The Dark Blue Jacket

Bob wins Vezina

2013-06-15T22:15:00.002-04:00

Vezina Trophy Winner Sergei Bobrovsky

Mickelson leads the US Open in Philadelphia, but the Vezina Trophy winner no longer plays there. For ~~two~~ three draft picks Scott Howson acquired Sergei Bobrovsky, in the summer of 2012, who today deservedly won the Vezina Trophy as the goal tender of the year in the NHL. Bedecked in a really spiffy suit, Bob did the award interviews through an interpreter, as his English won't support a national TV interview.

Please accept the heartiest congratulations from this season ticket holder and ardent fan. Well done Bob, well done indeed. You reflect great credit on the Blue Jackets organization and our fair City.

GO JACKETS!!

The one question whose answer tells us if the Coyotes are moving

2013-06-13T16:57:00.001-04:00

So let me get this straight about the Phoenix Coyotes:

1. General manager Don Maloney re-ups for a "long-term" on May 24th.

2. Assistant GM Brad Treliving re-ups for a "multi-year" term today.

3. The NHL is making noises (once again) about time running out on the Yotes in Glendale if the team isn't sold ASAP. The potential moving destination is Seattle, Washington (whose arena, contrary to the THN column, DOES have the ability to make ice - hence the hockey seating chart).

So are the Coyotes moving or not?

Here's my best way to find out, and it's the question that I haven't seen anyone asking:

"Does Don Maloney have an exit clause in his contract if the Phoenix Coyotes relocate from Glendale, Arizona?"

If the answer is "Yes," I say that it'll take a miracle to keep the Desert Dogs leashed up for even a couple more years. Maloney surely would get that such a clause gives the team the flexibility to move and for him to decide his fate if such a relocation happens.

If the answer is "No," the NHL has dug into the Sonoran sands.

If the question has been asked, and I just haven't seen it, I'd appreciate a link in the comments.

The Dark Blue Podcast - 2013 Season Wrapup (Part Three)

2013-06-13T10:09:00.001-04:00

If you recall, Morgan, Mike and I took over the DKM Hockey Podcast studios for an evening to kick back and try to process the madness that was the 2013 Columbus Blue Jackets season.

At long last...our final segment looks ahead to the offseason ahead. Tough decisions loom for the firm of Priest, Davidson and Kekalainen, and we share what limited wisdom we can offer. Hope you enjoy!

It's Time to Start Getting Ready for the Penguins Jarmo

2013-06-08T10:57:00.000-04:00

There is no substitute for veteran leadership

Last night we saw the final dismantling of the Pittsburgh Penguins by the Boston Bruins. The Pens, in the words of Mike Milbury, were the 'prohibitive favorite to win the Cup' and were swept by Boston, 4 games to none. The NBC Sports color analysts were unanimous that there would be a coaching change in Pittsburgh in the wake of the debacle. So things will be different in Pittsburgh next year, and they will still be loaded with offensive talent.

And, as I have watched these playoffs unfold I have never felt, as I have in past years, that the Columbus Blue Jackets would be out of place in the Eastern Conference playoffs. If they are playing the style of hockey next year that they played down the stretch, they are going to be in the conversation. How did Boston sweep the Penguins? I think they outworked them. They beat them to loose pucks relentlessly, and checked like demons. Sound familiar? Boston has also showed a great deal of resiliency under duress in the playoffs, the hallmark of solid team leadership. Much like the CBJ showed down the stretch. Much like the Penguins didn't exhibit in the conference championship.

Adrian Aucoin, you need leadership on the
back end as well.

What were the ingredients of the CBJ's stretch run, things that they will need in ample supply next year in the eastern conference? A relentless work ethic and a 'never say die' attitude. These pieces have their foundation in the veteran leadership in the locker room. And Vinny Prospal is the ring leader and wellspring of these attitudes in the locker room. The teams leading scorer, Vinny is obviously not done in the NHL. It's time to get him signed to a new contract Jarmo. I know you have been focusing on the draft. I know we need to sign Bob. Vinny's contract should be easier.

Prospal is the guy who knows how to have fun, but also knows how that you have to work hard, and then work harder. He sets that example on a day to day basis, which is a critical example for our young players. They are not ready to do it without him. It's time to get this foundation piece in place Jarmo. Its time to sign our leading scorer.

Adrian Aucoin, by all accounts, was a crucial leader on the back end. Where are you going to put Murray's locker stall? Next to Aucoin. The back end may be crowded, but Aucoin will miss enough games due to injury to give the young 'uns a chance to play. But they will need to him to help navigate the NHL as young players.

These are two, easy, one year contracts to preserve the veteran leadership in the locker room. As much as the Penguins were loaded for a Cup run, this is one ingredient they were lacking. The CBJ do not have the talent margin to enjoy that luxury. It's time Jarmo. Let's get this done.

GO JACKETS!!

Bon voyage, George Matthews

2013-05-29T20:57:00.003-04:00

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced that its radio voice since day one of the franchise, George Matthews, will be stepping aside after 13 years for other pursuits closer to home. The release suggests that he won't totally abandon the mike, but it's largely Bob McElligott's party now.

There won't be any huge retrospective here - just an expression of sincere admiration for George. I'm not sure I entirely understood what he was saying some of the time (which usually corresponded with a Blue Jackets goal or highlight reel save), but there was no mistaking his love of the team and the sport. How many nights I strolled through the XM, looking for the Blue Jackets game, only to smile when I heard his unmistakable voice!

If (when?) the Blue Jackets establish a Ring of Honor, I hope that the team has the good sense to save a spot for George.

Good luck on the next chapter of your life, George. And thank you.

The Dark Blue Podcast - 2013 Season Wrapup (Part Two)

2013-05-28T23:31:00.002-04:00

If you recall, Morgan, Mike and I took over the DKM Hockey Podcast studios for an evening to kick back and try to process the madness that was the 2013 Columbus Blue Jackets season.

Our latest segment gets personal...we share our individual reflections on the season and gaze at our navels for a while. Enjoy!

Glass Bangers - Memorial Weekend Edition

2013-05-25T12:03:00.001-04:00

This is for @osujoe, the notorious (not famous)
Brassacek Jersey

Yesterday was an interesting start to the Memorial Day weekend in Blue Jackets land. So I thought I would summarize some of it, and muse on it a bit.

First and foremost, the CBJ announced that goal tender Curtis McElhinney was signed to a 1 year, one way deal. CMac had a great year this year leading Springfield to the second round of the AHL playoffs. He posted a 29-6-3 record, with a 2.29 GAA and a .923 Save Percentage. These are very good numbers, that eclipse the relatively pedestrian numbers he has posted in prior service in the NHL. CMac will be coming in to compete for the backup goalie spot behind Bobrovsky.

CMac came to the organization as an injured goal tender as part of the 2011-12 late season purge that sent Antoine Vermette to the Phoenix Coyotes. At the time he was recovering from major surgery. The CBJ signed him to a two-way deal last year, and he spent the entire year in Springfield. Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch is quoting Jarmo Kekalainen as saying that CMac earned the contract with his play in Springfield, and the one way deal was pretty much what was necessary to keep him in the organization. At 30 years old, this is probably CMac's last real chance at the NHL. We need a back up goal tender who is committed to performing, and will win us some games while relieving Bobrovsky.

On the 'let the wookie win' front, the CBJ signed Finnish defenseman Ilari Melart to a one year entry level deal. He is a 24 year old, 6'3", 227 lb stay at home defenseman, who has some thump to his game. This ensures that Dalton Prout has some competition coming into camp. This should prove interesting. While I can't recall the source at this moment (apologies to that source) when following this on Twitter yesterday, Jarmo basically implied that people will have a hard time getting away from him on the smaller North American ice surfaces. Not to say that he is merely a goon, but he is a large, physical defenseman. I think this adds some real depth to the CBJ defensive corps in an area that we are not deep. This is a good signing by Jarmo, capitalizing on his knowledge of European players.

Anton Forsberg in 2012 Development Camp

In another development, the Columbus Dispatch is reporting that the CBJ signed goal tender prospect Anton Forsberg to a 3 year entry level deal. Forsberg will likely play in Sweden this year, where he has a chance to compete for a starting job with Modo in the Swedish Elite league. Forsberg is probably furthest along of all the bright goal tending prospects in the system, and its possible he'll make the jump to North America for the 2014-15 season.

Bobrovsky is still not signed, but Bob's agent would be a stone cold lunatic for signing a deal before finding out whether Bob had won the Vezina trophy for best goal tender of the year. So that won't happen at least until after the second game of the final, which is when the Vezina award will be announced. Patience it the watchword here. Keep calm, and vote for Bob in the EA Sports NHL14 cover vote. So far he is in the semi finals.

Have a fun and safe Memorial Day everyone! Take a moment to reflect on those who have fallen to keep our Country free.

GO JACKETS!

Thoughts on Joey's Benching

2013-05-21T09:15:00.000-04:00

Ryan Johansen in Development Camp

Puck Rakers and today's Columbus Dispatch are reporting that Ryan Johansen was benched for Game 4 of the Springfield Falcons' second round series against the Syracuse Crunch, in which the Crunch swept the Falcons. This was Brad Larsen's call, but according to the Puck Rakers report he did consult with upper management before benching Joey. But I think they all concurred.

What an emotional roller coaster for a young player. The stirring battle to the end for the CBJ, the disappointment of missing the playoffs, then back to the AHL playoffs. But the benching sends a message throughout the organization about accountability, which this fan finds heartening. Developmentally, the CBJ had this 100% correct to send Joey and Prout back to Springfield. And for Joey, its about coming to grips with being a pro. You may have ridden an emotional roller coaster. Maybe you didn't show up for Game 1. By the end of Game 2, when the coach has talked you up to try to get you ready, and you don't respond in Game 3, then you should be benched. A pro ought to be able to hit that reset button, and get engaged after that first game. So, lesson learned, we hope.

Management has made it clear that Johansen should focus on a great off season in order to make a strong push to make the NHL club in the fall. Johansen should note that his spot on the big club is not a given, and that with the depth at center, and Boone Jenner's almost certain push into the mix, that he will be challenged to make the club. Hopefully some time off, and then getting back into preparation for the season will help him to make the mental adjustment.

The other reason I am pleased about this has to do with our missing out on those lottery players in the 2013 draft which was caused by the CBJ's playoff push. Nathan MacKinnon or Seth Jones would look really good in a CBJ uniform, no doubt. The interesting thing about those high draft picks is that they are going to pretty much jump from juniors into the NHL. They have the talent, and while there will be ups and downs, the teams picking these guys will make room on the roster for them. With the CBJ picking 14th, and with two more picks in the first round, the order yet to be determined by playoff finishes, we will load 3 really good prospects into the development track. Rather than 'making room on the roster' for these guys, they are most likely to finish their junior careers, then jump to the AHL before we will see them in the regular season in Columbus. But it will be a shot in the arm for our development system, and soon Brad Larsen will get his chance to mold them. These players are unlikely to be the 'high risk, high reward players'. By the time they get to Columbus, we should have a pretty good idea what they are going to bring to the table, similar to the track that Boone Jenner has taken.

