Dark Blue Jacket's PHBA Ballot

Some of you may have heard about the creation of the PHBA, or the Professional Hockey Bloggers Association.  This was created by one of the savants over at The Royal Half, of which this blog has an awkward kinship.  We like to think the Kings and CBJ twitter accounts are just copying us.  Happy Besties Day, TRH.  Honestly, thanks to The Royal Half for putting this together. This was no small undertaking and it turned out really well.

As the invitation email explained, the PHBA was created to give hockey bloggers across the country a voice and to see how our results stacked up against the actual hockey writers.  You know, the heralded professional hockey writers, who are either blathering about some super hero movie or are reminiscing about the Leafs 1967 Cup run.  Those same folks who sometimes nominate Crosby for the Vezina and Chara for the Selke, but I digress.  The purpose of this post is to make my votes public and explain them to you the readers.

Gallos Doles Out Some Brewskis

Check it out!  A veritable plethora of CBJ beers to hand out to the 2013-14 Columbus Blue Jackets players, coaches and fans!

And as always we thank "Light the Lamp" for the CBJ beers meme.  LTL disappeared down the rabbit hole of parenthood, and is off spawning and rearing future Blue Jackets Fans.  We know what that means in these parts, because that is part of the whole Columbus thing. It is, without any doubt, a great place to raise your family.

Just a little reminder there .

But, as is fairly normal, I digress.

What a season!  What a playoff run!  Yes, losing to the flightless seabirds of yinzer land is ignominious, but our team did it in a style and fashion that forced a better team to take a look in the mirror.  And, that's the beauty of the playoffs.  You know your team got a fair shake at proving they were better than the other guy. There is an upper tier of teams that are ready to compete for a Stanley Cup, and the Penguins are one of those teams, sporting two of the best players in this era of hockey, and having already won a Stanley Cup.  It would be foolish to suggest that our beloved CBJ run in those circles.  We are, however, firmly entrenched in that next tier that is ready to compete for making the playoffs each year.

I want to celebrate this position, because these things can be fleeting.  2009-10 is a good reminder that a return to the playoffs is not automatic.  Just ask the Islanders, who made the playoffs in 2012-13, but lost their starting goal tender to injury in mid-season, and their star player to injury in the Olympics.  These are long seasons fraught with uncertainty, and organizational depth, and a willingness to have an unparalleled work ethic are hedges against that uncertainty.  And, fortunately, the key to the CBJ fans heart!  If the work is there, and you ain't got it, so be it.  But if you put the work in, and get the results, this fan base will back you a long way.    So with all that said, let's dole out a few brews!!!

1.  My first CBJ Beers go to the 2013-14 Columbus Blue Jackets Hockey Club.  A team is more than a collection of individuals.  It is an opportunity to be greater than the sum of your parts.  And this team was able to accomplish that.  The beauty of a team, is that it helps to absorb the vicissitudes of adversity, and where adversity at times singles out an individual, the team is a safety net to help absorb that shock.  This team exemplified this dynamic throughout the year, and certainly had more than their share of adversity.  Yet they came out of the year as the highest performing team in franchise history on so many, many fronts.

As a fan, this was a fantastic year.  It was extremely entertaining for the vast majority of the season, and the playoff chase was scintillating.  You may have a better team Yinzers, but I bet we had more fun this year!  And the playoffs?  Mama mia!  That was some kinda fun!  Not without its stressful moments, but that is what makes is so fun!

2.  My second CBJ Beers go to Jarmo Kekalainen and John Davidson.  Because now you know.  Last year, at the Nashville game, they came away thinking that was a loud barn, and what a good thing they had here.  And I bit my tongue.  Because I knew how much better it really could be, and they got a very, very graphic exhibition of everything that Nationwide Arena can be.  So, I'm not sure if you guys like beer or not, so to help you out, these CBJ brewskis are redeemable for a pair of socks.  Cause I know Nationwide Arena blew yours off.

3.  My third CBJ Beers is given in gratitude to the CBJ fans.  I really, deep down, felt this team had earned the ovation that you gave them at the end of Game 6.  At perhaps the hardest moment for the players, you came through and rewarded them for what they had accomplished.  The hurt of that final loss will diminish for the players over time, lost in the wash of new competitions, but they will never forget that sound.  They earned it.  Thank you for having my back on this, because you delivered in the biggest way possible.

4.  My fourth CBJ Beer goes to Nick Foligno.  Late last May, when I was on the last day of rehabilitation from serious knee surgery, I came down to a 'Front Street Friday', and you were signing autographs.  I was in line behind Dancing Kevin, and after you had signed 'the belly', it was my turn.  I thanked you, as a season ticket holder, for the run at the end of the truncated 2012-13 season.  And your response to me was to get that fire in your eyes, and say emphatically 'we'll be better next year!!!'  Good call there Nick.  You guys were better, and then some.  So once again I say to you Nick Foligno, as a season ticket holder, I'd like to thank you for all you did this season.  You guys were really fun to watch and it was great to be part of your season.  And I hope you answer me the same way.

5.  My fifth CBJ Beer goes to Ryan Johansen.  33 goals Joey.  What, 2 in the playoffs?  You had a great year Joey.  But Crosby and Malkin got to you in the playoffs.  So you know where you need to aspire to get to.  It took them awhile to get to the level they are at, it will take you a bit too, so don't be impatient.  But don't be content either.  We know well here in Columbus that one superstar does not a team make.  But you are a part of the fabric of this team, and you did what you did in the context of the team.  Hold on to that.  It will take you far.

