Given Vokoun's history of success against the Jackets, more that a few were wondering if these squandered chances would come back to haunt the squad.  Chimera, however, vindicated the effort as the first period wound down, following his own backand shot and stuffing home the rebound, with just under two minutes left in the first.

The second period brought a dreadful sense of deja vu, as the CBJ allowed Florida to dictate the early tempo.  The familiar littany of failed clearing attempts, turnovers and defensive gaps emerged once again.  On this night, however, Mason was there to stem the tide, and the Jackets righted the ship by the midway point of the period.  They displayed a frustrating knack for firing pucks into the bodies of defenders, as Florida blocked an amazing 20 shots over the course of the contest, but surrendered nothing at their own end. 

Given recent history, entering the third period with a one goal lead was not exactly a cause for jubilation.  However, the club came out with a strong forecheck, particularly by Nash, Voracek and Umberger, and appeared destined to take control of the period.  Unfortunately, the referees had other ideas.  Kristian Huselius was called for a very questionable delay penalty, and Andrew Murray was nailed for hooking shortly thereafter, giving Florida 23 seconds of 5-on-3 advantage.  The penalty killers knocked off the two man deficit, and the subsequent 5-on-4 with aggressive play and solid puck management.  Immediately afterward, Derick Brassard coralled the puck along the left wing, and roofed a beautiful short sided shot over Vokoun to extend the lead to 2 - 0. 

To provide some indication as to how desperately Florida was seeking the win, Vokoun was pulled with over two minutes to play.  Pahlsson deposited the empty netter directly off the center ice faceoff, and the final margin -- plus chili for all -- was secured. 

The victory serves as a benchmark for several reasons.  First, it should at least temporarily quell the rising tide of negativism that had begun to dominate the debate, ranging from calls for Hitchcock's firing to calls for massive trades and restructuring.  Secondly, Steve Mason was truly superb  -- quite possibly signaling a turning point in his season.  Brassard may be catching fire, and Chimera scored in his third consecutive game.  Overall, they appeared like a much looser, more confident group on the ice.

The trick will be for Hitch to capture this energy, allow the mometum to carry into Nashville on Thursday and beyond.  Hitch needs to keep the reins a little looser than he has in the past, as these colts need to run a bit.  He can keep them on the ranch, but can't squelch the spirit.   This is a young, talented group of players, and they showed what they can do when they are loose. 

Nashville preview and other goodies later today.  Go Jackets!!!

Place Foot On Throat . . . Press Firmly

The Blue Jackets turned in the type of effort everyone had been looking for since the early games of the season -- taking control of the game early, and removing all hope late.  The fact that it happened at the start of their longest road trip of the season is a bonus.

Playing in the back half of a road-home back-to-back, following a solid win over Detroit on Wednesday, Dallas apparently decided that the best way to overcome fatigue is through thuggery.  Dallas came out hard and nasty, as evidenced by the 52 minutes of penalties handed out in the first period, featuring three "official" fights (Daley/Dorsett, Chimera/Ott, Boll/Barch), a double minor to Nash for roughing & boarding, and penalties against both goaltenders for leaving their respective creases to assist in the shenanigans.  (Due to proximity, Turco was in the middle of the melee, while Mason was turned back by the officials as he approached center ice.)

To their credit, the Jackets responded definitively and cohesively.  Though appearing somewhat tentative in the first few minutes of play, they quickly upped the tempo and the intensity.  After successfully killing off an early penalty to Klesla, the Jackets got their first extra man opportunity when Neal went off for hooking at the 7:52 mark.  The power play, ranked 7th in the NHL coming in, maintained possession and crashed the net, with Nash able to finally drive it home for a 1 -0 lead -- a goal Hitch had to be smiling over.

The Dallas response was a physical one, and the Jackets responded in kind.  At with 5:34 left, Dorsett and Neal started a scrum down low, with Trevor Daley then stepping in and escalating it to a full fledged fight with Dorsett, who drew the extra minor for cross-checking.  20 seconds later, Chimera and Ott mixed it up, followed by a predictable square-off between Boll and Barch.  All of this ended up with no impact on the scoresheet.

With 1:43 left in the first, a fracas started in the corner to Turco's right -- with Nash and Robidas as the focal point.  Both squads rushed into the fray, with Turco in the middle of it, apparently having taken umbrage at Torres' dash through the trapezoid.  When it was all sorted out, the penalty boxes were SRO, and the Jackets were again on the penalty kill, with Nash having taken the extra minor. 

The Jackets turned an apparent burden into a benefit.  Returning to the aggressive PK style of the early season, they pressured the puck, got solid clears, and denied Dallas any real scoring opportunities.  With 6 seconds left in the period, Huselius caused a turnover at the blue line, and led a two on one break , with Vermette charging hard to his left.  Counting down the clock in his mind (according to his own statement), he looked off Turco, veered to the center, past Vermette and the defender, and unleashed a wicked wrister that beat Turco through the pads with just 0.3 seconds left in the frame.  The perfect exclamation point to an intense period of hockey.

The Jackets started the second with energy, but failed to convert on a few chances.   At the 6:49 mark, Dorsett was tangled in a scrum for the puck along the boards to Turco's right, when Neal cruised across the ice and laid a vicious shoulder to Dorsett's head, pounding it against the glass.  The image of Dorsett, clearly out on his feet, slumping to the ice, then vainly trying to regain his feet, will be one of the images that finally gets some league action on head shots.  The officials quickly imposed a 5 minute major and game misconduct, and Neal will undoubtedly enjoy some unpaid time off, courtesy of the NHL disciplinary officials.

At this point, the Jackets did what they have so often failed to do in past seasons -- applied the knockout punch.  With a five minute major, they were patient, but persistent, creating some good opportunities.  At the 10:23 mark, Huselius notched his second of the night, with assists from Tyutin and Klesla.  Just 20 seconds later, Voracek made a beautiful feed to Torres on the right, who parked the puck for a 4 - 0 lead.  The margin should have been extended to five just a few seconds later, but Torres' shot to a wide open net maddeningly caromed off the post.  No matter -- the damage had been inflicted.

The lone Dallas marker came on a defensive lapse, which left Modano wide open at the right dot.  A sharp cross-ice pass found him, and Mason had no chance to recover.  Undaunted, the Jackets shut everything down for the remainder of the second and the third, providing the Stars with few opportunities.  Unlike prior games, however, the Jackets were not in retreat -- they kept the pressure up in the offensive zone, and actually outshot the Stars in the third.  That may have been the best indication of all that the team is beginning to make progress.