All of which should make this year's annual draft party a really good time!

GO JACKETS!!

Carry Over

2013-05-14T12:57:00.000-04:00

My buddy Bill has a saying that he uses before each season, which is 'these hockey seasons never turn out the way you think they are going to turn out'. Nothing could illustrate that saying more completely than the 2012-13 Columbus Blue Jackets, picked by all to finish last, yet missing the playoffs by a single point. Things just don't turn out the way you think they will.

To further complicate matters, the CBJ move to the East next year. This is a new suite of opponents and arenas for the fans, and some of the players. But quite a few of our core players have played significant time in the Eastern Conference, so this landscape will not be unfamiliar to them. So that's a good thing. But what else can we reasonably expect to carry over from the previous season, even allowing for Bill's proverb to come through?

I'd like to be able to say that the team's infectious joy that they showed down the stretch would return, but it won't. That is something that is captured in that period of time, and only the playoffs could have prolonged the mojo that the team had developed. Unfortunately, that spirit will not pick up where it left off, and the team will have to rebuild the camaraderie and carry it through and 82 game season next year. I'm not trying to be overly negative, it's just that these things are not static. The good news is that the team left a great foundation to build on for next year, and as Morgan observed, having once built the camaraderie, the players know it can happen, and its easier to build again.

So what are the foundations that can be used to re-build the mojo?

Well, for one, we have Ilya Bryzgalov to count on. Wait...what? Yup, the Bryz is our ace in the hole. Assume Sergei Bobrovsky wins the Vezina trophy. One of Bob's great assets is his incredible work ethic. What if winning the Vezina takes a little edge off that work ethic? Enter our old buddy Bryz. Bob got buried behind Bryz's big contract before he was rescued from the desert planet of Philadelphia ((C) DKM Hockey), and he didn't like playing second fiddle to Bryz. Then, to top it off, Bryzgalov got himself named number one goal tender of the Russian World Championship team, since Bob was still in a playoff chase. So even if Bobrovsky wins the Vezina he so richly deserves, there will be the issue of who is Russia's best goal tender remaining to drive him. And I believe this issue will be a big one for Bob. So we should be able to reasonably count on Bob's work ethic returning intact. And when your best player is working that hard, pretty much everyone else has to follow along.

One chink that I can see forming in the foundation has to do with whether Jarmo and JD return Vinny Prospal. To me, Vinny is the catalyst that makes all this work. In spite of his age, Vinny lead the team in scoring. I also think that he is the one that creates the conditions to make it easier to have fun while working hard. I really hope they get this settled for Vinny, as his handshake agreement with the organization walked out the door when Howson was fired. It would be ideal to bring him back on a series of one year deals, that retain the leadership (and scoring), yet provide for organizational flexibility. Here's a guy who is getting it done, yet wants to make Columbus his home, after seeing a lot of what this country has to offer. There is a lot of upside to keeping him on the roster.

Nick Foligno is another one of those guys that seems to be able to have fun while working hard. His greetings with Bobrovsky after games became legendary, and they both seemed to have a lot of fun with it. Nick also produced down the stretch on the road, winning a game in OT and setting up another one in the final, crucial road stretch. I like Nick's game.

So here is the funny thing. As I sit and think about this, there is way more than this as a foundation for next year. Dubinsky and Anisimov who can set a work ethic tone. Then there is the whole defensive corps, Jack, Wiz, Tyutin and Nikitin, Prout and Erixon are a very good foundation for the next year.

After the 2008-09 season I just assumed everyone would get better, and we would magically advance in the playoffs. But I can see how this must be earned, and re-created every year, and how each season is its own battle. But the 2012-13 team left us foundations with many different strengths. If one thing does not get better, others will. So with that in mind, there is some reason for optimism for 2013-14, and barring catastrophe, it is likely the season will end in much the same way, a playoff battle to the end. Which is something to look forward to, don't you think?

GO JACKETS!!

The Dark Blue Podcast - 2013 Season Wrapup (Part One)

2013-05-14T10:24:00.000-04:00

Morgan, Mike and I took over the DKM Hockey Podcast studios for an evening to kick back and try to process the madness that was the 2013 Columbus Blue Jackets season.

Our opening segment covers the team's actual performance this season...on all fronts. Enjoy!

Part VIII: The Dark Blue Jacket's Definitive History of the CBJ; Completus Occidentali

2013-05-04T08:54:00.000-04:00

@Skrauts photo of the end of the season celebration

When we last left this history, the 2012-13 season was hanging in the balance due to a labor impasse, I still had my original arthritic knees, and the Columbus Blue Jackets were firmly and definitely ‘THE LAST PLACE TEAM’ (emphasis not added) in the minds of the hockey intelligentsia. By the time the dust settled after an abbreviated 2012-13 season, the CBJ players and coaches had treated the fans to one of the best story lines in all of hockey, coming a mere point short of making the playoffs after a furious charge through the western conference. One wonders if in future segments of this history whether we will look back at the courage and tenacity of this year’s roster as a turning point in the franchise’s fortunes.

Labor Peace

At long last, after months of tooth grinding frustration by fans, the NHL and the NHLPA agreed to a collective bargaining agreement in early January. The new agreement called for an abbreviated 2012-13 season of 48 games following a one week training camp. This arrangement did not bode well for the CBJ, as the short training camp would not allow much time for the sweeping roster changes to jell. But labor peace brought a more seismic change to the Blue Jackets. The 2012-13 season was to be the last that the CBJ would play in the Western Conference. In 2013-14 the CBJ would be playing in the Eastern Conference. In their division would be Pittsburgh, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington and Carolina. Out of the proverbial frying pan of the Central Division of the Western Conference into the fire of the Leaders, er, uh, Legends, er, uh, Atlantic, oh, okay, Division D of the Eastern Conference (yet to be officially named). This is a huge benefit to the CBJ fans, for who the number of away games that start at 7 PM will go up drastically as opposed to the 10 and 10:30 PM starts. In that regard, we will have no more of those than the rest of the league, as the 2012-14 season calls for a home and away with every team in the league. In addition, our fellow Atlantic Division (estimated name) teams are much more natural rivals then most of our current Western Conference brethren. Of course if you want to be a rival, you have to be more than a door mat, which leads us to the 2012-13 season.

The Run-Up to 2012-13

A significant change, not yet been mentioned in this history, prior to the 2012-13 season that ultimately had a huge impact outcome of the season occurred in the coaching ranks. Todd Richards had been affirmed as the Head Coach over the summer. The only coaches that Richards retained were goaltender coach Ian Clark and young Dan Hinote. Gone were the inexperienced coaches of 2011-12. In their place, Richards hired Craig Hartsburg as Associate Coach, and Keith Acton as an assistant coach. These additions brought decades of experience to the coaching ranks, which soon bore fruit. Using the time afforded to them by the lockout, this group of experienced coaches reviewed their roster and forged a tight checking system that fit the makeup of their team. All that remained was to be able to implement the system.

The other important part of the run up to the 2012-13 season was the relationship established with our AHL partner the Springfield Falcons. Brad Larsen was hired as the head coach, and he had an opportunity to confer with the NHL coaches. A system was decided upon, and there was unity of system between Springfield and Columbus. Larsen proved to be an excellent choice, and with a large number young players slotted into the AHL do to the labor woes of the NHL, he had a lot of talent at his disposal. Larsen also had the unusual luxury of a full AHL training camp with a set roster, and he put the time to good use. The ‘Hatched and Hungry’ Falcons roared out of the gate, and in spite of ultimately losing a lot of talent to the NHL, they kept to their winning ways, ultimately capturing the AHL Northeast Division title. They are currently in their playoff series as I write. It is difficult to overstate the importance of the job Larsen did in preparing players to come to the NHL ready to go, which was amply demonstrated over and over again in the NHL 2012-13 season.

Hurry up! Let’s Play Hockey! The 2012-13 Season

With a new collective bargaining agreement in hand, the NHL quickly rushed its 30 clubs into a weeklong training camp with no exhibition games. On January 19, 2013 the puck dropped on the 2012-13 season. The Blue Jackets started the season off right with a shootout win in Nashville. After coming home and losing to the Redwings in a shoot out on a highlight reel move by Brunner, the CBJ went on a quick road trip for back to back games against the Coyotes and Avalanche. The Coyotes were intent on proving which team had the better work ethic, and walked all over the Jackets in a 5-1 win. The next night the Jackets succumbed to the lure of trying to run with the Avs, and lost 4-0 in the first game they were shut out in the season.

The CBJ came home from this road trip to face the Blackhawks, who were coming out of the gate on what was to be a franchise record winning streak. The CBJ played them tight, but lost 3-2, before beating Dallas 2-1 in the first night of a back to back. On the second night of the back to back they went to Minnesota and lost 3-2 to the Wild. Following the Wild game the CBJ came back home for a 6 game home stand starting on the last day of January.

On the first date of the home stand, St. Louis handed the CBJ a 4-1 loss, but in the next game the Jackets beat a battered Redwings team 4-2. This concluded the first two weeks of the season, in which the Blue Jackets played 9 games in 14 days, establishing a trend of playing more games than most everyone in the league, that would last until the final day of the season, and ultimately haunt the team (that’s foreshadowing there folks). For instance, the LA Kings only played 7 games over that stretch, whereas the CBJ had already played 2 back to backs, one of which was on the road.

So the CBJ emerge from the first two weeks of the season with a 3-5-1 record, which is kinda respectable considering the number of games played, the amount of change in the roster, and the scant time available to get the team to jell. At this point in time there was no real number one goal tender, as Mason and Bobrovsky were still trading off in the goal. In addition, the team was prone to mistakes, and during this period Richards was frequently quoted as saying they did not give a 60 minute effort. In addition, early on Bobrovsky had shown a tendency to let in an early soft goal in the first couple of minutes of a game. He often clamped down after that, and the team learned that even if the other team scored first that it did not necessarily mean they were going to score a bunch on Bob.

Hitting Bottom

February was a rough month for the CBJ in the 2012-13 season. Though February started with a win over Detroit, home losses to LA, Calgary in OT, and Edmonton followed in rapid succession. Surprisingly, this was followed by a 6-2 butt whipping that they laid on the San Jose Sharks. Unfortunately, that left the CBJ only going 2-3-1 over a 6 game home stand. And, the road loomed once again. The 6 game road trip had the Jackets bouncing around over time zones like a super ball, with games in LA, Phoenix, and Anaheim, to start the trip, followed by Detroit, St. Louis and Chicago at the end of the trip. The Jackets went 1-5 on this trip, with the sole win coming over Detroit, a 3-2 win at the Joe when Vinny Prospal scored with 24.7 seconds remaining in the game. This was a classic game of early season Bobrovsky. He gave up a goal in the first 18 seconds, and by the 3 minute mark the Redwings had 2 goals. The defense and Bob tightened, and shut the ‘Wings out the rest of the way, while the CBJ crawled back into the game with a power play goal and a greasy Dorsett goal, to set up Vinny’s heroics.