6.  My sixth CBJ adult beverage goes to my comrade in arms, Tom, The Dark Blue Jacket.  Speaking of disappearing down the rabbit hole of parenting.  That rabbit hole represents a very worthwhile endeavor, one that is worthy of your time, energy and thought.  You give a lot of yourself, yes, but that never defines who you are.  It is a stage of life, just like being an old fart.  So there it is.  Do what you need to do, but never lose sight of who you are, and don't miss those opportunities to remind yourself of who you are.

I'm sure I'll be doling out more beers soon.  I'm in a good mood.  This team was all one could ask for as a hockey fan.  I am content.  For now.  But there is some sort of silvery shadow in the back of my mind that is making me restless......

GO JACKETS!!

Pride

A cloaca is a funny thing.  It is an organ that serves as both male reproductive organ, as well as female reproductive organ.  In addition, the cloaca serves as the primary controller of waste evacuation, especially in flightless sea birds.  They don't really pee, so most of the stuff coming out of a cloaca is #2.  Blue Jackets fans were treated to an example of just how tight flightless sea birds can clench their cloaca tonight, before falling to the flightless sea birds from yinzer land, 4-3 to end the Blue Jackets play off run.  I wouldn't want to be the equipment guy for Pittsburgh, cause those ol' cloacas don't seal up that tight....

But there it is.  Our CBJ are out of the playoffs, falling to a team that upped the intensity ante over the last two games that our young team could not answer.  Credit to the Pens for how they played the last two games.  Credit to our guys for never quitting.  I feel very good about what our team has accomplished this year, and it was a very fun year to be a Blue Jackets fan.

At the end of the day, I am proud to be a Blue Jackets fan.  I went into tonight's game vowing not to get cheated.  I left it all out there, as did many other fans.  THAT is what Nationwide Arena is supposed to sound like.  And it is great to see it back.

I need to go nurse my wounds now.  But in the upcoming days/weeks we will start exploring the many accomplishments of this team.  Keep in mind that John Davidson just views this as a brick.  A big, and gratifying brick, but just a brick, nonetheless.

Congratulations Blue Jackets players and coaches.  You did us all proud.  Well done!  Well done indeed!!

GO JACKETS!!!

Progress In Pittsburgh

I had a very difficult time as a fan processing the game from Saturday night.  I was very disappointed at some levels, but reading post game write ups from other sources has helped,  What I knew that I saw, but refused to accept, was the Penguins exerting their will in the 3-1 win.  How they did it was very interesting.

Before the game, I wondered to myself if there was something to the notion that we might lose the battle, yet win the war.  Indeed, we lost that battle, with the Penguins pouring 50 shots on Sergei Bobrovsky.  They were the better team, they deserved to win.  Which creates an interesting dynamic, because they beat us by playing the same type of game that we do.  It stands to reason that Pittsburgh, with superior talent on its top lines, should be able to play Blue Jackets hockey better than we do, so long as the bring the same intensity and commitment to the hard work that our system entails.  And they did that Saturday night.  But I wonder if they can sustain it?

The long term impact of Saturday's loss is that the CBJ have managed to dictate the terms by which this series will be won.  The winning team will win by playing a Blue Jackets style of hockey better than the other team.  Pittsburgh certainly ramped up a Blue Jackets style of hockey Saturday night.  Our team played that style to win its way into the playoffs, and also managed to take the style on the road, winning a franchise record number of road games.  In short, Columbus has shown that it can sustain Blue Jackets hockey over a whole season under a variety of conditions.  So far the Pens have cranked that style up for game 3, and game 5, but otherwise have been unable to sustain the level of commitment.  Whereas Columbus has shown that it can sustain that level of play under pressure.

So the take away message is that the team that plays Blue Jackets hockey (high intensity, strong forecheck, tight defensive checking, great goal tending) will win this series.  It should be interesting to see if Pittsburgh can repeat their feat of Saturday night on the road, in a hostile arena.

On the other hand, this Pittsburgh team was expected to win multiple Stanley Cups.  They have only won a single Cup, and thus are under achievers.  Ironically, if they really think to get by Boston in the Conference final, they need to be able to perfect 'Blue Jackets Hockey', because that is the only hope they have to prevail in that series.

On a personal level, I am going to go out and cheer this team tomorrow with all that I have.  No more worries, no more neuroses, just hard core support for our team.  No matter how it turns out, I will be proud of what this group has done.  But it's not over yet.  No, not by a long shot.

GO JACKETS!!

The Hits Keep on Comin'

Like many Jackets fans I spent yesterday basking in the glow of Game 4. The improbable comeback. The unbelievable crowd. Just everything surrounding the fact that this series sits at 2-2 after the happenings at the corner of Front and Nationwide on Wednesday evening.

That entailed reading a number of articles and blog posts, and even taking in a podcast or two, from all sources: Columbus, Pittsburgh, and national media types. A rather generalized summary of each:

Columbus: "That was AWESOME! We're 2-2! You've waited 14 years, is this fun or what!?!?!!"

Pittsburgh: "OMG Fluery! FLUERY!! WTF? Where are Crosby and Malkin?? Why? WHY?"

National: "This is a nutty series. Nobody can hold a lead. And Fluery has gone and screwed up...we told you it would happen!"

Both fan bases are equally correct in thinking the series could easily be 3-1 in their favor right now. So, how exactly are the Jackets keeping pace with the Pens?

The Jackets are doing it with possession and in forcing the Pens to play the full 200 feet. I've just started to understand the advanced stats movement, but I'm not going to include them here. Instead, let's look at good, old fashion, "traditionalist" stats on getting and keeping the puck. In other words, old-timey possession stats.

