Jackets-Bruins preview and keys to the stretch run
Had I known that the Columbus Blue Jackets were going to win 8-2 over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, I would have taped the game. No kidding, I could watch that game a couple of times. I never imagined I would see Rick Nash -- or any Blue Jacket, for that matter -- have two hat tricks in a season against Detroit. But that final score makes me think of those occasional 20-run baseball wins -- the ones where fans joke about banking some of those runs for the next game. I would be inclined to agree.
Except for the fact that it was against the Detroit Red Wings. I respect them, but I hate the Wings with a passion. Thus, I will relish in the good guys’ hanging eight goals on Detroit's goalies, any day of the week. And I said it already, but another Rick Nash hat trick against Detroit?!?!? With all goals unassisted?!?!? Ho-ly...
Obviously, who here doesn't want to see an encore on home ice on Sunday?
However, the Blue Jackets have to get through three more games before having another shot at Detroit to wrap up Hell Week. I realize that, obviously, this is not the first time I have used the words “Hell Week” on ColumbusSports.com, or even on my own blog. I will warn you right now: this probably won't be the last. Every week is going to be Hell Week, at least until the Jackets clinch.
However, the week ahead is going to be a doozy. First up is tonight's game against the Boston Bruins, who currently lead the Eastern Conference -- and the entire NHL, for that matter. No doubt about it, the Bruins are what a Bostonian might call "wicked good." They were on NBC on Sunday, which presented a rare opportunity to scout the team the Blue Jackets are playing next. After struggling early and giving up three goals to New York Rangers in the second, en route to a 3-1 gap after two periods, Boston got a couple of quick goals from Zdeno Chara and Michael Ryder in the third period to tie it up. However, goaltender Manny Fernandez faltered late when he overcommitted to a shot that was wide of the net. That puck bounced off the back board, and right to Nikolai Zherdev, who tapped it in over the diving netminder. The Bruins are 1-3-1 in their last five games.
It's too bad Fernandez is the backup. With the Jackets contending for a playoff spot, I doubt that many teams -- especially in the Western Conference -- will start their backups against Columbus the rest of the year.
"(Tim Thomas) has the best goals-against average in the NHL [...] Steve Mason is second, so this ought to be a good battle of goaltenders."
My money says Tim Thomas will get the start for the Bruins. Thomas is responsible for 28 of the team’s 43 wins. Needless to say he is having a very good year. His NHL.com player page shows he is 1-1-1 in his last three starts, the last one being a 5-3 win over Chicago on Saturday. He has the best goals-against average in the NHL as well, and the Blue Jackets’ own Steve Mason is second, so this ought to be a good battle of goaltenders. Not that it is relevant, but if you're curious, Thomas’ only start against the Blue Jackets was a 5-4 OT victory for the CBJ, the day after Christmas in 2006.
All phases of play are going to be important as Columbus takes on Boston tonight. In the latest statistics from NHL.com through Monday, Boston is very strong playing five-on-five, with a 1.51 goals for/against ratio, while Columbus is 1.16 in the same category. Both teams have so-so penalty kills, at least in terms NHL rank – Boston is 13th and Columbus is 14th in the league. Boston has the fourth-best power play in the NHL, while Columbus has been in the cellar of that category for much of the year. The penalty kill has to be stellar tonight, and the Jackets absolutely have to take care of business with the man advantage -- not only tonight, but for the rest of this playoff push. They absolutely must get better at taking care of the puck on the power play. If they can get some odd man rushes, or set up the play in the offensive zone and keep opposing teams on their heels, the good guys can help turn it around. Fun fact: Boston has given up five power-play goals in four games in March -- two of them were against the New York Rangers and Phoenix, whose power-play percentages are slightly less bad than Columbus’. So, it can be done.
And if Rick Nash stays hot... that'll be pretty great, too.
It’s definitely a game worth watching. Both teams are playing some good hockey overall. Watch out for that slap shot Zdeno Chara has. The Bruins captain scored a 4-on-4 goal Sunday off one of those hard, nasty slappers. If I recall, he’s the reigning Hardest Shot champion from the past two All-Star Breaks. I think this year he hit 105.1 mph or something. Can’t miss the dude on the ice, either – he’s like 6’9”. Crazy.
By the way, the current Poll Question on www.Versus.com (former Outdoor Life Network) is “Will the Blue Jackets earn their first postseason berth?” Amazingly, 76% said yes, as of the time I voted.
16 games to go… bring on the B’s.
Martin Poston rants, raves and foams at the mouth at http://tootoobites.blogspot.com