The Jackets limped back home after this road trip, and then lost 5-4 in overtime to Dallas to finish the month. The Blue Jackets finished the month of February 5-12-3, and were dead last in the NHL. Visions of lottery draft picks danced in our heads. But slowly, and surely this team was gathering momentum, as 5 of the 6 preceding road games were one goal games. The Jackets were close and working hard at turning it around. At this point, as a fan, it was safe to say that the games were entertaining even if they were not rewarding. That part of the fan experience was about to change.

Along with the change building slowly on the ice, the organization was undergoing changes as well. On February 12, 2013, General Manager Scott Howson was relieved of his duties. Howson was the architect of the franchises sole appearance in the playoffs, and helped to solidify depth in the organization. Unfortunately, he made an unwise coaching choice, and thus became the architect of a stunning reversal of fortune for the franchise, culminating in a cap team finishing dead last in the league. With the hiring of Craig Patrick in December, 2011, Howson began to look at talent differently, as Patrick urged him to evaluate talent based on the character of the player. In that, Howson proved to be adept, and he managed to make the Nash trade on reasonable terms, thus gutting the heart out of a New York Rangers team that had looked ‘one scorer away from the cup’. While the Rangers did manage to make the playoffs in the eighth seed, they sorely missed the character players now playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets. As of this writing, Howson has assumed the position of Assistant General Manager of the Edmonton Oilers, and in that position I wish him well.

New GM Jarmo Kekalainen

On February 13, 2013 President of Hockey Operations John Davidson hired Jarmo Kekalainen as General Manager. Jarmo had been serving as GM for the Jokerit Team in the Finnish Elite League, and became the first European born General Manager in the National Hockey League. Davidson had worked with Kekalainen extensively in St. Louis, and was well aware of what he brought to the table. In a development that was distinctly unfamiliar for long time Blue Jackets fans, this move was widely hailed across the league as an excellent move. In off the record comments, some Western Conference executives stated the opinion that he was an arrogant prick, which made me like the selection even better. It’s ok if that’s how the opposition views our General Manager. (Editor’s note: If the CBJ don’t use umlauts, I’m not gonna either)

Kekalainen came with a reputation for being a shrewd judge of talent, so sitting in last place at the end of February, with 3 first round draft picks in the 2013 draft made you feel pretty good about our prospects, even if the team wasn’t doing too well. But all of that was about to change.

Miracle March

As March rolled in like a lion, the CBJ were sitting 30^th in the league, playing entertaining hockey and ending up on the wrong side of close games. Long suffering fans were content with entertaining hockey, and visions of lottery picks in June danced in our heads. And then the worm turned, and we may find that March of 2013 was a pivotal month in franchise history. The beauty of March was that there was an extended home stand, 9 home games in 10, starting with the last game of February. And after losing the first two games of the home stand in overtime, the CBJ began an extended run of winning hockey.

As mentioned above, the end of February, and the start of the home stand was an overtime loss to Dallas. This launched a franchise record of 12 consecutive games in which the Blue Jackets at least got a point. March began with an overtime loss to Chicago, followed by a shoot out win against Edmonton, and an overtime win against Vancouver when Matt Calvert scored with 56 seconds in overtime.

Perhaps a defining moment in the 2012-13 season

That success was followed by a moment that seemed to define the team’s confidence in itself. The next game was the first of a home and home, back to back series with the Detroit Redwings. In the first game of the series, with the CBJ wearing their road whites at home at the request of the Redwings, Sergei Bobrovsky pitched his first career shutout, and the CBJ won 3-0. The game was ‘marred’ (snicker) by an incident late in the game, where Vinny Prospal took an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for pointing at the scoreboard following a late third period scrum. This moment came to be famous, and showed that the players had supreme confidence that the Blue Jackets were a team that could beat anyone on any given day. The team validated Vinny’s confidence by going to Detroit the next day and beating Detroit at the Joe in a shootout, with Joey and Matt Calvert converting for the win.

Confidence was high among the players as the team returned to Nationwide Arena and commenced stalking the eighth place position in the standings. Shoot out losses to powerful Vancouver and Chicago teams were followed by a 1-0 shootout win against Phoenix in which both goal tenders earned a shutout, Bob’s second of his career. The Jackets then closed out the long home stand with wins over Nashville and Calgary. This left them with an 8-0-4 record for the period of the long home stand, and the aforementioned franchise point streak of 12 games.

The CBJ then went out on a four game road trip, losing to Nashville in a game in which a well rested Predators squad seemed to have the CBJ’s number. Then it was out to the western Canadian swing of Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. The CBJ lost the first game to Vancouver in a shootout, in which both goal tenders once again pitched shutouts, Bobrovsky’s third career shutout. Two days later, the CBJ lit up the Oilers for four goals, but the Oilers came back and scored a couple of goals late in the third period to take the game 6-4. This game included the controversial wave off of a goal by Matt Calvert for a ‘distinct kicking motion’ as he was hauled off his feet in the crease. Further comment at this point would just make me angry if I think about it, so time to move on. The CBJ followed up this disappointing finish with a solid game against a fragile Calgary team, winning 6-4. This left the CBJ getting only 3 of a possible 8 points on the road, which was a disappointing result when they played pretty well in 3 of the 4 games.

The CBJ closed out March by returning to Nationwide Arena and beating the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 in overtime when Mark Letestu scored late in the overtime period. More importantly, the two points garnered in this game moved the CBJ into sole possession of 8^th place in the Western Conference with 12 games left to play. Using their 9-2-5 record in the month of March, the Blue Jackets had vaulted from last place to playoff position in one month, capturing the attention of NHL audiences everywhere.

The month of March also featured Sergei Bobrovsky seizing the reins of the number 1 goal tender position. Bobrovsky was absolutely en fuego, and recorded the first 3 shutouts of his career. He also captured the hearts of Blue Jackets fans, as the swelling crowds responded to the team’s momentum.

During this pivotal month in the 2012-13 season, the CBJ took full advantage of a lengthy home stand. Historically, we have often seen the Blue Jackets squander such opportunities with indifferent play. The 2012-13 team made the home stand special with their hard working style, converting their effort into success. Solid goal tending is a good thing to have by the way, in case you had noticed.

Trade Deadline

One of the best things about being home on disability following knee replacement surgery is that you don’t have to pretend to be productive for several hours on the trade deadline before the tension takes over and you bail out and go home to watch the Twitter feed (I have a great boss!). This year I was glued to a largely inactive Twitter feed all day with no shame. And while there was general lamenting of the slow pace of the trading, it wasn’t that bad of a way to spend the day.

With a little bit less than an hour left before the trade deadline, the news came that the CBJ have traded Steve Mason to the Philadelphia Flyers for back up Michael Leighton and a draft pick in 2014. In consideration, this was a good trade for the CBJ. Mason was an RFA at the end of the year, and we were not going to give him a qualifying offer. This way we secured the asset, and perhaps benefitted. Mason has made real steps towards claiming the starting goal tender position in Philadelphia since the trade deadline, and I wish him well against all other Eastern Conference Opponents. I wish him white hot death when he is playing against us, but that’s a fan thing.

As Blue Jackets fans sat nodding over their phones, ipads, laptops, or computers that this was a good trade, there came the single electrifying tweet: Gaborik to Columbus. After frenzied scrambling for information, right at the trade deadline came the news that the Blue Jackets had traded Center Derick Brassard, Defenseman John Moore, and injured winger Derek Dorsett (sob! snif!) for winger Marian Gaborik of the New York Rangers, a perennial goal scorer. Davidson and Kekalainen had looked over the landscape, surveyed their team’s gutsy climb from last place to eighth place in the month of March, and decided that reinforcements were appropriate.

This was a stunning move that shocked both the fan base and the NHL, but sent a shot out that the CBJ were serious about this winning stuff. In addition, Kekalainen acquired Blake Comeau from Calgary for low round draft picks. Comeau would play important minutes as injuries mounted down the stretch.

The CBJ paid dearly for Gaborik. Gone were 3 players who were part of the fabric of the team. Brassard still has the potential to be a gifted center, but John Moore will play important minutes for the Rangers , as he did for us. Once he is healed from his injury, Derek Dorsett will fill that heart and soul role for the Rangers that he always did for us. DD will be the subject of some future post regarding all he is and was for the CBJ.

Gaborik is an elite talent, and raises the speed level of the forward group significantly. It was a trade that should help both teams.

An April for the Ages

There is no finer thing in hockey fandom than to be in a playoff race late in the season. Scoreboard watching becomes an obsession, the games take on more weight, and the TV becomes accustomed to epithets being hurled at it during away games. The Columbus Blue Jackets gave their fans a solid taste of this joy, and the fans will surely thirst for more. Beginning April in sole possession of eighth place, but with other team’s ‘games in hand’ starting to lurk ominously in the conversation, the team girded itself for the playoff push.

The Jackets began April with a home win over Nashville, and then traveled to St. Louis where the Blues handled the CBJ 3-1. The next game, a home game against Minnesota, was one of the few games in the year where the team just didn’t seem to show up, and they lost 3-0 to the Wild, in a game that would come back to haunt them in a most important way. The players seeming upset by their poor performance took it out on the next opponents, with a 4-0 shutout of the San Jose Sharks, and 4-1 win over St. Louis. At this point, the NHL schedulers took over. These two games were the final home games for the 2012-13 season, save for the last game of the season. The next 6 games were on the road, which had not been kind to the CBJ. If they wanted to remain in the playoff race they would have to do so on the road.

Even the most die-hard Blue Jacket fan could not have envisioned what transpired next. Personally, I thought their chances dim as they went out on the road. I did not reckon with the resolve, determination, and confidence of the Jackets players however, and they soon proved me wrong. Time and again, with games on the line, the Jackets found ways to win them and keep their hopes alive.

The first road game was against the Wild, but the CBJ persevered to win a 3-2 shootout win in spite of the loss of Artem Anisimov for the remainder of the road trip from a check to the head. The points gained in this win pulled the CBJ into a 3 way tie for eighth place with Detroit and Dallas. The next game was in Colorado, and the CBJ took a late penalty in the game and Colorado scored on the power play to take the lead with only 2 minutes left in the game. However, 30 seconds later Joey laid a pass out into space for Umberger, who went 5 hole for the goal to tie the game. A few minutes later, Nick Foligno hammered home the game winner in overtime, and the CBJ kept pace in the west.

The next game found the CBJ at Anaheim going into another overtime game. Foligno struck again, this time hitting Fedor Tyutin at the edge of the crease for a deflection for the game winner in overtime. The CBJ once again climbed into sole possession of eighth place. The Ducks game was the first game of a rugged California back to back. The next night saw the CBJ in action against the LA Kings. In spite of Dalton Prout scoring his first career goal, the CBJ could not do anything against the Kings, and lost 2-1.