Here are the shots, hits, giveaways (GV), takeaways (TK), and face off percentage (FO%) for the first four games:

	Shots	Hits	GV	TK	FO%
Game 1
CBJ	34	48	2	5	44%
PIT	32	27	10	5	56%
Game 2
CBJ	45	51	3	5	57%
PIT	42	28	13	2	43%
Game 3
CBJ	20	65	4	5	57%
PIT	41	32	4	6	43%
Game 4
CBJ	46	51	10	5	57%
PIT	25	37	11	3	43%

As you can see, things are pretty close through the series, with the exception of hits where the Jackets are just running away with things. (We'll get to that in a bit.) In this case, pretty close seems to favor the Jackets a little bit. If shots and face offs and were lopsided towards the Pens, they'd be getting their way a lot more and the series probably wouldn't be 2-2. No big secret, if the Jackets want to win this series they can't get in an open ice skating contest with the Pens.

Shots and hits seem to get a lot of focus in this series. Shots are a pretty good indicator of possession, you can't shoot the puck if you don't have it. Hits are also a pretty good indicator of possession, but in the opposite way, more hits usually means less puck time. Since the Jackets are a dump it in, punch you in the face, "Gimme that puck," kind of team they are naturally going to have more hits than the Pens. With that context, looking at the hits each game compared to the shots...the Jackets had the puck very little in Game 3, and had it a whole lot in Game 4.

This series is now a 3 game sprint to the end. If the stats continue to be close, the Jackets have a real good chance to get 2 wins out of the last 3 games. They have to continue to forecheck and get pucks to the net. Now that this is at least a 6 game series, the hitting and puck possession should wear on the Pens more - physically and mentally.

Not to mention throwing pucks at the net from the blue line just might go in.

Best. Game. Ever!

Tonight, the Columbus Blue Jackets came back and won the game 4-3 in overtime against the mighty Pittsburgh Penguins, to tie the best of seven series at two games apiece.  The series now heads back to Pittsburgh on Saturday, but a Game 6 on Monday in Columbus is now assured.

What a game.  What a game!  The Penguins asserted their will early, jumping up to a 3-0 lead.  I remember thinking early about the goal that bounced in off Wisniewski's butt in the last game, and thinking it would be great if we got a GOOD bounce off Wiz's butt.  No.  It bounced right to the Pens, and Adams comes down and scores a shorty to open the scoring.  The Pens continued to exert their will, and ended up going up 3-0 before 12 minutes were done in the first period.

With the officiating continuing the absolutely brutal trend of the last game, Neal gets whistled for his second interference call in consecutive games for checking the guy with the puck after a prior brutal call by the officials.  According to NHL rules, a clean hit after a lousy call is called for interference.  But the CBJ capitalize, and get one on the board before the first period is over, making it 3-1.

The game slogs on until a little over half way through the second period, when the Penguins Stempniak gets whistled for a double minor high sticking call.  Shortly thereafter, the officials determined that Sutter lofted the puck over the boards, and the CBJ were awarded a full two minute 5 on 3.  In spite of great pressure, the CBJ were only able to score one, so the score at the end of two periods remained 3-2 Penguins.

Personal confession.  I have watched so much brutal hockey in that arena, that at times I forget about hope.  Fortunately, the players could care less about my neuroses, and believe in themselves.  Sure enough, with 24 seconds left in the third and the goal tender pulled for an extra skater, Brandon Dubinsky buries a goal to tie the score at 3 all.  To say that the building erupted would be a masterful understatement.  The CBJ kill off the last 24 seconds, take a break, and come out in the first overtime on fire, and Foligno (see the back of the Jersey I wear.  YEAH!!!) buries a shot for the game winner.  Four unanswered goals by the CBJ and they have their first home playoff win in franchise history.  More importantly, Jarmo and John Davidson now know how loud Nationwide Arena can really be.

I've had season tickets since the 2006-07 season.  This is the best game I have ever witnessed in Nationwide Arena.  The crowd met the same kinds of challenges that people faced in Game 4 against Detroit, but in this case the team came back and won the game in dramatic fashion.  The team was rewarded with the thunderous ovation that they richly deserve.  This one was a beauty.

The series is tied 2-2 on the strength of four 4-3 games.  Too weird.

This team continues to show its great resiliency.  Now its a best of three series.  Funny things can happen.

This team continues to lift us up with great moments.  Well done.  Well done indeed.

GO JACKETS!!!

Game Three: Pens Push Back

Tonight the Columbus Blue Jackets fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in Nationwide Arena in front of a jazzed up home crowd.  The Jackets jumped the Penguins early, but failed to put them away, and slowly but inexorably the Penguins turned the tide, before putting it away in the third period.

Take aways from this game are that the Penguins played Blue Jackets hockey from midway through the second period through the end, and baited the Blue Jackets into attempting Penguins hockey in response.  The result of course, is predictable.  Poor team discipline lead to Pittsburgh taking over the offensive zone, and dominating the last half of the game, much like the CBJ did in the last game in Pittsburgh.  I thought it was an unusually poorly officiated game for a playoff game, however the refs had nothing to do with Pittsburgh putting 41 shots on the net. That was more related to the fact that they won the face offs and puck races and puck battles for the majority of the third period.

These Blue Jackets now know what Nationwide Arena can really be.  Great crowd tonight, great atmosphere.  These teams will be looking fairly evenly matched if the CBJ can respond on Wednesday with a win.  The Penguins were sure to respond after Saturday's loss.  We need to respond after tonight's loss.