Mason was terrific between the pipes, looking very much like he did last year.  He was alert, active and aggressive.  At one point, he was perhaps a bit overly aggressive.  Apparently influenced by Turco's wandering habits at the other end, Mason strayed far afield to play the puck up the left-hand board.  It was intercepted, however, forcing Mason to act like a diving shortstop to smother the return shot heading for the far corner.  Other than that, Mason controlled the puck and projected confidence -- signifying a mental recovery from the Detroit debacle of last week.

Confidence was the by-word for the evening.  While still not as sharp with passing as we would perhaps care to see, they were decisive and deliberate with their exit passes, and consistently showed speed through the neutral zone.  Tyutin had his best game of the season in all three zones, and Commodore looked much improved.  Brassard was strong, and Torres brought life to the offense as well.

In summary, a great start to the road trip. The combination of intelligent play and physical presence has to be reassuring to Hitchcock, particularly heading into Nashville on Saturday.  With Dorsett's status unknown, plan to see MacKenzie stay with the big club for perhaps the entire road trip, and for Sestito to be a big factor against the Predators.

Congratulations Steve & Rick!!!!

Unless you were vacationing in Antarctica this evening, or whiling away the time in a Sensory Deprivation Chamber, you have heard that Steve Mason was named the winner of the Calder Trophy tonight, signifying his status as Rookie of the Year in the NHL. He also was named to the All-Rookie Team, and to the Second Team All-NHL squad.

Captain Rick Nash was also honored as the winner of the NHL Foundation Award, in recognition of the significant amount of charitable and community initiatives with which he is involved.

These two awards now join the Rocket Richard Trophy shared by Nash, Iginla and Kovalchuk on the CBJ mantle. Tonight provided some great recognition for Mason, Nash and the CBJ as a whole.

Just a week until the draft, then another week until free agency. How quickly can you spell Bouwmeister?

Boston Baked!!!!

The two best goalies in the NHL faced off in Nationwide Arena tonight, and this was right in the league of Palmer vs. Nicklaus and Borg vs. McEnroe. For every stop Thomas made, Mason did one better. Two + periods of standoff until one tiny little crack in the upper far corner of the Boston net cradled a shot from the resurgent Raffi Torres, for the only time Thomas was beaten all night. Add Nash's gritty empty netter at the end, and you have Mason with 35 saves, Thomas with 32, and the Jackets on the positive side of a 2 -0 blanking of the best team in hockey.

The shutout was Mason's 9th of the season, tying the CBJ team record, set last year by Leclaire. He leads the NHL, and also did nothing to harm his standing in Save Percentage and GAA.

This was not just a goaltending effort, however. Picking up on the momentum created in Detroit, the Jackets played a full 60 minutes of Hitch-Hockey, and were rewarded richly for their efforts. Here are the +/- for tonight:

++Discipline -- The game reminded me of the Edmonton game on the last road trip, with each team feeling each other out for the first period, goalies dominating play, and Raffi Torres coming to the rescue! It took awhile for the Jackets to solve the neutral zone picket line that Boston threw at us, but eventually they used their tenacious defense, good puck support and speed to get the puck deep and create opportunities.

++Details -- 42 to 29 in the faceoff circle, 7 takeaways to 1, surrendered only 3 power plays. We were right in the hits battle, 25 to 27. We seemed a bit reticent to hit in the first period, but more than made up for it later. That type of attention to detail gives you wins down the stretch, and in the playoffs.

++ Special Teams -- More of that attention to detail here. PK was perfect and created some real scoring chances for us. 1 for 3 on the power play, and it looked solid most of the time.

++ Defense -- Absolutely blistering. As has become the Jackets' credo, they take the best team in the league and shut them down. We drove them to the perimeters, supported the puck, identified holes quickly and plugged them. Supported by Mason, they played almost flawless Hitch hockey. Great puck control and avoidance of turnovers!

++Vermette -- This was one fantastic acquisition by Howson. Vermette was everywhere -- making great passes, earning another assist, winning key faceoffs, and showing some physical play as well. Once he gets a little more time with his line mates, this guy will be unstoppable.

Too many players to name here -- suffice it to say that the whole team played a complete 60 minute game.

Here are some stats for you: CBJ vs. the Eastern Conference this year -- 11-3-1. Mason vs. Eastern Conference this year: 10-1, with a total of 10 goals allowed in 11 games -- 0.900 GAA!

Additional good news--Edmonton, Minnesota, Phoenix, Nashville all lost in overtime, and Dallas is trailing by 3 in regulation. So we stand to pick up at least 1 point against all of our competition, and inched within 2 points of 5th place!

Go Jackets!!!

Detroit Retrospective

With all of the wonderful stuff happening in Detroit yesterday, and the volumes already written on the game, decided to forego the usual game review for a retrospective on the whole experience.

Detroit Traffic System -- OK, first I need to get a rant out of the way. I have always thought that the Columbus traffic engineers were the folks that flunked out of engineering school. (i.e. putting signs for a turn after the street at which the turn was to happen.) The Detroit traffic engineers are obviously the ones who flunked out of elementary school. The little closure of I-75 was inconvenient coming North. It was a day in purgatory going South. Little signs pointing directions that lead to nowhere -- two signs with inconsistent directions right next to each other -- a marvelous infinite loop of a detour -- followed by the real detour, which takes you halfway to Chicago on 94. Throw in potholes the size of school busses, a torrential downpout, flooded out freeway lanes and schizophrenic drivers, and you have all of the makings of a hellish drive home. Your tax dollars at work, Michiganders . . .

Jackets Fans -- what a great showing by the Jacket Backers and the other Jackets fans who either live in the area or made the trek to the Joe to get to the game! Nice coverage on the tube from what I hear, and recognition from Nash himself (see link in the prior post on this blog). Great turnout, good enthusiasm, and continuing the tradition of providing the sound backdrop for the post-game show! Thanks to Danny, Jeff, George and Bill for putting up with our noise! Some of our number were a tad too enthusiastic in their use of linguistic epithets, but overall a good, enthusiastic group. Well done!

Wings Fans -- For the most part, they were helpful, receptive and appreciative of the support we were showing for the CBJ. I had several comments, both before and after the game, on how the CBJ were a tough team to play. One Wings fan had his picture taken with us, and wanted to join in our Osgood heckling! A few sore losers, and some who responded badly to the language choices of some of our members, but overall, mostly good natured jousting with the home town fans. Lots of credit to those fans who helped us navigate the weirdness of getting to the Joe from Greektown last night. (See below).