With their backs to the wall, the CBJ traveled to San Jose to take on a Sharks team that they had recently beaten handily, and was willing to repay the favor to the CBJ. The Jackets jumped on the Sharks early, but they responded in the third period, scoring two goals to tie the game at 3-3. With time winding down in regulation, Ryan Johansen pounced on a turnover forced by Blake Comeau’s forecheck. Joey walked down the high slot and buried the game winner with a wicked wrister, to keep the Jackets’ playoff hopes alive.

The CBJ returned home after the Sharks game, and had to sit and watch while other teams played their games in hand. With absolutely no help to be had in the west the Jackets had to sit and watch Detroit go on a season ending winning streak that would ultimately propel them into 7^th place in the West. Minnesota was struggling down the stretch, and all of a sudden seemed the most likely candidate to be passed.

With this as a back drop, the Blue Jackets traveled to Dallas to take on the Stars in the pivotal final game of the road trip. This was a game so important in franchise history that our colleagues over on the Union Blue blog launched a ‘money on the board’ campaign so the players would know how much the fans valued the game. Ultimately, more than $5,000 was committed to charity to urge the CBJ on to victory. Cam Atkinson scored early and late, to preserve the 3-1 win for the CBJ and set up the wild home finale.

A Taste of What it Can Be

Saturday, April 27, 2013 was a perfect day for a hockey game in Columbus. The weather was warm as a standing room only crowd gathered in the Arena District with the playoffs on the line. A Blue Jackets win, and a loss by Detroit in Dallas, or an overtime loss by Minnesota in Colorado would propel the Blue Jackets into the playoffs for the second time. Everything was on the line, in a pivotal final game. As a hockey fan, you can’t really ask for something more exciting in the regular season.

I hope the CBJ make the playoffs!

The final game against the Nashville Predators even featured Barry Trotz, the Nashville coach, coming out before the game and saying he hoped the Blue Jackets made it to the playoffs. But he also made sure his team was ready to play the spoiler, and the Preds carried a lot of the early play. Nashville finally took a one goal lead in the second period. The roaring home crowd did not disappoint, and stayed in the game until the dam finally broke late in the third period. When Dubinsky scored, the CBJ finally stopped squeezing their sticks and began playing. Soon thereafter Jack Johnson bounced one in off Weber, the Jackets had the lead, and the crowd was deafening. Finally, an empty net goal sealed the deal, and the raucous crowd saluted the players. With chants of ‘MVP, MVP’ raining down on Bobrovsky as he gave away his jersey, the team and the crowd retired to watch the end of the other games. Alas for the good guys, Detroit won in Dallas, and Minnesota won in Colorado, leaving the CBJ eliminated from the playoffs by a single point.

In the early aftermath of this season, it is difficult to say what was accomplished. Our young core of players got a taste of what it takes to make a run to the playoffs. Our veterans proved to be up to the leadership task. JD and Jarmo got an opportunity to see what an engaged Nationwide Arena looks like, and what an awesome thing that can be. The degree to which that carries over to next year is the subject for a future installment.

There is no doubt that the 2012-13 Blue Jackets put together the greatest run of hockey in franchise history. The set a record for most consecutive points, but their spirited and determined push from last place towards a playoff berth captured the hearts and minds of NHL fans everywhere like no other Jackets team has done. As a fan, I am extremely pleased, and proud of what the group accomplished. Challenges remain going forward, as they always do, but this group laid it all on the line and performed great feats. They have earned an endearing place in the heart of this season ticket holder for their sheer gumption, and for the fun they had along the way. This was a group that could combine fun with hard work, and that is a potent combination.

So to the 2012-13 Columbus Blue Jackets, players and coaches, THANK YOU! It makes me proud to be a Jackets fan!

The Numbers, 2012-13

There were some striking changes in some statistical numbers for the 2012-13 CBJ along with some other surprising commonalities. Vinny Prospal lead the team in points with 30, following his 45 point season in 2011-12. Vinny notched 12 goals and 18 assists to finish second in goal scoring and in a three way tie for the assist lead with Fedor Tyutin and Brandon Dubinsky. After having Rick Nash lead the team in goals for eight straight years, Mark Letestu ended up leading the 2012-13 Blue Jackets in goals with 13. Vinny tied JamesWisniewski in power play goals with 4. Mark Letestu led the team in shorthanded goals with 2.

Jack Johnson led defensemen with Time on Ice (TOI) with 25:58 per game. Brandon Dubinsky led forwards in TOI with 18:24. Dalton Prout lead the team in the +/- statistic with +15. Cam Atkinson lead forwards in +/- with +9. Derek MacKenzie lead the team in faceoff win percentage with 59.4 followed closely by Brandon Dubinsky at 58.3.

Sergei Bobrovsky finished the season with a 21-11-6 record, with a save percentage of .932 and a Goals Against Average (GAA) of 2.00 in 38 games played. These are stellar numbers, worthy of Vezina Trophy consideration for the top goaltender in the NHL. The .932 save percentage sets a franchise record, beating Curtis Sanford’s .911 and the GAA of 2.00 beats Sanford’s franchise record of 2.60. Bobrovsky left an immediate impact on the franchise’s record books.

Completus occidentali

The heading for this section is the Latin translation for ‘finished in the West’(at least according to my phone). One of the other unique features of this season is that the Blue Jackets are moving to the Eastern Conference next year. While the teams in the East are going to provide new and different challenges for the CBJ, this seems like a good time to reflect what was accomplished in the West.

First and foremost, there is now an NHL hockey franchise in Columbus. It is established, has gone through growing pains, and in spite of those pains is in a position of stability. The financial arrangements have been made for the long term health of the club, and the Arena District has emerged with Nationwide Arena and its crowds as the centerpiece of an entertainment district that is the envy of many cities. It is certainly widely studied by other areas looking to build facilities.

Over the 12 seasons played in the Western Conference, the Columbus Blue Jackets played 932 regular season games and 4 playoff games. Their record was a combined 366 wins, 458 losses, and 108 overtime losses/ties in the regular season. The team’s winning percentage in the Western Conference was 0.451 overall. The team posted two seasons that were above .500 in winning percentage, 2008-09 with a .561 percentage, and the 2012-13 team with a franchise record .573 score. The next closest year was the 2010-11 team with a .494 winning percentage.

After years of getting beat up in the rugged Central Division of the Western Conference, the Blue Jackets finally had a winning record in the Division in their last year, going 9-6-3 in the Division with a .583 winning percentage in the Division.

The franchise’s history in the west has been a long slow climb to respectability, followed by setbacks that damaged that respectability. This year’s team took great strides in restoring that reputation, and we will need to carry it forward into the East next year.

I have always liked being in the Western Conference, which I perceive to be tougher at this time in history. But I will be extremely happy to get rid of the bulk of those western, late night road games. Those were killers for fans in the Eastern Time zone. Going forward, we will have no more of those games than anyone else in the NHL. And I look forward to those 7 PM road games.

When next we take up this history, it will be against a different backdrop.

GO JACKETS!!

Early reactions to DBJ's 2013 CBJ MVP award

2013-05-02T17:31:00.006-04:00

In case you missed it, I awarded Vinny Prospal my 2013 CBJ Most Valuable Player award over at FOX Sports Ohio's Dark Blue Jacket Plus blog. Go on over and check it out.

I've received a couple reactions since posting, perhaps from as distant perspectives as you can get. Thought I'd share.

Twitter's @Zekebud, perhaps the Blue Jackets fanbase's most adept user of advanced hockey statistics, tells me that he awarded his MVP to goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Here's a bit of his rationale (but I strongly suggest you read the post to best appreciate his point of view):

In this the first installment of the CBJ 2013 Review, we’re going right for the empty-netter, the obvious one. Although that metaphor doesn’t actually translate to the player we’re talking about. Instead, his contribution is a more literal ferocious effort between the pipes, a relentless, stalwart force, unrelenting and nigh-impossible to solve. Oh, and at times he made it look effortless and calm. He should be the Vezina winner, and he could be seen as a serious Hart candidate. He is Sergei Bobrovsky.

But you know all these things if you watched any hockey this year. Bob was a beast, plain and simple. His dominance relative to his team and relative to other goalies was simply astounding.

The numbers are indeed compelling, and I will not argue with anything he said. In fact, I'll suggest that anyone who argues that Bobrovsky had anything less than a stellar final two-thirds of the season...well, they should be shot out of Stinger's t-shirt gatling gun.

I just thought that Vinny was the better all-around choice. His impact on the culture of the team puts him over the top.

Another opinion came from Twitter's @CMac9113, who told me "... you clearly chose the wrong guy. The MVP was clearly Colton Gillies."

Colton Gillies? An unorthodox choice, to be sure, so I asked CMac to put together a cogent argument and I would post as a rebuttal. Here goes (I'm stitching together a string of his tweets and editing to split into paragraphs):

My argument...

70% of the times that Gillies drew into the lineup, we got at least one point.

He's not afraid to bang, fight, throw the puck at the net, or pass. While not the most gifted offensive player, he's a guy that at 6'4" uses his size to his advantage. How many times did Gillies lose a battle in the corner. not many. How many times did he take crap from anyone on the opposing team. Not many. How many guys did he just pummel into the end boards, or force a turnover. A lot. While he doesn't have the offensive intangibles that most other players in the league have, the jackets did not have to expect this from him.

Not only that, but he's the perfect complement to Jared Boll. Throw them out there together, opposing teams aren't ever going to put their heads down. Another plus is that if Boll was in the box, or injured, Gillies could do exactly the same thing.

Richards loved throwing the 4th line out there, and Gillies was a large part of that. He's a no-nonsense type of guy that every team loves to have. He knows his role and he knows to leave skill up to other players. He's a lot like DMac in a way, because he's always a full effort grind it out, inflict pain on the other guys type of guy. He was always a guy that if you needed a physical shift, throw him out there and you got it.

That's the type of guy, who you always want on your side, and ultimately, while not making a ton of offensive impact, can swing a game in your favor.

I rest my case, your honor.

OK, then.

I'm still not sure I buy the entire argument, but the special recognition of the fourth liners is perfectly appropriate. In fact, I'd even suggest that "The Fourth Line" could be MVP's as a group because they kept the team in more than their share of games while the top six struggled to find themselves early on.

What's your take? Who was the team's Most Valuable Player, and why?

Missing the Playoffs, again.

2013-05-01T13:49:00.001-04:00

I haven't felt like writing much about the Blue Jackets the past couple of days. I'm excited that NHL playoff hockey is here, and I watched three games last night. But the Blue Jackets and their inability to make the playoffs again, much derived from my 'heart on the sleeve' midget years, has left me with a bit of a void. In most hockey tournaments, the Championship games are played on Sundays. Since the Jacket's were eliminated from the playoffs, I've been in a funk that feels very much like the ride home from a hockey tournament on Saturday night. Being done playing hockey before the other teams have finished is never any fun. I want to play hockey, not watch it. The ride home on Saturday night always seems like it takes twice as long as the drive in took. The ride home is always dark, always quiet.