This is fun.  This is awesome.  My day long meeting should be interesting with this voice tomorrow.  But strap it on, and bring it again Wednesday.  We get a day to heal.  I gotta run, I am on the road all day tomorrow.  Our boys played well enough to win, but fell down in the team discipline department.  That can be fixed.

Lather, rinse, repeat!

GO JACKETS!!

Game Two Recap: It was a tale of two overtimes

Columbus Blue Jackets 4 - Pittsburgh Penguins 3 - 2OT
Series tied at 1-1

After the first 5 minutes of tonight's game, if you had told me the CBJ would win convincingly in overtime I would have laughed at you - after having spit beer out my nose and then slapped you about the head and face.  There is getting scored on early, and then there is getting OWNED in the first 20 minutes of a hockey game.  It was like the Penguins had the cheat code to "The Blue Jackets - the video game."  To watch the first period was like watching a train driver over a cliff.  The Penguins had reached into the soul of the Blue Jackets, bathed in their insecurities, and then played them like a break-up tape from an ex-girlfriend on slo-mo repeat.  The first period was tough to watch, and full marks go to Dan Bylsma for exploiting the Blue Jackets.  You don't often see a mismatch like that in the Stanley Cup Playoffs - that kind of blatant one-sidedness typically happens in Pee Wee tournament on the north side of Detroit.

Seeing The Elephant

There is an old saying about going into armed combat.  You can talk about it all you want, but until you have been there, you have not 'seen the elephant'.  Tonight the Columbus Blue Jackets went into enemy territory, fought hard, but ultimately lost the battle to an apparently superior foe.  Please note that I said they lost the battle.  They have not yet lost the war.  In fact, I would suggest tonight that winning this battle would have had a detrimental effect on winning the war.  Whereas losing this battle, does not determine the outcome of the war.  Not at all.  Our guys have 'seen the elephant'.

The Pittsburgh Penguins played like a superior team.  They scored through the tiniest cracks in the Jackets defense.  In fact I'd suggest that they scored at times when there were no cracks.  They brought their game, and they played well.  Likewise, the CBJ brought their game, and they played well.  I think it would be fair to say both sides would like to have a couple of plays back.  At the end, it was tied going into the third period, Pittsburgh made a good play, and they won.  Credit to them.  But this was no blow out of inadequately matched teams.  There is, however, the possibility that Pittsburgh will regard it as such.

The dynamic of these playoffs is that the home team has to hold their serve, to use a tennis analogy.  You need to win your home games.  You have an advantage in the face off, and you have the last line change.  Technically, you should win your home games.  By virtue of being the higher seed, Pittsburgh only has to win one road game to prevail, while the CBJ need to win two.  Johnson, Letestu, and MacKenzie score tonight.  Dollars will get you donuts that different players score on Saturday.  That is the strength of the CBJ.  Likewise, the Pens can say their secondary scoring won the battle, which is true.  But will they win the war?

I tried to explain to my Dad that dumping the puck, and grinding possession is like running the football.  It conveys benefits down the road.  The Jackets did some good grinding tonight.  They need to do more on Saturday.  But they had a couple those shifts in this game, the first game.  Can they have more in the second game, and more in the third?

Pittsburgh won tonight, 4-3.  They are 25% of the way out of this series.  The next percentage points may be harder to earn.  Will they elevate their game to earn them? They may.  Or they may not.  It remains to be seen.

I am content.  It was fun.  Our guys played well, yet they lost.  That's hockey.  The other guys are good.  Make no mistake.  But you don't win them on paper.  We lost the battle, but we are undeterred.  Next Saturday should be interesting.

GO JACKETS!!!!  BATTLE ON!!

It Comes Down to Bob

I've looked at a lot of posts by various people.  I've thought about it a bunch.  For the Blue Jackets to make any real headway in this series, they have to do two things.  First, play Blue Jackets hockey.  Herky-Jerky, start, stop, lot's of face offs, no flow hockey.  If we play a game of flow, we are playing Penguins hockey, and they are lots better at it than we are.

Second, Bob has to win the goal tending match-up by a pretty good margin.  He has to emerge from the series with a sub-2 Goals Against Average.  Fortunately, that's how he played down the stretch. But he probably has to play better than he did down the stretch to maintain that level in the playoffs.  And as long as it's not the first game, we can probably afford one of those games where the Pens really roll.  But if the bulk of the games are pretty tight, and it comes down to the goal tending, than we have a chance.  A slim chance, against a powerful opponent.  But they don't play them on paper.

So we go into this series with the best team we ever had.  Which makes for an interesting dynamic.  Have fun with this, ignore the Penguins fans, and cheer the Blue Jackets on.  These guys have earned that from us, and you never know, they may surprise us.

I don't know about you, but there is something really cool about having a pass for a Stanley Cup final sitting on your kitchen table.  Whether or not it is THE Stanley Cup final remains to be determined.  The hard way.

GO JACKETS!!

Expectations Reload

Let's see.  Porty and the lads over at the Cannon totally beat me to a punch on looking at the regular season Pens games.  So I thought I'd offer something a bit different.  I've been asked a couple of times by the guys at Full Tilt Rangers to comment on things from my CBJ perspective.  Last week they asked me for my expectations for the playoffs.  The following is the article that popped out of my head at that time.

I Reject Your Reality and Substitute My Own

Anthony asked me to do a quick blog post about the Columbus Blue Jackets making the 2013-14 Stanley Cup playoffs, and my expectations for the team.  My nom de plume is Gallos, and I write for a Blue Jackets blog called The Dark Blue Jacket, and I am a long time season ticket holder.  I decided to use the classic Mythbusters  phrase as my title, because I think that there is something surreal  for many NHL fans about seeing the Blue Jackets in the playoffs.  I expect this is especially true for the New Jersey and Washington fans. 