Detroit Transit System -- Distinct from the traffic system, but just as fouled up. We stayed @ Greektown Casino, so thought we would just grab a cab to the Joe. Nope -- not many cabs, couldn't guarantee one before we got to the game. Suggested the People Mover, a neat railway system that moves between the various downtown venues for a 50 cent charge. Station at the hotel, goes right to the Joe. Super, right??? Wrong. Hordes waiting at the station, due to the pouring rain, trains (all three cars of them) full. We try going for Plan B, a shuttle from a bar. No luck. Finally go scouting for cabs, but end up near the next People Mover station, where very few people were. Wedged our way in to a mass of humanity in the front car (to a chorus of boos from Redwings fans) and made it just in time for the puck drop. With a car show and concert at Cobo, the Red Wings at home, and rainy weather, you would think it would have dawned on them to put extra cars or trains on. Nope . . . Coming out, just threw my body in front of an empty cab . . .

The Joe -- You know that your are in for something a little special as you approach the Gordie Howe Entrance to Joe Louis Arena. Step inside and you are struck by a massive, dynamic sculpture of Gordie, and a bustle of activity. Stepping inside the arena, you can't help but be awed by the sea of banners for all of the Red Wings championships and the retired jerseys. Even up in the confines of 203B, the view was good. The common pathways were a bit congested, and the bathroom lines unimaginablely long -- for both genders. Still, a great experience and one of those "must dos" if you are a hockey fan.

The Game -- Tough to come up with anything new to say on this, other than WOW! The 2 - 0 lead at the end of 1 was gratifying, because we have been starting slowly of late, we scored by having people in front of the net, and Mason was playing very large. The 4 - 1 lead after 2 was a cause for hope, but hardly celebration -- these are the Red Wings, after all, and the fear was that we would go into our "prevent defense" mode and allow Detroit to take control of the 3rd. Nothing could be further from the truth! Nothing could prepare you for those 4 third period goals. One of our number left her seat briefly, and missed 3 goals! I stepped away for about 90 seconds and missed the completion of the Nash hat trick! Great to see us put the foot on their necks, especially the Wings.

Vermette -- Going beyond the one assist, I was impressed by two things. First was his smoothness -- he is fast and quick, but somehow gets where he needs to be without you noticing it. Sort of like the difference between Mason and Leclaire. Leclaire is all arms and legs, a lot of suddend and jerky movement. Mason seems to glide between positions. The second thing I noticed was that he was always in the play. Whether it was forechecking, penalty kill, cycling, whatever, he was right there and was a factor. He is just getting used to everybody, but already that line looks good, and will only get better. This is going to be a nice pickup for us.

Mason -- I saw several things last night that I loved. First, Steve was more confident and certain in his moves. Secondly, he was coming out more -- he had been creeping back a little deep in the crease, which I think had hurt his timing. Finally, he didn't let anything rattle him. All good signs heading down the stretch.

Nash -- Not much you can say that hasn't already been said. This was our Captain leading by example. A hat trick -- all unassisted -- unreal. Not since 1948 had such a thing happened in the NHL, and then it was a guy named Richard, first name Maurice, better known as Rocket. You know, they named a trophy after him, which Nash already has his name on. Elite company, Rick . . .

Umberger -- Not sure that Howson really understood how good this guy could be when he orchestrated the deal that basically amounted to Adam Foote for R.J. Umberger. He is getting better and better as we get closer to the end of the year. His game is really rounding out.

The Experience -- Despite the weather and transportation hassles, the experience was a blast. For anyone interested in the Jackets and hockey in general, Detroit is a must. The town takes a bad rap, and I sure wouldn't have an outdoor picnic after dark in most areas, but our hotel was fantastic, the deal was great, and the Jacket Backers crew was fantastic as always.

Shameless plug for the St. Louis trip in 3 weeks -- that one includes bus transportation, hotel and tickets. Hotel is fantastic and about a 7 iron shot from the Arena. Walking distance to the Arch and related venues. Check it out at the Jacket Backers table behind Section 115 during any of the Jackets games, or email us at travel@jacketbackers.org for more details. We went last year as our first trip with the club, and were so impressed, we volunteered to help organize travel this year! Get your blue hair and hop on the bus!

Go Jackets!

Clutch!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen -- please be seated, and Professor Hitchcock will review tonight's game with you and explain just how and why that was the finest example of how Hitch Hockey is played that the Jackets have ever put on the ice.

Oops -- I guess Hitch can't make it -- something about being in Alberta, having to go kick some Canuck tail in Vancouver. No worries, Hitch, I'll take it from here.

Do not let the 1 - 0 score fool you. This was a dominant an effort as the Bluejackets have provided all year, particularly when you consider the situation under which it was played -- 6th place, 1 point ahead of half the Western Conference, including Edmonton, on the road, coming off 2 losses and an exhausting 6 in 9 stretch. This was a matchup of two hockey teams desperate for the 2 points, as we arrive at the 3/4 pole of this race.

Not only were our best players our best players -- Nash, Huselius, Mason, Umberger, Commodore, Hejda, Tyutin--but our role players were also our best players. Torres, Dorsett, Boll, Gratton all played key roles. How beautiful was it that Torres got the lone goal??

This was not a situation where the Bluejackets caught an opponent when they were down. Despite the boos from the home crowd, Edmonton played tough defense, had what seemed like a hundred blocked shots, and had a goalie in Roloson who stood on his head all night long, aided by a post or three. Otherwise, this is a 6 -0 game. The Jackets simply denied space and time from the Edmonton forwards, and when they did get a moments worth of space, Mason stopped them cold. We were relentless on the puck in the offensive zone, stingy in the neutral zone, and cleared the puck out of our own zone with precision and speed. And we kept doing it, again, and again . . . in the end, we wore down their forwards by forcing them to spend the majority of their shifts in their own zone.

Let's review the pluses for tonight's game. Although we got no power play goals, and missed a few opportunities we should have cashed, I can't in good conscience assign minuses to those tonight.

++ Legs -- We skated, and we skated, and we skated . . . there was no place on the ice where the Oilers were safe. We forechecked relentlessly, stood people up at our own blue line, and got the puck deep almost every time down. That set up the forecheck, which set up turnovers, which set up opportunities. Hitch-Hockey!

++Hitting -- We made the Oilers pay the price every time they touched the puck. As much as we skated, we hit just as much. Boll, Tyutin, Commodore, Gratton, Williams all laid lots of wood on people tonight, and the effect was cumulative.

++Puck Control -- Terrifically strong on the puck all night long. No turnovers to speak of in our own zone, and crisp, decisive exit passes. We cycled well in the offensive zone, maintained position on the wings to keep pucks in, and moved the puck well on our power plays. Best puck control in a long time. 32 - 19 in shots, 29 - 17 in faceoffs. Done.