I feel empty inside...

I'll try to fill the void. The Blackhawks and Bruins are in the playoffs, and a small part of me wants to see the former Jackets on the Rangers do well. Maybe I'll find a team to emotionally latch onto, or maybe I'll watch the playoffs from purely an Xs and Os standpoint. But, AGAIN, the Blue Jackets are not in the post-season. No silver lining can make up for that. No uber-fan rationale can make the funk of a dark, Saturday night drive home any better.

This season itself is not a total loss for me. The Jackets played great hockey the last 6 weeks. We saw a team play hard and they never gave up. The regular season has its merits, but the goal is to win championships. The last two CBJ seasons, with the two teams varying in more ways that one blog post can site, have ended the same way. Great hockey the last 20 games of the season, but not enough to make the playoffs. I will acknowledge that the product I saw on the ice in 2011-2012 is vastly different that the effort shown in this truncated, labor stifled season. But I will not celebrate the climb from 30th to 17th over the course of the past two seasons. The goal is always to get the name "COLUMBUS BLEU JACKETS" stamped into Lord Stanley's chalice. (Yes, I know I spelled it wrong). The underlying fundamentals of Blue Jacket hockey have changed, and that's what this season was about to me.

With their play the last 7 games, I thought the playoffs were a legitimate possibility for the Jackets, but realistically I knew the team needed help. There was no reason they couldn't win out, no matter how unlikely. I didn't hop on the emotionally predatory "Believe" bandwagon. This is not an episode of Grey's Anatomy where a search for emotional fulfillment drives the plot, it's a multi-billion industry of Pro Sports. My focus on this team has always been how well they play, not necessarily the emotional satisfaction I get from being a fan. Yet still, here I sit. Feeling empty, feeling loss. It's not really grief. It's just a funk that will eventually go away. Somehow, indirectly, it happened - I became emotionally attached to the team down the stretch. The feeling I have now is much like the dread of cleaning out your locker at the end of the season, or how the losing candidate must feel the morning after an election. This too will pass. I have a couple fishing trips planned, got a new elliptical to keep in shape, and once the draft rolls around, I'll have new focus on next season.

There is much to look forward to this off season. For the first time in franchise history, the Blue Jackets have a big boy front office that has been doing big boy things. The team will likely keep most of their first round picks in this years draft, then just days after the draft, free agency begins. I've given JD until 2014-2015 before I really take the front office to task. It will take more than 48 games to right the wrongs done in this organization the past 12 seasons. There have been glimpses of what the front office can do. There was a little bit of trade deadline magic and some good common sense reforms on how the team negotiates with RFAs. So maybe this dark, Saturday night car ride home won't last forever. JD and Jarmo are driving the car now. That in itself will make this funk of the long car ride home disappear sooner than later. Maybe JD will stop for ice cream, who knows...

Gaborik, eat your heart out.

Now What?

2013-04-30T08:47:00.000-04:00

I used this Bobrovsky illustration by @PREDSmyth again cause I like it.

Here we are, unexpectedly, certainly against all hope, in the off season. The finale of the season was an incredible high. Not making the playoffs is a low, but not of the same magnitude for me. I was reading through the season re-cap in the Columbus Dispatch this morning (I like to have that newspaper in the morning), and I was reminded how many times this season that choices or direction hinged on the results of one game. The amazing thing about this team, is they nearly always won that game.

Thinking about the time leading up to the trade deadline, and I felt 'gosh, they win a game or two here, and they might be buyers at the deadline'. Well, they won those games. Then there was the incredible road trip to end the season in which they went 5-1. I don't know how many times before that road trip that I said 'stick a fork in them, they're done'. But the teams resiliency and belief came through time and again, to build up to the fantastic crescendo at the finale.

So now what?

I remember well after the 2008-09 season we were all certain that our core of young players was ready to move forward, and we would be going deeper into the playoffs. We all know that in that Olympic year, with a compressed schedule, and little or no practice time (sound familiar?), that after a franchise record (at the time) hot start, the team went on a disastrous December swoon, and soon started tuning Hitch out. That was the beginning of a three year regression, with intermittent bright spots. And there is a part of me that fears the same thing might happen next year. On the other hand, there are also some real differences.

For instance, how do you chop the head off an amoeba?

In the 2009-10 team it was clear that opposing teams had the mantra, stop Nash and you can beat the rest. Faced with that relentless gauntlet, Nash was unable to pull the whole team along with him, and the house of cards collapsed in December. It didn't help that the goal tender had decided that 'hey, this NHL stuff is easy' and reported to camp in less than Olympic athlete condition, which began Mason's long regression.

So there is a deep, primal hockey fan fear in me that this could turn out the same next year, that this team regresses instead of moving forward. Look at the Florida Panthers this year. They won the SouthLeast last year, but are picking second this year, having lost the lottery. So what are some things that I look for to find hope, instead of fear?

One, I rely on Bob's relentless work ethic, that has been an evident part of his character for years. I don't think that is going to change. I believe he will take his No. 1 goal tender status into the summer as a precious jewel because he knows how it can change (see re: Bryzgalov). I think he will want to take things to another level next year, and I think he will be motivated to make the playoffs. There will be a pretty spirited battle for the number 2 slot behind Bob between Curtis McHelinney down in Springfield and Michael Leighton, who is not as bad as those people from the desert planet of Philadelphia would have you believe. We may have a pretty good netminder as number 2 next year, not to mention the young talent in the pipeline (Anton Forsberg, I'm talkin' to you).

Another thing I rely on is the fact that Nick Foligno is saying that this is the most fun he's ever had playing hockey. Winning is fun. If we had the first or second pick, he might not be singing the same tune. This team had a taste of both sides of that coin, losing and working through that to winning. It gives one hope to know that the core of this team knows that if you buckle down, work hard, and stick with it, that the good things will come on the other side.

The other thing, is this team has great character depth, a subject for a future blog, but relevant here as well. The 2009-10 team was relying on RJ, Boll, and Dorsett to provide character. The 2013-14 team has character throughout the lines and pairings. Its not just Nash trying to lead the way, its everyone (hence the earlier amoeba reference). This is a large buffer against regression.

I hope JD and Jarmo bring back Vinny, and Aucoin for that matter. Go that one year contract route. I thought those guys provided an awful lot to what is still going to be a very young team. Oakes will miss some time due to injury, its part of the package, but that's just opportunity for the young guys.

So at the end of the day, there are some distinct differences between the 2009-10 team, an the 2013-14 team. That is what gives me hope that this year was a foundation, instead of an improbable bright spot in a sea of darkness.

GO JACKETS!!!

Never forget: Sergei Bobrovsky

2013-04-29T11:46:00.000-04:00

The DBJ team, like much of the Columbus Blue Jackets fanbase, is still recovering from the roller-coaster season and climactic ending to the 2013 campaign. I'm sure we'll come up with some appropriately insightful post-mortems, but I wanted to make sure that I shared this video of surefire Vezina contender Sergei Bobrovsky from Saturday's Nashville game.

Seven shots in rapid fire succession. None passed by him. I've never seen anything like it. Such an incredible display. I hope to see something like this again but can't take what we saw for granted.

@Morgan_Ward_140's Six-Pack for Game 48: The Nashville Predators

2013-04-28T00:42:00.000-04:00

Columbus Blue Jackets 3 - The Nashville Predators 1
9th in the Western Conference

Full many a flower are born to blush unseen and waste its sweetness upon the desert air
- Thomas Grey from Elegy in a Courtyard Church

It's the best reference I could come up with to describe how I feel right now. The Jackets played 19-5-5 since March 1st and miss the playoffs by virtue of a tie breaker. The hockey the Jackets have played the last 8 weeks is nothing shy of phenomenal. The NHL's second season is about to begin, and the blossoming Jackets will have to be heartbroken bridesmaids one more. It's easy to be one of the 19,002 at Nationwide Arena tonight and bemoan the 'what would have been' if there wasn't a disallowed goal here, or a hosing by the officials there.' Truth be told, February cost the Jackets the a chance at post season glory and nothing else. Still I, like so many others, can't help but feel nostalgic about the this past season as it is merely minutes from being over. But the focus of this post is tonight's game, and not a weepy eyed "back in 82" retelling of this season.

The Jackets 3 - 1 win over the Predators had everything a drama filled season ending game should have. I'd much rather they won it 8-1 scoring 4 goals in the first, but we got a dramatic telling of this seasons story in one game. There was a disallowed goal in the first that was clearly kicked in by Nashville. There were pucks fluttering on the goal line that were swept to safety by Jackets defensemen. There were simple plays that led to big chances, and some cutesy plays that almost cost the Jackets. It was a playoff game atmosphere for sure. The refs swallowed the whistle and power plays were few. It was a great come from behind win, with a great degree of satisfaction at the end.

1. The first beer of tonight is actually a stick tap to the Arch City Army. The Dark Blue PeeWee and I were given tickets in their block of seats tonight. Zach and company made sure my son and I sat in the first row of their grouping so my son could see the game. While our collective opinions of the play in the first two periods may have been polar opposites, It was a very nice gesture of the raucous group of CBJ supporters to help make sure my son got to see all the great action tonight. Thanks again ACA!!!

2. The second Boomer-sized beer of the night goes to Brandon Dubinsky on a smart Power Play goal in front of the net. The faces and reaction of the players during the goal celebration was fantastic. It was the look of, dare I say it, Belief on their faces. Dubinsky said in a post game that he makes no promises for this team next year, but is very excited and very encourage by this team and city.

3. While it pains me to do it, Chris Mason gets a Bud Light. The Predators started Mason for no other reason than psychological warfare. He's played lights out against the Jackets no matter who he's been in net for and let's face it, the name Mason makes us all cringe just a little. Mason faced 46 quality shots and stopped 44. An effort worth noticing tonight.

4. The fourth beer of tonight goes to Jack Johnson. Jack was playing Left Wing from the shotgun every other shift, but was doing it at the right time. His inability to hit whatever it is he's aiming at led to his goal as it would seem the Nashville defenseman tipped an intended pass to Dubinsky in the back of his own net. That play doesn't happen if you're not up on the play. If the pass flutters through the crease, you got Dalton Prout and Cam Atkinson all alone to break up a 3 on 2 the other way. Again, it looked like the group of five players celebrated that goal like everyone in the crowd would have.

5. The fifth tasty beer of the night goes to the crowd that come alive in the 3rd period. The Jackets pumped 25 shots on goal that period and put life into the crowd on Dubinskys powerplay goal. From that point it seemed like it was the crowed that WILLED Jack Johnson's pass into the back of the net. No Rule 614, No Kicking, No Goalie Interference. It was a puck destined for the back of the net and the crowd willed it. The crowd was electric the rest of the period, maybe as loud as I've ever heard it before. What a great atmosphere in the third period. The crowd never said die either.