It is well documented that prior to this year, the Blue Jackets have only made the playoffs one time, only to be eliminated in 4 games by the Detroit Redwings.  Few understand the dynamic that fueled the Redwings desire to bring their best game to bear against the Blue Jackets.  After all, the prior two regular season games, the Redwings had dispatched the Blue Jackets with ease, bringing all of their considerable talent to bear, as well as their top effort.  The reason the Redwings were so motivated, was the previous game, in which the Blue Jackets laid an 8-2 ass whipping on the Redwings in the Joe.  In that game, Rick Nash had an unassisted hat trick, a feat last accomplished by the incomparable Rocket Richard.  What was never spoken publicly, but was evident for several years, was that Mike Babcock took that very personally.  His team didn’t show up that day, and he whipped them mercilessly with that day for years.  That was the last time for a long time that the Redwings didn’t show up against the Blue Jackets. 

But that was your big brother’s Blue Jackets.  Only three players remain from that 2008-09 team that made the playoffs, Jared Boll, RJ Umberger, and former Ranger Fedor Tyutin.  Since that time, this team has literally plunged to the bottom of the NHL standings, necessitating a turn of the page.  This year’s team is made up of heart and soul players, and the emerging talent of 2 rookies and a budding superstar, all acquired through trades, free agency and the draft. 

The key moment in the reshaping of the Blue Jackets organization was hiring Craig Patrick as an advisor to the general manager.  When asked by a season ticket holder in his ‘meet and greet’ what he valued most in a player, he emphatically stated that he valued a player’s character.  He said ‘you can find skill, it’s harder to find character’.  The current incarnation of the Blue Jackets has that philosophy at its core, and the team is made up of heart and soul players, who play well as a team, and are committed to a defensively sound system, and an incredible work ethic.  At the foundation of the teams work ethic is Sergei Bobrovsky, the Vezina winning goal tender, who brings a tireless work ethic every day.

At this time, Craig Patrick has moved on to the Buffalo organization to help them the same way he helped the Blue Jackets.  John Davidson has come on as President of Hockey Operations, and brought in new General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen.  JD and Craig Patrick go WAY back, and Patrick’s departure from the organization is more about him going somewhere he is needed, since JD and Jarmo fundamentally agree with his philosophies. 

The current incarnation of the Blue Jackets is built on a foundation of excellent goal tending, good team defense, a grinding offensive forecheck, and opportunistic scoring.  It should be noted that with two games remaining, this team has set the franchise records for goals in a season, wins in a season, and road wins in a season.  But its foundation is its work ethic. 

This team’s record for this season is clear.  It has been dominated by the elite teams.  Boston, Pittsburgh, Chicago fared very well against the Blue Jackets.  But it’s the second season.  These teams no longer get to breeze into town, get the win, and head out of town.  They have to stick for a seven game series, so they had better have a tireless work ethic to bring to a long series.  The Blue Jackets are going to grind on you, in true playoff style, and that work ethic is an integral part of their character now.  Bobrovsky is hot, and no one really knows Ryan Johansen’s ceiling, or just how difficult it will be to play against Boone Jenner in the playoffs.  One thing is clear, whoever the CBJ play is not going to have the advantage of having an offended Mike Babcock wielding his whip arm with cunning strength. 

So my expectation for the Blue Jackets is that I am going to let my hair down, cheer like a mad man for my team, and take what comes.  The 2008-09 Blue Jackets sort of stumbled into the playoffs.  This year’s team may be peaking.  I might be wrong, but they are looking like a tough out for the higher seed this year.

I’m very proud of what this group of players and the coaching staff has accomplished.  It is a fundamentally sound group.  You can beat them sometimes in a game.  Can you beat them in a series?

GO JACKETS!!

CBJ Success

This is a bit of a strange time for Blue Jackets fans and bloggers.  Normally, we are turning our thoughts to the 'year in review' type of post, dissecting the many things that went wrong, pondering possible draft picks.  Not this year.  This year, we are pondering a first round match-up with the Metropolitan Division champion Pittsburgh Penguins.  On paper, this looks like a tough go for the home squad.  But that's why you play the games.

Before we start pondering that match-up, I'd like to spend a bit of time discussing the 2013-14 Columbus Blue Jackets.  Much like the 2008-09 team has defined success for the last 5 years, this team has redefined success.  Moving forward, if you want to talk about a successful Blue Jackets squad, it will be in the context of this years team.  Some of this years successes are:

Most wins, finishing 43-32-7.
Most road wins with 22(?)
Most points, with 93.
Longest winning streak, 8 games.
Fifth in goals per season (tied with Nash), Ryan Johansen with 33(!!).
Most points by a Defenseman, James Wisniewski, with 51.
Bobrovsky finishes with a 2.38 GAA  and a .923 save percentage in 58 games.  He was better than that down the stretch.

This team has defined success for the franchise.  And they are not done yet.  When they take the ice Wednesday or Thursday, they will be the most rested they have been since March 1.  That may have a beneficial impact on team discipline and structure.

Later on, I will want to spend some time dissecting the season series with Pittsburgh.  But for now, I think its important to celebrate the many accomplishments of this team.  Well done lads.  Well done indeed!

GO JACKETS!!