++Goaltending -- The Masonic Wall was back in spades tonight. Not overly tested, with only 19 shots, but his two consecutive saves on Cole in the second were sick. Two nice saves at the end while Edmonton pressed the action. All this at 20 years old, with the weight of the playoff race and the recover from mono on his shoulders. Good stuff. NHL leading 8th shutout, reduced his GAA, and is coming closer to locking up the Calder.

++Intelligence -- This was an intelligently played game, on and off the ice. We neutralized Hemsky, leaving him with only 1 or 2 real opportunities, "sandwiching" him from front and back, as Hitch described. We kept our heads up and avoided turnovers and stupid penalties. Zero penalties in the third period, which is huge in a 1 - 0 game, particularly when the other team has a guy like Sheldon Souray, who has an absolute cannon from long range. Great coaching job in rolling 4 lines on short shifts, never letting up on the pressure.

++Players -- Everybody played their part tonight, but some stood out. Boll, Torres and Dorsett were enormous tonight. A little more confidence in these guys in the offensive zone and who knows what we might have. Gratton was another guy who stood out -- some big hits, nice passing, won lots of battles down low. Peca was strong, and Tyutin, Russell, Methot, Hejda and Commodore all atoned for past sins.

The heat was on from the hysteria crowd after two losses, and the Jackets came through with flying colors. Not only did we take care of business, but St. Louis beats Dallas 3 - 1, Boston creams (sorry, had to do it) Anaheim 6 -0. Phoenix and Colorado both lose, so stick a fork in them, they are done. Minnesota has a tough double in Calgary and Edmonton, then has a night off before going to Vancouver.

Tied for 5th with 68 points with 20 games to go. 10 - 10 gives us 88 points, which might do it this year. 10 - 8 - 2 or 11 - 9 gives us 90, which is looking very good right now. We are 9 - 5 - 1 since the All Star Break, slightly ahead of the 60% rule standard. If we stick with winning 60% of the remaining games, that will give us 92 points, a virtual lock for a good spot in the West.

An effort like tonight is going to fuel more. Opponents are not going to get goaltending efforts like this every night, so some of those shots are going to start going in. When that happens, watch out!

Great win tonight! Go Jackets!

Nothing Could Be Finer

OK, everybody SING:

Nothing could be finer
Than 2 points in Carolina
In a playyy--off race . . . (repeat as often as necessary)

This one had all of the earmarks of a very scary game for the CBJ -- road game, back end of back to backs, on the heels of an emotional, heavy hitting game vs. Detroit, against a team that is desperately trying to stay alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

These, however, are not your parents' Bluejackets. After taking a bit of time to find their legs and their tempo, the Jackets used opportunistic offense, a Hitch approved defense, and emerging special teams expertise to take control of the game and turn it into a St. Valentines Day onlsaught that Al Capone would have been proud of -- 5 - 1 Jackets. Oh, did I forget to mention the guy in the picture? Yeah, him. As Hitch would say "He was good. OK. Yeah, he'll play next game." Mase made the improbable seem routine, and lowered his GAA while increasing his Save Percentage. Only a tip play in the 3rd deprived him of his 8th shutout.

Some nice firsts in this game -- first road win on the tail of a back to back this year. First 5 vs. 3 goal this year. Though outshot, they held a shot-crazy Carolina team to 27 shots on goal. They played smart hockey, which compensated for some fatigue and lack of focus at times.

Here are the +/- for the night:

++ Top Line -- Nash, Huselius and Malhotra combine for 3 goals and 8 points. Nasher has 3 assists. Malhotra won some key faceoffs for us, and we physically wore down the Carolina defense.

++ Special Teams -- Power play was 2 for 4, PK was perfect. Absolutely filthy pass from Nash to Russel to set up Huselius' tap in. Good movement, though we gave up a few scary short handed chances.

++ Control -- Though we clearly did not have all of the jump we would like to have had, we compensated by playing smart. Very few penalties, won most of the battles for the pucks, hustled for open pucks, blocked a lot of shots, and generally did all of the little things you need to do to win. Despite not clicking on all cylinders, we wore down a very determined Carolina team to the point where we were in total control early in the third. That is a mark of real maturity as a team.

++Goalie -- Duhhhh!

++ Jacket Backers -- Though not an "official" trip, Craig, Julie, Brian and some of the others were there in all their glory, and got lots of air time and mention from Rimer and FSOH. Craig must have paid for Rimer's drinks last night . . .

++Players -- The whole top line, Commodore, Tyutin and Backman again. Russel rebounded after a couple of indifferent games. Modin, Umberger and Peca were forces. (Hope Modin didn't do too much damage when he whacked his leg on the post near the end of the game.)

--Puck Handling -- The lone down side to the game tonight was the puck handling in our own zone. Our clearing was not crisp, and our fatigue level had the puck staying on our sticks a bit long. However, we reacted quickly to support, and once we got to the blue line, we made some really nice entries to the offensive zone.

OK, folks. Even the most serious and dedicated curmudgeons must now begin raising at least one eyebrow and concede that these guys are for real. 61 points after 56 games. 28 wins before the middle of February, and they are getting better.

Remember my 60% rule? Win 3 out of 5 for the 35 games after the All Star break, and have as close to a guarantee of a playoff spot as you can get by a formula. Well we are 9 games out from the All Star break, and are 6 - 3, so the worst we can be is right on pace after 10 games.

We are becoming a very heavy team to play, and there is absolutely no quit. One game at a time, but if the all time record crowd for the Detroit game is any indication, Nationwide is going to be the last place in the league any team will want to enter. As it should be . . . Go Jackets!

He's Baaaaack!!!

OK, so my penalty for not doing this last night, instead of today, is that everybody else got to the whole Jason/Friday the 13th bit before I did. My bad . . . However, to hear the Red Wings talk after last night's 3 - 2 loss to the CBJ, the Jasons (Chimera and Williams) aside, Steve Mason is enough to give them nightmares for awhile.

Because of other commitments, I couldn't be on hand in person last night -- only the second time this year that I've missed -- but caught the end of the second on the radio and all of the third on the tube. The difference in Mason is stark and mind-numbing. Compared to the NW Canada trip, when he was unknowingly suffering from Mono, he is now much smoother, much more aggressively dominant in the crease. His athleticism was fully apparent last night, and the team reacted to it.

After every game, and on the days in between, I scour the Canadian websites and catch NHL On The Fly on the NHL Network, as well as any other broadcasts I can get my hands on. After last night's game, NHL Network was wrapping up the Calder and mailing it to Mason's house. Now, what about the Vezina? LIkely will take 30 wins and continued statistical dominance for him to earn it, given the league prejudice in favor of "established" players. How beautiful would it be, though, for him to win the Calder and Vezina, and then let the league explain why he wasn't an All Star?