6. Sergi Bobrovsky. I'd just as soon give you this whole six pack, but.... Sometimes I think Russian players alienate themselves with North American fans for no other reason than the language barrier. But as the final horn sounded and the music played in the arena you embraced your teammates in celebration of the season. Then, as the last player left your embrace, you turned to the the crowd. You raised your leather clad hands and clapped them together, acknowledging the crowd. You were picked off the desert planet of Philadelphia, a city that hasn't been happy with or known good goaltending since Nixon was in office. You came to Columbus and played your best, and the city fell in love with you. This cynic will admit that it was a welcome sign seeing you salute the fans when you all must have been dying inside to see the score of the Wild game. And after you gave that lucky fan the jersey off your back, again you waved and acknowledged the crowd with a smile on your face and warmth in your heart. Thank you Bob. Now play every year like its a contract season.

Were the Blue Jackets out worked? Fuggedaboutit. The Jackets had their moments, and there were times that I wondered what Dalton Prout was thinking, but the Jackets brought it every shift. But this night, all the effort in the world wasn't enough to get them into the playoffs. It was the results of inconsistent execution in the first 1/3 of the season that kept the Jackets from the post season. Make no mistake, the Jackets chances of even being this close to the playoffs were extremely slim two weeks ago. What the team did to make tonight's game matter is nothing short of remarkable. The Hart Trophy likely belongs to Ovechkin, and the Jack Adams award is headed to Ottawa. But, I hope that Mr. Bobrovsky has a little room on the mantle at home for a Vezina plaque. The Vezina is a tricky award, especially this year as the GMs vote for the Vezina winner. What makes this year tougher is all play was intra-league. West v West and East v East. I'm not sure how much time the Canadiens GM spent looking at Bobrovsky game film. So lets hope that in the imaginary world of all things being equal, that the Eastern Conference GMs take some time to review film of Bobrovsky before they vote.

I have little else to say other than it's been fun covering the Blue Jackets this season and musing about them, for better or worse, on this blog. I give JD and Jarmo until 2014/2015 before a fair assessment of their managerial abilities, but I can certainly say I like what I've seen so far. Next year will be another tough one for the Blue Jackets if they can't find some scoring. And while past performance does not guarantee future results, I'm hoping the effort we've seen from the team this year returns for many more seasons.

GO JACKETS!

It's Time to Bring the Thunder

2013-04-26T19:38:00.000-04:00

Sergei Bobrovsky by @PREDSmyth, stick tap to @RedditCBJ for
passing this along

Saturday the most recent crop of BlueJackets fans will get a unique opportunity in Nationwide Arena. In all likelihood you have heard some of the older, core group of fans speak longingly of Game 4 of the 2008-09 playoffs, of the thunderous noise in Nationwide Arena, and the unbelievable experience that the game was. Blah, blah, blah, yawn, 'Yeah but I wasn't there so it doesn't mean that much to me'. This is your chance to experience that atmosphere folks. However, there are some important differences between Saturday's game and Game 4.

First and foremost, it is important to remember that Game 4 was a lost cause. Yeah, maybe we would win a game, but the Redwings were going to win that series. There wasn't any doubt there. Tomorrow's game could not hold a greater contrast. The game on Saturday is all about winning. It is a win or go home game, and there is no chance of making the playoffs if we don't win. We may be disappointed in the end, but we must win tomorrow. It is time to sell out folks, it's now or never.

I went to that Game 4 of the 2008-09 playoffs with a firm resolve not to be cheated. No matter how the game turned out, I was going to let it all out for the CBJ. Saturday's game is not about fearing that you may be cheated. Saturday's game is about a huge, monstrous celebration of what the 2012-13 team has accomplished. But, there is business at hand as well, and a hockey game to be won. So a few things to consider before you go to the game.

1. There is nothing that you might want to use your voice for on Sunday that is more important than this game. The last home game was nice and loud. About average for a pre-Arniel crowd. We are looking for another order of magnitude. You don't need that voice on Sunday. Send a text message.

2. One of the striking things about the Game 4 experience was that the team quickly fell behind by two goals, but the crowd just got louder. We MUST have this on Saturday!! If the Preds should score a goal, we need to take the noise to another level. Trust me, the team will respond to it. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. We need to be a loud, raucous, tough crowd tomorrow.

3. Enjoy this with every fiber of your being. Saturday's game is a gift from the players and coaches, wrought with hard work and faith. A playoff showdown that will go down to the wire. As a fan, you can't really ask for more. Get loud! Get rowdy! But carry a sense of joy with you as you do so (thanks Claude). This is the good stuff, a time to be enjoyed.

This is playoff hockey. It is time for the thunder to return to Nationwide Arena. It's up to the fans to bring it.

GO JACKETS!!!

DBJ's six-pack for Game 47: Dallas

2013-04-26T00:46:00.001-04:00

Columbus 3 - Dallas 1
23-17-7, 53 points, 9th in the Western Conference

The Columbus Blue Jackets wrapped up the Six Game Roadie From Hell with a 3-1 regulation win against the host Dallas Stars at American Airlines Arena.

The Blue Jackets went 5-1-0 on the road trip, which in itself is impressive. Even more impressive, however, is how the Blue Jackets are single-handedly keeping themselves in the Western Conference playoff chase while pretty much every single other game that needs to go Columbus' way isn't. Detroit capitalized on their game in hand and leapfrogged the Blue Jackets into 8th place (They since have jumped over Minnesota into 7th.). Absent help, the Blue Jackets have just kept winning.

Winning won't be enough, however, to make the step into the playoffs. They still need to win on Saturday against Nashville, but they'll also need:

Detroit to lose in regulation on Saturday against Dallas, or
Minnesota to lose their final two games - with at least one loss in regulation.

No small order.

But enough of the looking forward. Let's crack open a six-pack and reflect on what we just saw.

Six game roadies deserve
their own six-pack, eh?

1. Brandon Dubinsky can have all the beer he wants tonight. In my mind, he was an absolute beast against Dallas. He took a whopping 26 faceoffs, winning 14 of them (54%). He had two assists, one of which in the third period after an intermission interview where he was clearly so gassed that I just felt bad for the guy. He hustled his rear end off all night long. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it.

Best goaltender in the entire NHL?
You betcha.

2. Sergei Bobrovsky gets another cold one after working up a sweat in stopping 31 of 32 shots. The .969 save percentage is terrific, but the reason he's high up on my list is the extended periods of play where the Blue Jackets simply could muster nothing. Most notable was the back half of the second period, where the Blue Jackets were seemingly stuck in mud and allowed the Stars to take a power play-ish posture against an even strength CBJ. Bob just got pummeled...but he stopped everything he saw in that sequence and kept his team alive when they weren't playing like they deserved it.

Also, it's worth mentioning that the hockey intelligentsia is coalescing around the notion of Bob for the Vezina Trophy for best goaltender. By that, I mean not just a nomination but an outright win. That's pretty darned cool. Hope it comes to pass.

It's hard not to like a kid
that hustles like Cam Atkinson

3. Cam Atkinson netted two goals tonight. The little man is a gamer. He's a genuine shooter/scorer, something I dont' think this team has had since (<ducks>) Nikita Filatov. It's nice to have one or two of those types on the roster. Goals are good. Goals get players DBJ beer, so here's one for Cam.

Atkinson also is a Boston College alum (I, a Notre Dame alum, won't hold that against him - It's a Holy Cross-Jesuit thing). I tell you his educational affiliation to share that BC is one impressive hockey program...and they got there by emphasizing the tournaments at the end of the season. Trophy Season, they call it. The kids are groomed to accumulate trophies. Conference tournament trophies, NCAA trophies...matters not. They just want the trophies and the big wins that come with the hardware.

Atkinson appears to have Trophy Season in his DNA. The season's on the line, and who scores 19 seconds into the game and then deep into the third period to put it away? Yup, our boy Cam.

I wonder how the whole Trophy Season thing would transfer into the Stanley Cup Playoffs? Hmmmmmm...

4. Mark Letestu got the go-ahead goal in the first half of the third period with a very nice shot from the power play point. The CBJ's all-purpose forward gets a beer for his effort:

He's probably netted a goal from the point earlier this season, but it strikes me as a new part of his repertoire. Usually he's getting the greasy, sloppy rebound goals. This one was a bit of a blast. Matters not in the end - Letestu is the CBJ's leading goal scorer.

5. We've hit a saturation point and I can't help myself, so I'm going to pour a warm beer over the head of every person involved in the creation, dissemination of, promotion of or embrace of the moronic term, "Lumbus". I acknowledge that Columbus fans have an unhealthy craving of national acceptance as a legitimate NHL market, but here's a hint: It won't happen until the team consistently wins over a few years. Until then, the attention that Columbus and the Blue Jackets get will more resemble that of pity, condescension and scorn.

Still, there's the Lumbus thing. It's dumb. And honestly, every time I see some mouth breather put that out over the Interwebs, all I can think of these days is this:

Yeah, you're pretty much pulling an "O-Face" when you use that. It's just as juvenile.

6. The other very warm beer goes to Barry Trotz, who sat both phenom Philip Forsberg and 2012 Vezina nominee Pekka Rinne as he watched his team get smoked by the Detroit Red Wings, 5-2, at Joe Louis Arena. I appreciate the "Sucking for Seth (Jones)" thing, I really do, but I thought that Nashville would want to leave Detroit a more fitting parting Eastern Conference sendoff gift after all the years of hell that the Wings have put the Preds through.

You know, like helping end Detroit's 21-year (and counting) streak of consecutive playoff appearances.

WERE THE BLUE JACKETS OUTWORKED? On balance, no. The second period was tough to swallow, but the team opened strong and ended stronger.

NEXT UP: The regular season wraps up on Saturday night at Nationwide Arena as the Blue Jackets will attempt to give the Nashville Predators the same painful parting gift that the Preds chose not to offer to the Red Wings tonight. It's Fan Appreciation Night (shouldn't every night be?), which includes the very cool "Shirts off our backs" ceremony at the end of the game. Tickets won't be cheap for this one.

As circumstance would have it, this will be my last six-pack for the regular season. Gallos, Morgan and I have been on a (more or less) rotation, and I think Morgan's up next so he gets to either spread the Stanley Cup Playoff joy or offer the spoonfuls of bitter Moral Victory Elixir.

It's been a crazy run this year, what with my expanded young family, the condensed NHL schedule and the short season thanks to the NHL Lockout. I'm eternally grateful to Gallos and Morgan for their contributions - and also thank Greg and Alison for pitching in for old time's sake while I was out of town. What can I say? I know some very, very good people.

Anyway, I hope to be writing six-packs into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but one can never take anything like that for granted...so I wanted to get that thank you in. Also, thank you to you, the readers, for your time, attention and feedback. It's been fun.

Always feeling this happy

2013-04-23T13:19:00.000-04:00

Some of the things that set this blog apart from its contemporaries is our ability to have open and honest conversation about the Columbus Blue Jackets. We love the team as much as everybody else, but have a different set of expectations. The last 12 years have been exceedingly frustrating for me as a Columbus Blue Jackets fan. I looked around the league and saw the things that successful franchises were doing and, to me, it never seemed like the Blue Jackets were interested in doing those things – until this season.