Standings Stasis

Tonight the Tampa Bay Lightening snapped the Blue Jackets 3 game winning streak by defeating the good guys by a 3-2 score.  Curtis McElhinney, starting the first game of a back to back, had some ill luck and some strange bounces cost him a couple of goals, and ultimately the game.  Both teams played well, and it was a hard fought game; sometimes the bounces just don't go your way.  Strangely, the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Detroit Redwings 2-1 tonight, so the CBJ still sit in the First Wildcard Spot, with a first round match-up against Pittsburgh for now.  Philadelphia plays Pittsburgh tomorrow afternoon.  That could make things interesting.  So it's all good.

1. The first, frosty cold CBJ Playoff Beer for tonight goes to Boone Jenner.  Jenner scored the first goal for the CBJ to tie the game momentarily, a good push to the net down the slot on the power play.  Jack Johnson put the puck hard on his tape and he just steered it in.  Later in the third period, he returned the favor to David Savard, who buried the second goal, to bring the Jackets within a goal, and make the last few minutes interesting.  Boone seems to be on an accelerating arc in his play in the last few games, sort of assuming some of the leadership mantle now that it is known that Horton is out for the rest of the year.  His 16th goal, Jenner has had a rookie season that far exceeds expectations.  The cool thing is that the trip to the playoffs will solidify the experience from this year.  This guy is going to be a load for years to come if he stays fundamentally healthy.  Great stuff.

2. The second, sweet, clear CBJ Playoff Beer goes to Curtis McElhinney, for playing well enough in a very difficult role that Richie trusted him enough to send him out tonight.  To me, the extra day of rest is critical for Bobrovsky.  Bob gets Florida tomorrow, which is good, otherwise he might go a long time without seeing the puck shot at game speed, as we might not play again until Thursday.  When Bob got injured, CMac and Mike McKenna held down the fort until he healed, winning some critical games that helped put us in the playoffs.  Good work there CMac.  Your reward is playoff hockey!

3. My third, delicious CBJ Playoff Beer goes to Nathan Horton, who had surgery to repair a lower body injury today.  I can't believe the dude played in the Phoenix game, but his handling of a Johansen pass, and a little bunny of a set up for Boone Jenner got us that first goal in that game.  The guy was playing on one leg, but he still gave it a go.  Enjoy this CBJ Playoff Beer as you recuperate Nathan.  What this team has shown this year is who they are.  Yes, people have had career years, but this CBJ product is eminently repeatable. They didn't put this together with a phenomenal 19-5-5 run like last year.  Rather it has been steady winning play since the new year.  Heal up, and plan on getting a full, healthy year in next year.  But don't dawdle, because these playoffs are funny things.  You never know what will happen.

4. My fourth, not too cold, not too warm, just right CBJ Playoff Beer goes to Lori Schmidt.  You will forever have my gratitude for 'piling on' Scott Arniel, and helping to rid us of that mistake.  But the real reason I'm giving you this beer is for posting this audio clip from the Phoenix game on your blog "Fear the Hat'.  There are two things about that audio clip that are worthy of note.  The first is the loud C-B-J chant.  This is the first, different, organic, crowd grown chant that I have seen grow in Nationwide Arena.  I love the solid 'Let's go Jackets', but that C-B-J chant cannot be mistaken for any other team's chant.  This will be an important tool in the crowd tool belt moving into the playoffs.  The second is the roar of the crowd when Joey scores that winning goal.  In the Arena, that roar has a pure, ringing quality to it.  I've heard it before, but it's only recently started to reoccur.  Hint:  There's going to be more of that going on in the next few weeks.

5.  This fifth, hard earned CBJ Playoff Beer goes to our colleague Morgan over at DKM hockey.  A Rangers fan started to give him some guff on Twitter today, implying that the CBJ would be an easy out for the Rangers.  His reply: 'The CBJ want the Rangers like a fat kid wants cake...".  End of trolling.  I would happily trade the Flyers a Pittsburgh series for a series with the Rangers.  Maybe that wouldn't turn out well for us.  But maybe.....

6. This sixth, ginormous CBJ Playoff Beer goes to the 2013-14 Columbus Blue Jackets players and coaches.  This has been a really fun season to follow you, and watch you grow.  A record setting season that we will talk about in the off season at more length.  Thanks for the ride.  It's been a beauty.  I can't wait for the rest of it.

Life is a funny thing.  I totally support my colleague, the Dark Blue Jacket, in his decision to drop the writing responsibilities for his family.  But I am at a different point in my life.  My boys have graduated from college, and are working stiffs now.  It goes without saying that I am proud as Nebuchadnezzar of them.  But they take care of themselves now.  So my time pressures are totally different.

Maintaining a blog is a funny thing.  The need for fresh content is real, as folks ought to have a reasonable chance of seeing something worth reading when they take the trouble to click on your link.  I don't know how its going to go without the DBJ filling those gaps.  Morgan will chime in when he can, but his time demands, and the good work he does on DKM hockey may keep him away for extended periods.  So there it is.

We do this for fun.  And this has been a real fun team to write about, in spite of the occasional outburst of immature petulance <whistles innocently>.  And now we are in the playoffs!  How much more fun can it get?

We have Florida in the final game of the regular season tomorrow, then we find out on Sunday who we play, and when.  Hang on to your hats folks.  The ride is just beginning.

GO JACKETS!!

Full circle

This blog launched just under five years ago as a means for a newborn's father to relax, have fun, keep his mind sharp and spend time thinking about something other than diapers and nap scheduling.  It's grown beyond my wildest imagination, with over 1,500 posts and a host of friends as valued co-contributors.