Since I don't do the +/- deal when I haven't personally seen the whole game, I'll make just a few observations. First, gotta love that Chimera, Williams, Voracek line. Wow! Voracek was huge last night, all over the ice, Chimmer scores a classic Chimera-style goal, and Williams plays sniper with the game winner. What's not to like?

Strongly disagree with those who are dissing Nash right now. First of all, my bet is that he has played through a bout with the flu. Secondly, he is doing tons of the dirty, nasty stuff that is making things possible for other guys. Watch him in the corners, moving the puck, being a force at the blue line on the PK. Missed another breakaway, but he had been on a real roll, and the fact that we are winning with Nash and Huselius in a bit of a scoring lull is really good. When Nash is on defense, on the PK or otherwise, other teams are having to change their passing up high, as with his long stick and reach, he is always a threat to go deep. That sort of influence doesn't show up on the scoresheet.

All the credit in the world goes out to Backman, who is looking more and more comfortable and in charge at both ends. He has taken a load of crap this year, much of it deserved, but has refused to simply go through the motions. That, folks, is character.

Total team effort last night, and another big psychological step by taking the tying goal in the 3rd, and simply stuffing it back at them. At the beginning of the season, we are looking at that three game stretch of San Jose, Colorado, Detroit and hoping for 3 points. We get 6. Wow!

Mase is back, the team is playing well, and big things are ahead. 18 days to the trade deadline, and Howson has more magic up his sleeves, I am sure. First things first -- Carolina preview is next!

Go Jackets!

St. Louis Preview

The St. Louis Blues come to town tonight, fresh on the heels of a SO loss against Detroit, 4 - 3. Get used to the Blues, as this is the first of 5 meetings between now and the end of the season, with 3 of them being at home.

The Blues have been bitten hard by the injury bug this year, somethingt CBJ fans can relate to. Despite their position at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, they handed the Jackets a 5-2 loss at the Scottrade Center in the middle of our extended road trip. They are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games, and backup Chris Mason has pitched 2 shutouts in that stretch, including a recent 4 - 0 blanking of the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Jackets, 6-3-1 over their last 10, are busy erasing the memory of a 7 - 3 home loss to the Stars, a game where everything that could go wrong did go wrong. These are going to happen, and it probably came at a good time, as St. Louis will come in with an edgy, up tempo approach to try to catch us off guard. After the Dallas fiasco, Hitch will make sure that doesn't happen.

St. Louis is 18th in NHL in Goals per Game, while the CBJ are close behind in 21st. The differences come in defense and special teams. The Jackets are 10th in the league in Goals Against, while the Blues are near the bottom, in 26th.

The Blues rely on special teams to a large extent. Over 1/3 of their goals (50/141) have come on the PP, which ranks 8th in the league. The two squads have comparable penalty killing units, with St. Louis ranking 15th in the league and the Jackets 18th.

Boyes has carried the bulk of the offensive load this year, with 20 goals and 21 assists for 41 points. Tkachuk boasts 32 points, as does Berglund. Backes chips in and serves as the prime agitator. Chris Mason has been hot in goal of late, and has a GAA of 2.72 and .912 save percentage for the year. He was called in to replace Manny Legace in last night's game, after Legace gave up 3 goals on 8 shots in the 2nd period, and after the game called himself "the worst player in the NHL."

Mason is likely to go for them tonight, and Hitch has confirmed that our own Mason will be in the net as well. Klesla also likely to be back on the ice for us, paired with Russell. Both Tollefson and Backman will sit. Fortunately, the Chimera experiment at center is over. He returns to the wing opposite Voracek tonight, centered by Jason Williams. That line could really light it up! Alexandre Picard also cleared waivers and was assigned to Syracuse.

Keys For The Game:

Two Way Intensity - We need to get back to complete Hitch-Hockey, with the forwards getting back and closing the gaps in our own zone. Hit hard, pass precisely, and move the puck decisively out of the zone. In our end, put lots of pucks on net and cash in on our chances. No missed one timers!

Patience & Composure -- St. Louis will come out hard, despite it being the back end of a back-to-back, trying to disrupt us the way Dallas did. Backes will agitate and they will try to leverage the revenge factor for the Huselius hit in St. Louis to get us to lose our cool and take unnecessary penalties. We can't fall into that trap. There will be plenty of opportunities to deliver some good, clean, vicious hits to Backes tonight -- but keep the eye on the prize. Staying out of the box will deprive them of one of their key weapons.

Traffic In Front -- The last couple of games, our forwards have been staying away from the blue paint. The lone exception was Voracek, who got the only goal against Ottawa. We can get some pucks past the St. Louis goaltenders, but need more traffic in front, and the ability to get the stick on the rebounds.

Pick Up Mason -- Stevie has carried the team a lot this year, so let's return the favor tonight. Keep Tkachuk, Boyes & Co. on the perimeter, open up lanes for vision, and clear the puck from in front. Don't wait for the puck to come to you in our own zone!!!

Should be a chippy game, and I expect the boys will be loaded for bear, proving that the Dallas debacle was just a fluke. Big win ahead! Go Jackets!

Tuesday Tidbits

Mono Watch -- The hockey media are having equal measures of fun and concern with the disclosure that Steve Mason is suffering from mono. The following from Charlie Teljeur at THN:

Although he’s been cleared by doctors (obviously Columbus season ticket holders) to keep playing, Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason is battling mononucleosis. I’d actually like to see him play through this entire crisis, get the team into the playoffs and lead the Blue Jackets to the Stanley Cup. Then, as payback, Mason should be the first to drink champagne out of the cherished mug. I can hear his teammates now: “No, it’s OK, I’m really not that thirsty.”

60% Rule -- With all of the calculating and figuring and hand-wringing and general carrying on about playoff prospects (including my own), one simple way to look at it is the 60% rule. As of the All Star Break, the CBJ had 35 games left, and had 22 wins, plus 5 OTL. Look at the remaining games as 7 groups of 5 games. Win 3 of 5 in each group, and you have no worries. That would add 21 wins for 43 wins and 91 points, assuming we had straight losses in every other game. That will make the playoffs in the West. Right now, we have won 2 of the first three in the first group of 5, so just need to split between St. Louis and Pittsburg to be on target. See, simple isn't it?

Ottawa -- With the Senators jettisoning their coach this week, what impact will that have on trade prospects? The Canadian media are circling like sharks, with the majority opining that GM Bryan Murray should have been axed before Craig Hartsburg. The Senators are a salary cap mess, public opinion already says to trash the season and rebuild, and ownership pressure on the GM has to be building. Sounds like the recipe for some bargains, and Howson is one of the best bargain shoppers around. Stay tuned.