Hi, I'm the Blue Jackets, can we come in?

The arrival of John Davidson is a good thing for the Blue Jackets. I have said before and will continue to say, that it will take at least two full seasons to really see the effects of a John Davidson hiring as President of Hockey Ops. I will get to the feel good story of this year in a bit, but there are some other things that I want to point out that make me feel so much better about having John Davidson on the team. Columbus will always have to pay a premium (over pay) for top level talent. What Columbus should never have done is pay a premium for role players and character guys. It was a trap the last regime fell into, not out of ignorance, but perhaps out of helplessness. But the Letestu and Calvert signing have shown me that JD and Jarmo are realistic in their approach to signing players that are special to this team, without being irrational.

Are those 15" wide leg pads
or are you just happy to be in goal?

Another odd intangible that this team’s front office never had was a solid NHL player in the front office. I’m not saying that you can’t be a GM without ever being an NHL All-Star, but when the team had been as passé as long as they have been, walking the halls of Nationwide Arena and seeing a guy who knows what it takes on the ice goes a long way. That on its own commands respect from the players and staff. Hockey guys know hockey guys and while JD certainly proved his worth as an executive in St Louis, the players on the team also know he’s earned his stripes in the league as a player.

And then there is the feel good story of this year. It was status quo for the Blue Jackets back in February. They were snuggly nestled in 30^th place after owning that slot a majority of last season. But this year was different. Obvious front office changes aside, the Jackets found themselves with a hot goaltender. I hate to toot my own horn (cause I hate when other people do it) but at last year’s Cannonfest after picking the team to finish 26^th this season, I suggested the biggest thing this team needed was confidence in its goaltender. Without a doubt, that happened this season. When you have confidence as a player in your goalie, your outlook as a skater and member of a team improves - even a Pee Wee can relate to that. Once the team knew it had some skill between the pipes, Todd Richards’ message was much easier to listen to – what he was selling was easier to buy. Now we have a team that believes in itself and all it took was a little confidence.

Which brings us to the feel good story of this year – April hockey matters in Columbus once again. The media attention on the team is great and it feels good to get an “Atta boy” after being the well deserved brunt of jokes the past decade or so. The team is winning games the right way and has shown in the past 10-14 days that it can win even when it’s goal tending isn’t all-world. What’s not to like about the Jackets? Vinny is an inspirational leader, Bob is hot, and the team if full of likable guys. The winning ways of the Jackets has even allowed the existence of Jared Boll to be tolerated on twitter. And while this feels great right now, I am here to tell you that as a fan, you should expect this from “your” team EVERY SEASON. What you feel right now, what this team is experiencing, feeling that the Jackets belong in the playoff race is something every level of the organization is obligated to provide every season. I’ve enjoyed the Blue Jacket's story lines of this season very much. Bob’s rebirth in Columbus, Vinny's pointing, the fourth line actually delivering something other than fighting majors, the trade deadline, and who doesn’t feel good about the Letestu and Calvert extensions? The way we feel right now is great. Whether the Jackets make the playoff this year or not is not necessarily the point. But the fact that April hockey is once again relevant in Columbus makes this cynic happy. Having JD and Jarmo in the front office lets me know that should the expectation of being regularly competitive ever slip, they won’t hesitate to make the changes necessary to keep this team competitive for a long time. And that above anything elese feels good, oh so very good.

@Morgan_Ward_140's Six-Pack for game 46: Sharks de San Jose

2013-04-22T00:07:00.003-04:00

Lumbus 4 - San Jose Sharks 3 - F
8th Place in the Western Conference

I went ahead and put my twitter handle in the title of tonight's post. I feel bad when Tom's DBJ twitter account gets peppered with response's to my posts, so there it is.

The Blue Jackets enter tonight's game in San Jose needing to win all three games (preferably in regulation) and combined with the Stars and Wings to gain no more than 4 points in their remaining game to make the playoffs. That formula gets the Jackets in the playoffs without having to worry about tie-breakers. It's also means there are a lot of other games to watch that impact the Jackets. How the Wings, Stars, and Wild play all impact the Blue Jackets, so by proxy we become fans of the Blue Jackets and "whoever is playing the Red Wings." But tonight our focus is on the Blue Jacket's roadie in San Jose, a team that the Jackets have played well this season. And well they did on this night.

Tonight's game turned out to be pretty offensive for the Blue Jackets. Bob played solid, but the offense, and importantly the power play, were clicking tonight. The third period saw the Jackets give up a two goal lead when the Sharks tied it at three thanks to Joe Pavelski. But with less that two minutes to go, Ryan Johansen makes the Sharks pay dearly for a turnover at their own blue line and put the puck where Mrs Carter keeps the Oxy, top shelf. (That's a Jeff Carter pill popping reference).

Tonight we celebrate with beers from the NHL Brewery

1. Is it any surprise that Mark Letestu get the first tasty glass of "Jaromir Lager." Because when it's crunch time and your best players have to be your best players, a guy making $625k will have to do. Marian Who? But really, can you imagine if Rick Nash only had 1 point in 5 of the most important road games of the season? But seriously Letestu, thanks for playing tonight.

2. Vinny Prospal, this can of Lord Stanley's Celebration Ale is for you. You got sprung for a nice little break away and buried the puck in the net. It was the first time this season my excitement matched the intensity of your celly.

3. Jack Johnson, you get a cool glass of Eric Cole Porter (see what I did there). I'm not sure how you can have both your worst and best defensive plays of the season in the same game, but Anything Goes. Fortunately, there was more good today than there was bad. We'd like to see less bad. Seriously, less Bad.

4. A fourth beer was created in the past few games, the Dalton Prout Stout. Strong, dependable, stay at home kind of beer. The label of this beer will definitely feature a helicopter and the United Center. Prout has been playing big boy minutes the last few games. There's a rookie road bump here and there, but overall, not bad only 30-ish games into your NHL career.

5. Ryan Johansen, this glass of Dino Sniperelli Marzen is for you. The biggest difference on the Blue Jackets this over previous CBJ teams is this team's ability to capitalize on the other teams mistakes. This is a prime example. Then, take a can of Milbuy Extra Special Bitter Cider and hand it out to which ever detractor you choose. The label of this beer will feature an image of Milbury going all Kruschev on a fan DURING A GAME and a crying 12 year old. Suck it, Milbury. You're awful. And your beer is a cider.

6. To honor a great team effort tonight, the sixth beer is for the whole team. It's a case of Lake Placid Believe Wheat Beer. That's right folks. Whether I do believe or not, this team certainly does. And really, that's all that matters.

The Blue Jackets worked hard all night - they were not outworked. There were mental and physical mistakes in this game by the Blue Jackets. In the end, the Jackets stayed calm, cool, and collected after blowing a two goal lead in the 3rd. I don't want to jinx anything, but I think this team can actually get into the playoffs. Of course getting into the playoffs would be easier if Gaborik started contributing a little more. I've been a hockey player and fan for 30 years so my first date butterflies with Gaborik are gone. Step it up buddy. Prove Torts wrong. Get on the Effing board.

The Jackets have a couple days off before they play in Dallas. This upcoming game against the Stars might be an important one to win. The #CBJBWW viewing party at BW3 in Powell is going to be so much fun. Thursday's game will likely be the first 'Game 7' like experience for Blue Jackets fans. I can't wait. I will be there with my DKM Hockey Posse doing another on location Podcast. Its so much fun when April hockey matters in Columbus. So much fun indeed.

Gallos' Six-Pack for Game 45: L.A. Kings

2013-04-19T01:35:00.001-04:00

The Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the host LA Kings for the first time on this road trip tonight 2-1 breaking a 5 game winning streak. The teams came at each other pretty hard in the first period. In spite of it being a back to back for the CBJ, they seemed to have some jump in the first period. The Kings were showing why they were champs last year, and brought a lot of pressure on the CBJ. With a player for each team off for roughing, Dalton Prout took a hooking call, and in the ensuing 4 on 3 power play LA scored, and the period ended at 1-0 LA.

In the second period, LA came out pushing hard. In the middle of the period, the CBJ seemed to get some traction, and Blake Comeau forced a turn over in the LA zone. He sent the puck back to Prout, who scored his first NHL goal with a shot from the point, which may have deflected off a Kings player. Nonetheless, this tied the game. Unfortunately, LA came right back and scored within a minute and a half and restored their one goal lead. The second period ended with the CBJ down 2-1.

As the third period progressed, the Jackets brought more and more pressure, but they were unable to solve the Kings defense, and the Kings win 2-1.

1. My first cold adult beverage goes to Sergei Bobrovsky. How could it not? The CBJ are leaning hard on the young net minder, and he is answering the bell. The Kings got a goal in off a defenseman's skate and one that Bob did not see. What he could see, he was stopping. Incredible performances down the stretch here, no matter how things turn out.

Dalton Prout and Cam Atkinson in Development Camp

2. My second cold beer goes to Dalton Prout, who scored the first goal of his NHL career to represent the total scoring by the CBJ. Prout played a solid all around game, and benefited from a great pass by Comeau and a couple of deflections of his shot on the way to the net. He has been very solid since coming up from Springfield.

The Jackets have done a great job on this road trip, and I'm not about to start awarding skunk beers. But I do have a few thin, watery Natty Lights to pass out.

3. My third beer, a fine Natty Light, good for the waistline and all that goes to the defensive pairing of Savard and Erixon. Admittedly, this is a tough position for these guys to be in, but it seemed clear that they were not ready for playoff hockey, especially on the road. More development work in store for these two,and hopefully a big summer to get them more ready for next year.

4. My fourth beer, a tepid Natty Light goes to the power play. You can't do anything in the playoffs without a power play, and the lights look out on the power play. Its not a real threat.

5. My fifth beer, a warm flat Natty Light goes to the defensive effort after Prout scored the goal to even up the score. Guys falling down, a really half-hearted, glide up, wave your stick in the general area of the defenseman check by Gaborik which gave the time and space for the shot on the net that lead to the game winning goal. A little bit of pressure on that shot would have made a big difference, but that would require the feet to be moved.

6. My sixth, warm, found under the truck seat a year later, flat, Natty Light goes to Jeff Carter for being a big #Boomer. That's one of the privileges of passing out the beers!

Were the CBJ outworked? Meh. This is a really tough game on a back to back. They brought a pretty good effort considering the number of games they have played. The loss doesn't hurt too much, the Jackets are still in eighth place. It puts more pressure on the other games, but since they started the road trip winning three straight, they took the pressure off this game. But they still need to win some games down the stretch.

Ugh. Todd Richards just announced that Matt Calvert has a broken finger. He'll be out for awhile. Boone?

Next up the Sharks on Thursday. Another tough game, but a day of rest in between. They CBJ have to get some points.

GO JACKETS!!!