My young family expanded by two about a year and a half ago, and life now is very different than it was when I started the Dark Blue Jacket blog.  It is no longer conducive to researching, writing and publishing volumes of content on a regular schedule.  It no longer lets me set aside three-plus hour blocks of time on over eighty occasions a year, not to mention training camp visits, practice observations, etc.  It makes the simple act of watching a full game on TV an impossibility (gotta read those bedtime stories and put the kids to bed)...and the notion of attending a game in person has become a question of how many brownie points I've accumulated with my overburdened spouse.  I've tried to keep up the past level of activity, but it's worn me down.  I had to jettison CannonFest duties last summer, but clearly that wasn't enough.

Response

Tonight the Columbus Blue Jackets responded to a tough loss Friday night with a 4-0 shut out win by Sergei Bobrovsky to answer the Islanders beating the CBJ on the Island seven games ago.  This was an incredibly important 2 points in regulation by the CBJ, in a 'game in hand' on most of the competition.  This game was the power play, BOB (shouted in capital letters), and the Islanders.  The only reason they didn't end up with any goals is the compete level of Sergei Bobrovsky.  I might note that Boone Jenner only had his composure with regards to physical play that kept him from a Gordy Howe hat trick.  If you care about this team, one of the huge reasons you want it to make the playoffs is for the lessons that Johansen and Boone Jenner will learn.  A solid win tonight, in spite of the lack of solid play (please don't take that as criticism of the team or their effort, but it was a weird night).  One thing that can be said is that the Jackets buried their chances.

1.  The first CBJ beer goes to my buddy Bill, who shoved me down in his haste to get to the puck that was laying behind Nilsson, the Islanders goalie. I'm pretty sure if he wouldn't have pushed me down I'd have made it out of the upper deck and over the glass to kick that one in.  Fortunately, Boone Jenner had position on us both, and finished it off before any D-men could get there.  So Bill will have to share this beer with Boone.  Honestly though, we should make this one a quart for them to share, as Boone was all over the ice tonight.  JUST WAIT TILL HE GROWS UP!!! :-)

2.  The Second CBJ Beer, but really the first if you ignore the fictitious BS above goes to Sergei Bobrovsky.  Bob was under pressure all night long, had his stick whacked away for significant stretches of play, but still came through with a shut out.  Bob is proving that the Vezina award us not a fluke.  He won't win it this year, which is okay.  Lundquist and Rask both play for better teams.  Which doesn't have much to do with earning the Vezina, it just has more to do with winning it.  Don't get me wrong.  Those guys are both highly deserving of the award, and I'm not sure if I would agree that Bob deserves to win it in back to back years.  But we would be screwed without Bob.

3. Having said all that in the second beer, I can't ignore Curtis McHelinney's role in this team's success.  When Bob has gone down, CMac and Mike McKenna have played well in his stead.  Nabokov went down for the Islanders and their season was done.  CMac has plugged the holes in the dike to keep us in this race.  We ain't forgettin'.

4.  The fourth beer, which should really be the third, if you follow my logic, goes to the power play.  Three power play goals is nice redemption and a momentum builder for a unit that has struggled at times this year.  Boone Jenner, Jack Johnson, and Ryan Murray all scored power play goals.  Those were all huge momentum goals, and kept the physicality of the game from escalating out of control.  Very sweet stuff.

5. This fifth CBJ beer goes to Mark Letestu, the test tube.  The inverted test tube makes a wonderful plugger of holes, and that's how Richie has used Letestu all year.  While Letestu has not equalled his goal output of the abbreviated campaign of last year, he has exceeded his assist total.  Richie has not hesitated to bench those whose play does not quite fit with what he wants to see, but Letestu continues to play.  I think that speaks for itself.  He has had an extremely solid season.

6. My sixth CBJ beer goes for the agony and the ecstasy of a playoff run.  I can hardly bear to watch the games.  Yet this is what I desired.  I love it.  It hurts.  I love the hurt.  I hurt the love.  Dang, I'm so confused I need a shrink!  Four more games.  HUGE points tonight!  GO JACKETS!!!  GO JACKETS!!!

This is what we have waited so long for.  I love it.  Except for the losses, in which case propriety may go out the door.  Sorry, but it hurts.

But we won tonight!!  <glow>

GO JACKETS!!!

So DBJ watched Game 77: Chicago

Chicago 4 - Columbus 3

(I can never pass up the opportunity to run that graphic.  It is SO Chicago Blackhawks.)

The Columbus Blue Jackets hung tough with the Jonathan Toews-less, Patrick Kane-less Chicago Blackhawks for 59 minutes and about 55 seconds.  They couldn't say the same for the final five seconds, and the Blackhawks jammed a goalie crease scrummed puck past Sergei Bobrovsky for the 4-3 win in regulation.

As has been my lot in life, fathering a family of young kids, I only really sat down to this game when it was half over.  Not sure it mattered in this game, though, as it seemed that while the game had its inevitable ebbs and flows of momentum, the Blue Jackets really did play a tough, competitive game.  Sure, the Blackhawks were without their top two stars, but the Blackhawks without their top two stars probably would be a surefire playoff team...at least in the Eastern Conference.

Enough about the game.  It didn't get Columbus a measly standings point, so it's pointless to discuss it.  What's important is the playoff chase, and the DKM guys put together this dandy visual aid to help:

So the next game is Sunday against the Islanders.  You have your list of games to watch for tomorrow.  Always root against the Rangers, the Flyers, the Red Wings, the Maple Leafs, the Capitals and the Devils.  If any of the teams listed play each other on a given night, pray that the ice cracks, the earth opens up and both squads are swallowed whole.

Onward and upward!