St. Louis preview coming shortly.

Leclaire Out, Campbell Miffed

It's now official -- Pazzy will have season-ending ankle surgery for torn ligaments and bone spurs in his ankle. Surgery will likely take place later this week at the Cleveland Clinic, with a recovery period of 10 -12 weeks ahead. He is expected to fully recover before next training camp.

This is the best move all the way around. The cycle of doctor appointment/back to the ice/IR/doctor appointment is not good for him or the club. Get healthy, come back at full strength. Whether he comes back as the first string goalie for us, a top flight backup, or prime trade material, a healthy Pazzy is what everybody wants. Bon Chance!


Columbus' favorite NHL Executive, Colin Campbell, is apparently not pleased with the CBJ brass at the moment. Per an item in Puck-Rakers, Campbell is not at all happy that Columbus is holding Steve Mason out of the Young Stars game. Seems that we found a loophole, in that while a player who plays in the regular season game immediately before the All Star game must play in the big game, the same rule is not in place for the Young Stars tilt. Given Mason's back issues and the schedule he has played, it makes sense to give him a week of rest and treatment. Sorry, Colin. How about looking at those replays a little closer next time?

Another Great Mason Article

Check out this great article on Mason at The Hockey News!

Goats -- The Sequel!!!

As the Jacket's began to mesh early in the season, the offensive load was taken up by the Goat line -- Chimera, Brassard, Voracek-- two youngsters and one self-described "old goat'. (The mere fact that Chimera can even consider referring to himself as an "old goat" at the ripe old age of 29 speaks volumes about the young talent on this team.) I digress, however. With Brassard and Chimera down, the Goat mantle fell upon the shoulders of Michael Peca, with Voracek and Nikita Filatov as his young proteges. The results? The first-ever hat trick by a Bluejackets rookie, 8 points for the line (3 goals and 5 assists) and a combined +9. They spearheaded a rock solid team effort that led to a 4 - 2 victory over the Minnesota Wild, acheiving a nice 4 point swing against a playoff rival, and finishing off an impressive back to back double over the past two nights.

Make no mistake, this was what has become a typical Bluejackets/Wild affair -- hard checking, stifling defense, tons of play in the neutral zone, and little free space in which to operate. Considering the disputed 2 - 1 loss and the 3 -2 shootout loss to the Wild in their house earlier this season, this game was a veritable orgy of scoring, with the CBJ tallying 4 goals, including 3 in the third. After a great heads up play by Filatov to put us on the board first, followed by a flukey, fluttering Wild goal that Mason never saw, the mood in the house was that of a close boxing match. Everyone knew that some small mistake, a tiny opening, would crack the defense and provide the knockout. That knockout came in the third, via Dorsett and Filatov.

+/- for the night:

+ Filatov -- what a night this kid had! The first goal had the puck crossing the goal line just before Filatov joined the puck in the net. The second was an absolute laser beam from a steep angle on the left that zipped past Harding on the near post before he knew what happened. The last time I saw a shot like that was from the same spot on November 29th, 2008, and it was Ovechkin shooting. (Mason caught it). The third was pure hustle, and being in the right place. In between, he dropped to the ice and made a nice block of a scoring opportunity, kept the puck in motion, and was always in the right spot. He had some comical moments as well, including a rather dramatic whiff of a pass as he came down the left wing. Listening to him on the post-game shows, it is clear this young man has it all together. (By the way, consider that the hat trick was done on 5 shots in just 9:59 of ice time!)

+ Peca, Voracek -- The Goat II line was scary in how comfortable they look together. Just as playing with Nash and Huselius has elevated Malhotra's game, Peca has flourished of late, with this being just the latest, and best example. Voracek is becoming a monster, though I still wish he would shoot more!

+ Patience -- We played another Hitchcock game -- generating offense from the back end. We were careful with the puck, made the most of our chances, and got 30 shots on goal, which is a lot against a Minnesota team that is notoriously stingy. Only 2 penalties other than the too many men penalty in the third, and a meaningless call after the game was decided.

+ Crowd -- Whille not a sellout, likely 17K + were there, and enthusiastically greeeted the boys' return from the road, and were loud during the game, waving the freebie towels with great abandon. Lots of hats made it to the ice for Nikita's hat trick, and more stayed for the 3 Stars and the Filatov interview. Good stuff!!!

+ Defense -- Great support, presence of mind and constantly frustrated Minnesota in their effort to get something going. The first goal was a fluttering, seeing-eye shot from the point that Mason never saw. The second, a power play goal after the game was decided, was likewise the result of a screen. Mason was solid all night, and the defense gave him room. Defense was likewise patient with the puck, and penalty kill was good, surrendering a meaningless goal at the end.

+ Individuals -- Besides the Goat II line, Tyutin and Commodore were strong, and Russell got his game back as well. Dorsett was monsterous. Malhotra continued his strong play, and Modin and Huselius were strong contributors as well. Mason, of course. Methot had a good game as well. Picard showed strong, and made a great play to set up Dorsett's goal.

- Injury -- Murray left with an "upper body injury" and did not return. He is day to day according to Hitchcock.

The ingredients for a let down were all there--end of long road trip, big win over tough opponent, late flight home, injury depleted roster. Somebody forgot to tell the team. They had energy, guts and were simply not going to be denied. The kids are getting a baptism of fire, and are passing the ordeal with flying colors. Look who appeared on the scoresheet tonight -- Filatov, Voracek, Dorsett, Picard (aided by Peca and Malhotra) With the possible exception of Voracek, how many folks thought these guys would even be on the roster at this point?

These kids are creating a nice problem for Howson. As we continue to win, with depleted ranks, the kids gain more confidence and give Howson more options and leverage with other teams. As Ottawa and Toronto's fortunes fade (they both lost tonight), the likelihood of dealing there increases. Howson has a better position as each day goes by, though guys like Filatov are also going to provide headaches as he decides where they need to play. While a case can be made that Filatov can use some more AHL seasoning, the Crunch do not appear to be going anywhere this year (due in large part to the roster being ravaged by the parent club). Does it help him to get more minutes for a losing AHL club? Interesting conundrum.

A great effort again tonight for the home crowd. Expect a big crowd for Colorado on Tuesday, even without Adam Foote.

Tomorrow I will feature the mid-season review and report card. Please let me know what you like here, what you don't, and vent your opinions.

Go Jackets!

Mason A Young Star`

As expected, Steve Mason was named to the NHL All Star Young Stars Game today. A consolation prize to be sure, but another in the growing list of accolades coming this young man's way as he continues his stellar play. Nice job Steve!