DBJ's six-pack for Game 44: The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim

2013-04-18T01:41:00.001-04:00

Columbus 3 - Anaheim 2 (OT)
21-16-7, 8TH PLACE IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE

The Columbus Blue Jackets' twenty-first recreation of Sherman's March through Georgia continued tonight in California, where the visitors stole two standings points away from the host Anaheim Ducks in overtime at Honda Center.

And with that, my friends, the Blue Jackets have leapfrogged the Detroit Red Wings (!!!) and assumed sole possession of eighth place in the Western Conference.

That's right. 8th place. If the season ended tomorrow, the Blue Jackets would be playing Stanley Cup Playoff hockey for just the second time in its history.

Wow. Wow. Wow.

Four games left in the regular season...

Thanks, Calgary, for everything.
And for beating Detroit tonight.

I crowdsourced this six-pack, so congrats to everyone who helped make this possible!

1. Beer number one goes to uber-CBJ optimist John Kemp's favorite Blue Jacket, Blake Comeau, for goal number one. The first half of the game was a slog, with Anaheim playing the CBJ card and dropping everything but the kitchen sink back into defensive coverage to stymie the Blue Jackets' shooting. Comeau tips a James Wisniewski shot in to loosen the game back up. Huge goal. Kemp weeps with joy. (But he still won't tell his kids that Nash was traded.)

2. Beer number two goes to Matt Calvert. Union Marc suggested that "cause no one has left his heart on his sleeve" like Matty Ice. I give him all sorts of credit for keeping the motor running, but the beer comes for production:

We're going to beat this photo like a dead horse.
It is nothing but meme fodder.

3. The third beer shall go to your personal friend and mine, Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard. "Jimmeh" let three pucks slip by, and that's all it took for Calgary to help Columbus vault into playoff contention. (Hat tip to RedditCBJ and RobSal53)

4. My man, Fedor Tyutin, tipped in the game winner in overtime off a Nick Foligno shot - so let's give 'em one of those $9 Nationwide Arena tallboys to share. Nobody apparently loves Tyutin, but trumarvel, jahykes, TheAngryJacket and MasonAnimation all love them some Foligno, the overtime specialist.

I like Tyutin.

There's something beautiful about an overtime winning goal. It's like a walk-off home run. We score, and that's it. Start the party.

5. For enduring overtime hockey in Southern California, the fifth beer goes to The Blue Jackets Fans. This 1AM wrapup stuff is for the birds, but it's the playoff chase and we stay up regardless. Mellington73, stefanbneeley, WhalerJacket (who, I'll have you know, was one of the crew at the late, great CBJ blog, "Tea with Mrs. McGill") and danamctigue all made it to the finish line and reminded me that it's not about the team...it's about the fans. True dat.

6. Yes, Erik, you can have a pity beer. Poor soul.

@darkbluejacket My stream cut out about 15 sec before the GWG.Pity beer?
— Erik Bobbitt (@erikBobbitt) April 18, 2013

WERE THE BLUE JACKETS OUTPLAYED TONIGHT? I felt all along that the Blue Jackets were applying the pressure...it was one of those games where we simply had to stay at the level of the opponent and stick around until the end. They did, and they won. So no, they were not outplayed.

NEXT UP: Because one night of late night hockey wasn't enough, we're going to do it all over again tomorrow. Or I guess it's today by now. How about, we're going to do it all over again later...say, at 10:30PM EDT? That's right, the Los Angeles Kings will be hosting the Blue Jackets at Staples Center.

Bob Says Nyet (a kinda-sorta advertisement)

2013-04-16T17:14:00.003-04:00

Before the season, this guy out of Philadelphia wrote me to congratulate me (and, presumably, my favorite hockey team as I really had nothing to do with it) on bringing goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to Central Ohio. He then offered to sell me his unsold inventory of Bobrovsky fan shirts. I'm not into running an merchandise shop out of my pantry closet, so I passed. Plus, I wasn't sold that Bobrovsky was going to unseat Steve Mason in net.

Get your gear to honor Columbus' First Czar!

But time passed as well, and Bob wound up being something special in Columbus. Now I felt bad, not for me as I still don't want a bunch of unsold T-shirts and hoodies in a box under my bed but rather for the Columbus fans who have been deprived this nifty looking shirt. I suppose I also felt a tad stupid for not jumping on the bandwagon earlier. Thus, I wrote the gentleman back and offered to give him a blog post to hawk his wares.

Here's what he told me to print:

Show your love for Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky with the Bob Says Nyet tee shirt. Printed on high quality American Apparel tees and 100% cotton Gildan hoodies, this design was featured in ESPN the Magazine and was originally created by Philly Phaithful as a tribute to the athletic Russian netminder in 2010. After Bob moved West, Philly Phaithful heavily discounted their remaining inventory and is happy to offer the design to DBJ readers at a low price of $12.99 for the tees and $14.99 for the hoodies; all with free, fast shipping.

Availability is incredibly limited, so get 'em before they're gone. Philly's loss is Columbus' gain. Grab your Bob Says Nyet shirt today!

Note that these are in clearance, and some sizes simply aren't available any more. But the design is cool, and Bobrovsky fans now have another outlet to show their admiration. And no, I'm not making a dime off of this. I'm not even getting a free T, which is for the best as my size is out of stock.

Enjoy the shirts, everyone. Have at it!

Morgan's Six-Pack for Game 43: The Quebec Nordiques

2013-04-16T01:17:00.000-04:00

Columbus Blue Jackets 4 - Colorado Avalanche 3 F/OT
9th Place in the Western Conference

Typically after Master's weekend I begin preparing for another April tradition like no other, the NHL draft lottery for the Columbus Blue Jackets. But that is certainly not the case this April. As fans hopeful for a chance at the post season, we watch every game. We track the teams below us, we track the teams ahead of us. We visualize scenarios, exchanges, ordering tickets for the playoffs. This is new territory for the social media CBJ fan base that's emerged the past few years (no I'm not saying you've only been a CBJ fan for a couple years, I'm saying you've only been able to gush about it on twitter for a couple years now). On nights like tonight I sit back and watch the fan base consume itself. Who's the bigger fan, who's the biggest troll. Who knows more that everyone else, who's always right, who believes more. The team is winning, and I guess everyone sheds decades of hockey grief differently on micro blogging sites. All that matters to me is they are winning.

Tonight had it's share of 'ups and downs drama.' Players were celebrated and reviled - But the mob is fickle brother. What supposed career defining gaffe do we overlook minutes later when a player long bereft of compliments breathes life into a team as the last sands of a meaningful season trickle through the hour glass? The Jackets seem determined to fight every game down to the bitter end. With a hot goalie, the Jackets have been flirting with lady luck the past several weeks, and it looks like those back rubs and all-important cuddle time are paying off. With less than two minutes left, a man who's only been complimented for his great hockey beak the past couple months breathes life into playoff hopes, setting the table for a dramatic OT that lift our heavy spirits on this otherwise gloomy day.

HA! Remember when we wanted
this guy as captain in January?!?!

1. The first tasty beer of the night goes to Rule 614. I hope I never have to see another "Rule 614" tweet after tonight's game ever again. The CBJ got lucky in so many ways tonight that I hope whatever Hockey God / League Snobbery / or stupid rule that is bemoaned when things don't go the Jackets way is squelched after tonight's game. Lady luck helped the team out tonight, BIG TIME. Oh the irony.

2. The only thing bigger than RJ Umberger's nose tonight was his goal late in the third period. That was the biggest goal of the season, and depending upon how the regular season ends, it may end up being one of the biggest goals in franchise history. Skeletons, demons, George Michael monkeys, and Aunt Tilley's garters all were cleansed with that late third period goal.

RJ Umberger set his monkey free.

3. Jiggy, this cold beer is for you. Just kidding. You let one of the lowest scoring offenses put two goals on you in the closing minutes of the game. Turrible.

4. James Wisniewski, you get a glass of scotch tonight. You dropped the gloves in the second which was nice, but had me spitting out an entire glass of scotch when your usually wayward point shot in OT ended up springing Landeskog for a breakaway. Hit the net, pretty please, with sugar on top.

5. Mr Nick Foligno, your OT game winner was only slightly outdone by the goal that got the game into OT. The OT period seemed to be going the Nordiques way and you thwapped one past Jiggy. You've been snake bit as of late and you kept this chance simple and just puck the puck on net. Good things happen when you put the puck on net. Next time, don't send Umberger head first into the boards after scoring, umkay? Oh, and it's like 15 consecutive broadcasts where you're referred to ask "Mike" the entire game by the opposing team's crew.

6. Blake Comeau - my son is going to be so excited when he wakes up to find that you've earned your first brewsky on DBJ by again, keeping it simple and keeping your stick on the ice. The feed came right at your tape and you roofed a quick beauty. If they could all be that easy. I will have my son watching that highlight as a teaching moment. Thank you.

Were the Blue Jackets out worked? Save two lucky bounces of Colorado sticks and a puck off of a referee's foot, I'm going to say Yes, but barely. The Blue Jackets worked hard, the Avalanche worked just a little harder. Bad bounces and a suspect performance from their goalie cost the lowly Avalanche tonight's game. Hooray the Blue Jackets won on the road, but any team considering itself a contender for Lord Stanley's shot glass playoffs had better win in Colorado.

This my friends, is a playoff hunt. Western Conference teams 4, 5, 6, and 7 all play tomorrow night. Every game matters to the Blue Jackets' playoff hopes and draft status. Wednesday shapes up to be a big night because no matter what happens, Columbus must leapfrog Detroit to gain a playoff spot, and both teams play again on Wednesday night. If Calvert, Atkinson, and Gaborik are only going to combine for 6 shots a game like they did tonight, it will be up do the 3rd and 4th lines to continue to carry the flag for the offense. I'd rather not have to depend on those guys to do the scoring. The CBJ must keep winning. Tonight's win gives the Jackets breathing room. Dropping two in a row at any point likely puts the team on vacation. Keep it up, the Ducks play host on Wednesday.

Oh yeah, congrats to Bob on earning the NHL's first star of the week. I smell Vezina nomination.

It's Dubinsky Time

2013-04-15T08:51:00.000-04:00

Brandon Dubinsky

As I reflect on tonight's upcoming, critical tilt against the Avalanche in the Pepsi Center, Brandon Dubinsky sticks out to me as one of the players who will need to make a huge contribution. With Anisimov on the shelf indefinitely (eat my shorts Yeo, the refs got the call right. The responsibility is on the player to protect the other player, your guy failed in that responsibility) due to a hit to the head, Dubinsky's role is magnified. Much as we saw in the Minnesota game, we need Dubinsky to be big tonight. After something of a star crossed season this year, with knee injuries, a slow start, and illness, this is Dubinsky's opportunity to really put a stamp on his contribution to the team. I think he will do it.

I worry about Colorado. We have not handled their speed well. We need to make sure we play our game of clogging the neutral zone and playing good defense, and not get into a track meet with them. And naturally, Bobrovsky needs to continue his assault on the Vezina trophy. Only six games left. Crazy things can happen. This team just needs to keep winning.

Brandon Dubinsky, this is your time!

GO JACKETS!!!