Wine, Roses, and the Current Mess in Columbus
Mark the calendar: December 1, 2009 - After getting their first win against a Central Division opponent (and snapping a five-game losing streak), the Columbus Blue Jackets go on the road for one game, in Chicago. Against the Central Division-leading Blackhawks, the Blue Jackets give up 2-1 and 3-2 leads on power-play goals by Chicago. In an 11-round shootout, we begin to see some of the swagger of Steve Mason we saw last year during his rookie season, at one point even seeming to defy Chicago to send him more shooters. Brent Seabrook would eventually end the shootout with a goal on Mason, causing the sophomore netminder to look for anything he could break his stick on.
It was a loss, but a loss in an 11-round shootout, which gives the Blue Jackets a point in the standings, and keeps them within reach of a topic spot required for a playoff run. More importantly, it means three points in the standings in back-to-back nights.
It was a night that could have helped push the Blue Jackets in the right direction again.
Mark the calendar: December 9, 2009 - After an inexplicable 6-3 loss to the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs, and a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche -- in which former CBJ captain Adam Foote finally had the guts to show up in Columbus again -- the Blue Jackets wrap up a three-game homestand with a 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers. The win marked Steve Mason's first (first!) shutout of the season, a year after being one of the top goaltenders in the entire NHL. Again, we begin to see some of Mason's swagger. The Jackets follow that performance with a road game against Nashville on December 10, in which Rick Nash got the tying goal early in the third period. Again the shootout goes to extra rounds -- including an exchange of goals in the fourth round -- before Steve Sullivan put a wrister past Mathieu Garon in the fifth round.
Again, three points in the standings in back-to-back nights. Again, it was a night that could have helped push the Blue Jackets in the right direction again.
Mark the calendar: December 15, 2009 - After a few weeks of woefully inconsistent play -- whether it's inconsistent goaltending, defensive breakdowns in their own zone, too many trips to the penalty box, or generally, the virtual disappearance of top scorers -- the Blue Jackets put together 59 minutes and 15 seconds of tough, defensive, mostly solid hockey. Then they did something we haven't seen in awhile.
With a face-off win in the Columbus zone by Minnesota's Mikko Koivu, a pass to Marek Zidlicky, and a shot from the point… the Blue Jackets gave up the winning goal in the last minute of the game.
It was a wasted opportunity to push the Blue Jackets in the right direction again.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have been as high as second or third this year, as their hot start put them in the Central Division lead for a brief period. Now, they sit in 13th in the Western Conference. I could say they are only five points out of a top-eight spot… but somehow, “only" does not seem like the appropriate word here, considering:
a) the fact that the Blue Jackets have been within five points of the top of the Western Conference this year, and
b) the fact that the Blue Jackets are now only three points ahead of the cellar-dwelling Anaheim Ducks, who beat the Jackets on Saturday.
"Since a 4-1 win over Dallas [on 11/14/09] Columbus has put together two wins in 14 games."
Mark the calendar: November 19, 2009 - Since a 4-1 win over Dallas on this night -- I might add, also the Jackets’ last road win -- Columbus has put together two wins in 14 games. Three of the 12 losses have come to the team's nemesis (Nashville). Six of the losses have come against teams currently standing in eighth place or lower in their conferences. The scary part? Five of those six teams still have a fewer points in the standings than the Blue Jackets -- with Minnesota being the lone exception, since they passed the Blue Jackets with the win last night.
If the Columbus Blue Jackets were playing some decent hockey right now, and could have gotten wins against those six subpar teams, this next set of statistics I'm throwing at you would not be necessary.
Behold, the Jackets’ record by month:
October: 6-5-1
November: 7-4-3
December: 1-5-2
Total: 14-14-6
"The Columbus Blue Jackets are at .500 for the first time in almost a year."
The Columbus Blue Jackets are at .500 for the first time in almost a year (yeah, I did some digging). The last time the Blue Jackets record was all even was after a 3-0 loss to Detroit on January 6, 2009.
At the time, the Blue Jackets were 18-18-4 overall, and 4-4-0 with Steve Mason as their permanent starter (Pascal Leclaire wore a CBJ sweater to work for the final time three weeks prior, because of injury, and eventually would be traded).
Nowadays, it’s pretty obvious Steve Mason is not the “golden boy” goaltender that he was last year. Now, I'm also not going to call him the second coming of Jose Theodore. The Blue Jackets’ problems are certainly not all Mason's fault. Sure, at times he has let soft ones in. Other times, the defense has hung him out to dry. And still other times, he just isn't getting the offensive support he needs. Sometimes, it’s all of the above.
"Currently, the Blue Jackets are playing rarely 'great,' sometimes 'good-just-not-good-enough,' and sometimes 'flat-out stupid' hockey."
Currently, the Blue Jackets are playing rarely “great,” sometimes “good-just-not-good-enough,” and sometimes “flat-out stupid” hockey. The biggest problem with that is not knowing whether the “great” team, the “good-just-not-good-enough” team, or the “flat-out stupid” team will show up on a given night.
(To anyone who might question whether I can be objective when talking about my favorite hockey team, remember the above paragraph…)
Needless to say, the “great” team needs to show up. Starting now when they practice, and starting with Thursday's game against Phoenix.
(Now here’s the part where I go back to optimism, and try and inspire you to join in… let me know if it works)
Mark the calendar: January 6, 2009 - Good things happened after the Jackets were shut out in Joe Louis Arena on that cold night. The Blue Jackets won four of their next five games, which included an alarming second straight 3-0 shutout of the Washington Capitals. The Blue Jackets realized they had some decent depth at goaltender. Steve Mason passed what can only be described as the ultimate trial by fire for a rookie goaltender, won the Calder Trophy and made a damn good case for the Vezina Trophy. The Blue Jackets went 23-13-6 the rest of the season and clinched their first playoff spot.
(Now back to cold, hard reality)
Then again, that was last year. All is currently not wine and roses at Nationwide Arena.
"All is currently not wine and roses at Nationwide Arena. However, all is not Corona Light and an empty vase, either."
However, all is not Corona Light and an empty vase, either.
Think of the Jackets’ current situation as MGD 64 and some cheap daisies... not packing much flavor and not particularly attractive. It can eventually be wine and roses, though.
If the Jackets can get it together, and work their way up to a PBR and a Whoa Nellie Dog from Dirty Frank’s* (skip the flowers) by the Olympic Break, I’ll be a very happy fan. Well fed, too.
But first, the Columbus Blue Jackets need to find their identity. They need to diagnose their multiple problems and treat them... quickly. This season, at 14-14-6, the Blue Jackets have more time to find a playoff-caliber team in themselves, and get this season back on track. But it’s one hell of a road for the rest of December. Coyotes on Thursday, then a four-game/eight-night road trip (Avs, ‘Yotes, Stars and Wings), Wings again at Nationwide, Isles on the road, and the Preds in the friendly confines on New Year’s Eve.
Mark the calendar: December 29, 2009 - When the game against the New York Islanders ends on Long Island, we will officially be at the midpoint of the NHL season. The Jackets’ record has to look better by that point.
But… first thing’s first.
Mark the calendar: December 17, 2009 - Columbus vs. Phoenix.
The night that the Blue Jackets have to push themselves in the right direction again.
* Writer’s Note: Not an official endorsement by ColumbusSports.com, just me. Dude, the Whoa Nellie is sooooo good.**
** Writer’s Other Note: Great... now I'm hungry.