Mason #3 In TSN Player Rankings

TSN.ca has elevated Steve Mason to #3 in it's Player Power Rankings, released January 6. This was the first time Steve was eligible for the list, under their Games Played criterion, which requires 28 games played. He trails only Alexandre Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin on the list.

Congrats Steve!!!

Game Effort -- Hold Your Breath . . .

What can you say about last night's game? Gutsy effort. Missed chances. Skeleton crew. Pretty much sums it up, don't you think?

First, on the "A" topic on everyone's mind, Puck-Rakers is reporting that Nash's injury is not viewed as long term, and that he was seen walking out of the Joe last night without assistance. No mention of whether there was a limp, but this is potentially a good sign. I will be keeping tabs on the news flows today.

The game itself was a gritty affair, played just the way the Jackets needed to have it happen. Defense was stout, Mason was huge. We created opportunities on offense, but couldn't cash in. If Modin nets that first shot, instead of posting it, and Peca hits the empty net, this becomes a vastly different game. Still, we created lots of chances early, kept pace with Detroit in the circle, had our share of hits, and stayed with them the entire way. The first PP goal was deflating, and I think Mase would like to have that second goal back.

+/- View For The Night:

+ Guts & Effort -- I read so much about how these guys don't show a lot of heart, or that they don't care, etc. How could you watch last night's game and not understand that these guys care deeply and are busting their rumps to try to win? They had every excuse to lay down, and they didn't. In past years, this is a 5 -0 game in the 2nd period. No moral victories, but sometimes you just need attitude to get you through.

+ Mason -- The heat was on Mason to come through and he did. Second goal not a highlight reel moment for him, but he had plenty of those during the game. Great stuff from a young kid.

+ Defense -- We shut them out at even strength, and avoided the glaring errors in our own zone that had haunted us in past games. Commodore just continues to impress.

+ Individuals -- Mason, Commodore, Tyutin, Russell, Methot, Umberger, Voracek.

- Puck Control -- We did a nice job on this in the first period, holding onto it in the offensive zone for extended periods, and keeping the puck away from Detroit. We allowed this to slip away over the last two.

--Special Teams -- PP could get nothing going in the few chances we had, but we had a "B" list cast out there for most of the time, so won't harp on PP. PK was not good, surrendering both goals. As with St. Louis, we started chasing the points when they were in control, stretching out the diamond and opening up lanes for cross ice passes. Need to get back to basics here.

- Opportunities -- Again we failed to finish on some glorious chances. Those turn the whole game around emotionally.

- Individuals -- Peca, Modin. No excuses for continued failure to cash in opportunities. These guys are veterans and need to cash in, particularly with Nash, Huselius, Torres, Brassard, Chimera out.

At the end of the day, we hung with an outstanding hockey club the entire game with largely AHL talent on the ice in the offensive end. Ty Conklin also stood on his head in goal for Detroit. We are still 3 - 2 on a brutal road trip, at .500 overall, and in the thick of things. With a bit of luck on Nash's news, some healthy returns, and some possible help from Mr. Howson, we can beat the Caps on Friday, end the trip 4 - 2, and head into the 2nd half of the season with a majority of home games ahead of us. Lots to look forward to.

Western conference All Star lineup announced today at Noon. We will post results here as soon as they are available.

Game Day Preview -- Jackets vs. Colorado Avalanche

The first game of 2009 is just 12 hours or so away! Here are some tidbits to consider for tonight's contest, which will mark the halfway point in the Jackets current road trip, the longest of the season. This also marks the front end of a tough back-to-back, with St. Louis on tap for tomorrow.

To lead off, here is an interesting excerpt from Adrian Dater's blog entry in the Denver Post:

The Avs are running into one hot goalie tomorrow night. Columbus’ Steve Mason has three straight shutouts, a streak of 181:59. This is the same guy who led Canada to the World Junior title last year. No rookie has done what Mason has done since Glenn Hall in 1955-56.- Don’t be surprised if Doug Weight becomes a Blue Jacket before long. I think that will leave him with only four more NHL teams he hasn’t played with if that happens. Or at least it seems that way. (And, yes, I say why not get Doug Weight in the Burgundy and Blue, at this stage, as another reader noted below. Seriously, I’ve given up on Arnie. You either have it or you don’t. And Arnie just doesn’t have it anymore).

So, it appears that Mason is starting to get some notice, and the Weight deal is gaining some momentum outside the confines of Central Ohio.

Despite losing two of their stalwarts, including their leading scorer, Colorado has been making things tough for visiting teams. The Avs have won their last three at home, including a 5-4 win over Phoenix, a 4 - 3 victory over the Red Wings and a 5 - 1 thumping of Nashville.

Not sure who will be in goal for Avs tonight. Budaj has taken the brunt of the load, including the 3 - 1 loss at Phonix on New Year's Eve. He is 13-16-1, with a 2.74 GAA and a .903 save percentage. Raycroft has only appeared in 8 games, but has a 6 - 1 record. His GAA is 2.95 and sports an .886 save percentage. Given the disparity between the statistics and the records, it appears that Raycroft has been in the right place at the right time.

Both the CBJ and the Avs are working through injury issues. Colorado, however, still has Jacket killers Ryan Smith and Milan Hejduk. John-Michael Liles has been providing some scoring support from the blue line, and Ian Laperriere and T.J. Hensick have also been contributors.

The Jackets have moved up to 10th in the NHL in Goals Against, thanks to their recent spate of shutouts, and remain 22nd in goals scored. We need to continue with the tough Hitchcockian checking game tonight, but also need to step up the offensive assault. We need 30+ shots on goal tonight, and lots of early rubber. Get an early lead, dole out the majority of the hits, stay out of the box and own the faceoff circle. Those are the keys for the current road trip, and have worked so far. If we can add some more offensive zip and elevate the puck above the ice, but below the crossbar, we have the ingredients for success.

Let's go Jackets!!

What A Way To End 2008!

Let the record reflect that there were fewer than 30 minutes remaining in the 2008 calendar year when the Jackets wrapped up their 3rd consecutive shutout win -- a 2 - 0 decision over the Anaheim Ducks. The Orange County Register blogger who questioned the existence of the Bluejackets in today's Ducks' blog now most certainly knows the name of at least one Bluejacket -- Steve Mason. Mase was simply spectacular once again, stopping all 27 shots that came his way. Well there was that one errant shot that went in the net but was not counted, due to the whistle having sounded for coincidental minor penalties, plus an extra 2 minutes to the Ducks. He now owns the record for most consecutive scoreless minutes by a Bluejackets goalie -- at the age of 20. Oh yeah, he also leads the league in GAA, with a 1.68 or so, and is tied with Luongo for the lead with 5 shutouts. Another game where the two goalies were the first and second stars.

For some classic deadpan humor, you really needed to catch Hitchcock's comments after the game. Barely suppressing a smile, when asked to comment about Mason, he said something to the effect of "He was O.K. -- he was fine." About 5 seconds later, when asked who starts in Colorado, the answer was simple, direct and immediate -- "Mason." We are getting grand efforts by him when we have needed them most, when our offensive ranks are thinned.

Credit goes to the boys in front of Mason for playing gritty, hard nosed hockey night after night, and doing the little things necessary to win. MacDonald was parked in front when Commodore let his blast go, and had his stick in the right place. After just missing on a long distance pass to spring Huselius, Nash pursued the puck to the boards, gained possession, and fed Peca with a beautiful chance that he buried. Two third period goals that slay the Ducks -- a beautiful thing.

With Chimera poised to come off the IR soon, the offense will hopefully begin to pick up. Since I could not watch the first two periods of the game tonight, i can't give out my usual +/- rankings, but suffice it to say that it certainly looked to be another victory chalked up to superior effort.

Now a well deserved rest to enjoy the New Year, then time to tackle a back-to-back at Colorado and St. Louis. Normally a graveyard for Jackets teams in the past, Colorado is hurt by injuries and lost to Phoenix tonight. St. Louis has also been hampered by injuries in falling to the bottom of the Western Conference standings. No matter, we need to put our feet firmly on their throats and keep up this relentless effort.

Possibilities abound folks -- stay tuned!!!! Go Jackets!!!

A Dirty, Grimy Victory

Sitting here in a sleep-deprived fog, recovering from following the game on radio and internet last night/this morning, then watching coverage on NHL Network, this is the only description I can come up with to describe the victory over the Kings. Brutal hitting, tight checking, incredible goaltending on both sides. They should have worn overalls instead of hockey sweaters for this one.

Klesla was the metaphor for this victory. He kept hitting, getting hurt, coming back. Stops a 3 on 1 by getting his forehead in the way of the puck. Still he came back. He got off the deck more times than Jerry Quarry. (Youngsters can Google Jerry to find out who he was.) ;-) Make no mistake, however -- this was another team victory, in a game that was destined to go against the team that blinked first.

Hejda was huge all night. Peca came to the fore, as did Boll. Nash, despite having only 1 SOG, was a big presence all night. Huselius was a gnat, keeping motion in the game. Umberger, Murray and Voracek all contributed. Even Backman was a visible presence. As predicted in the preview here, it came down to some incredible goaltending. Both tenders robbed shooters of some prime opportunities.

+/- for the game:

+ Tenacity -- "Energy" does not describe the attitude that the CBJ brought to the ice last night. While there was the periodic display of skill and tape-to-tape passing, those efforts were frustrated by great defense and goaltending on each side. We stayed physical for 60 minutes, pounded pucks from the point, and did all of the unpleasant things that you need to do to win on the road.

+ Defense -- Another game where we did not let them breathe. Lots of support in our own end, good clears, limited chances. Only 24 shots against -- a big improvement over 42 a couple of weeks ago! We dominated faceoff circle again, with Manny coming up huge.

+ Goaltending -- The two young Turks of the netminder world squared off, and our guy came out on top. Another nice effort!

+ Special Teams -- We were prudent about taking penalties, and the game winner was a power play goal (on an abbreviated power play, no less!) We are moving the puck better on the PP. PK was perfect again (14 for our last 14)!

+ Individuals -- Klesla, Hejda, Russell, Mason, Nash, Murray, Voracek, Huselius, Umberger.

- Finishing -- I almost hate to put this in as a minus, because both defenses and goaltenders did tremendous jobs, but other chances were missed from the magic triangle. Shots wide or high, and guys just not having their sticks on the ice when the puck got there. Need to start cashing in on opportunities, as I can guarantee you that we will need some of those during this trip.

Bottom line was a great start to the longest road trip of the year. A day to lick our wounds and end 2008 with a victory over Anaheim!

Go Jackets!

A Complete Effort!!!!!

On December 23rd, after the LA debacle, Hitch promised a different team and a different effort against Philadelphia. The man sure knows how to keep his word . . . .

Tonight was a tremendous effort under signifcant pressure after two lackluster performances. The CBJ came out strong, kept the pressure on in all three zones, and never gave the Flyers time to breathe. Passing was crisp, checking was solid, forecheck was intense. Penalty kill shut down the top power play in the league, and we showed great puck movement on the PP, cashing in one power play goal.

A crowd that just missed being a sellout helped with the team energy, even though the visiting colors were over-represented in the arena. All in all, it was an effort that Howson, Hitchcock and the PR department could only have dreamed of for this time and place. Here is the +/- for tonight:

+ Energy-- All four lines were in constant motion, creating space and opportunities on offense, disrupting flow in the neutral zone, and supporting and filling on defense. The crowd and the players seemed to feed on each other as the game went on.
+ Malhotra -- I have called Manny out for lackluster effort this season, and he slapped me in the face tonight. 17 of 19 in the faceoff circle, a goal, and could have had several assists had we finished our chances. He got his chance on the top line, and he thrived. Full Marks, Manny!!
+ Mason -- Stop me if this is starting to sound like Groundhog Day, but Mason was a stud, the Master of the Crease, and the calmest head on the ice. He also created opportunities with his stick handling.
+ Penalty Kill -- Perfect against the top PP unit in the league. Doesn't get any better than that.
+ Power Play -- OK, not a great percentage, but great puck movement, lots of shots and 1 goal. From where we have been, this merits a +.
+ Defense -- We frustrated the Flyers' rhythm and kept them from maintaining sustained pressure in our end. We made crisp clears and fueled some great break outs. Held Philly to 20 shots, while generating 33 of our own. Nice.
+ Net Presence -- Both ends of the ice saw hordes of Bluejackets in and around the blue paint. We harassed the goalie, and bailed Mason out the few times Philly presented serious pressure. Just what Drs. Davidge, Hitchcock and Gare have been prescribing.
+ Individual Play -- This one goes to the whole team tonight, as everyone played their role to perfection.
- Finishing -- The lone minus for the evening. Nash, Huselius and Malhotra could have had 15 points between them had they finished opportunities presented by tape to tape passes. Umberger had a few, as did Voracek. We had 8 more scoring chances than Philadelphia. We need to finish our chances to win consistently.

This was a great way to send the team off for the longest road trip of the season. Good that it starts in LA, as we will be ripe for revenge, and should have some good confidence after a solid victory over a strong opponent. Philly was without Biere and Timonen, but we are nicked too. Super job, boys!

Go Jackets!!!