Top 10 reasons why it's bad for Toronto to think it can make the Playoffs

I read the Toronto Star article this afternoon and honestly enjoyed it.  I was not offended by it in the least.  It was a nice piece of satire and something to lift the spirts of a proud Toronto populace.  I do feel compelled to write a retort, point for point, indicating the subtle differences between Toronto and Columbus.  There might have been a hint of arrogance in that article that no one in Columbus would know how to fire back.  Well, here you go:

1. Columbus is a world class city.  Granted, we don't have the Jamaican-Chinese immigrancy that Toronto has, or riveting documentaries about our racoons - but the restaurants, festival, and overall accessibility to the city is something Toronto would be hard pressed to match.  I mean, every day the Canadian National Railroad isn't on strike is a National Holiday, right?  Toronto may have an awesome mayor, but we have an awesome first lady.  Rob Ford should definitely not hook up with Mrs Coleman.

2.  When the Jackets go three generations without winning a cup, they'll be jerseys in every major North American city, just like the Leafs.  Give us time.  That kind of greatness takes, well, decades.

3.  The Blue Jackets logo is a multi-color contemporary homage to the entire state of Ohio.  There was no need to dumb it down so that hockey fans in Ohio know which team to root for.  "Oh, it's a Maple Leaf, eh?  That must be us."

4. Stinger has a heavy, his name is Boomer.  Boomer will mess you up if you mess with Stinger. You know what these three mascots have in common?  They've never held a Stanley Cup.

5.  In Columbus, we have better things to read about than which stall Wendel Clark took a dump in this morning.  And really, if it takes five news papers to figure out what the Leafs are doing wrong, well, you're doing it wrong.

6.  While the Leafs were an original six team, they haven't won a Cup since 1967.  Since 1967, the Kardashians have used the Maple Leafs' front office as inspiration and role models for their lives.

7. All we got is Rick Nash.  But hey, we've never lost to Barry Melrose in the playoffs.

8.  The Blue Jackets don't have any players from Toronto on their roster, maybe that's why they've played markedly better the last two seasons. 

9.  Attendance?  Dear lord, how intellectually lazy to bring that up.  But seriously Toronto, if you can tell us how to sell-out your building after sucking for a decade, we'd be much obliged.

10.  Now, now Toronto media.  Having an irrelevant team doesn't hurt that bad, does it?  You get used to the jokes after a while.  I mean, 47 years without a Cup for such a majestic original six team?  We thought you'd have thicker skin than that.

CBJ vs the Flyers - effort vs results.

Columbus Blue Jackets 2 - Philadelphia Flyers 0

It was a game of narratives, and luckily not being bound by the need to sell advertising, I find no reason to expound upon any of them.  It was the Blue Jackets versus the Flyers with playoff implications on the line.  Visting the not so friendly confines of the Wells Fargo Center nestled snugly in the City of Brotherly Love, the Jackets were guests to the skidding Flyers.  The Flyers who had points in 8 straight games, were winless in their last two.  The Jackets were coming off a disappointed 'Own Goal' loss to the Avalanche on Tuesday night.  Thanks to October and November tonight, like all the remaining games this season, are of priceless importance. 

The first period was a showing of good effort by the Blue Jackets.  The Flyers were the recipients of some fortuitous power play time and the Jacket penalty kill was equal to the task.  All in all the Jackets brought the body, skated with speed speed, and kept Mason on his toes in the Flyers net.  Dzone coverage was solid by the CBJ, the forwards played smart, and it was a solid first period.  To try and find anything wrong with the first period would just be idiotic, but with saying that, I would have like to see some results from the even strenght effort.  Like my dad told me when I made my first travel hockey team, "effort gets you on the team, results keep you on the team."  The Jackets had some pressure, but never really tested Mason in the first.  It was obvious Mason was fighting the puck and I would have liked to see a few more shots taken given the opportunity.  I minor grip yes, but then there was the second period.

The second period was all Bob.  The Jackets didn't look awful in the second, just overwhelmed and unresponsive.  The crisp dzone coverage in the first was lax, passing was sloppy, and the first power play was uninspired.  But late in the 2nd and on the power play, and with the Jackets set up in a formation I would only dare dream of seeing in NHL 14, Wisniewski bangs home a goal down low and the Jackets take the lead in the second 1-0.  Letestu on the point, Wiz down low, cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria!  To say the Jackets were lucky to get out of the second period without giving up three goals, let alone the lead, would be the understatement of the season.  Bob stole the period for the Blue Jackets and likely the game with this performance in the middle stanza.  By that man a beer CBJ forwards, buy that man a beer.

It's how the Jackets chose to respond in the third that gave me an odd sense of confidence I haven't often associated with the Columbus Blue Jackets.  The Jackets came out pressing hard, working the fore check, and then the forwards back checking to make the Flyers transition game tough.  Clearly unsatisfied with the second period performance, the Jackets made a statement in the third.  The Jackets pressure in the 3rd period was rewarded as a shot from the point found the back of the net via Brandon Dubinsky's skates.  "Fortune favors the bold" a beer commercial once said.  As the halfway point of the the 3rd period came, with the exception of one or two shifts, the Jackets executed well while playing with the lead. When challanged, they dumped the puck into the zone, but quickly mounted the forecheck.  The Flyers kept coming, but their rushes weren't sustained and their top line was visibly frustrated.  Seeing the Flyers fans uncomfortable was an added bonus for this blogger.  It was on this night that the effort given by the Blue Jackets finally produced a favorable result.  Credit to Bob for bailing the team out in the second, but kudos to the rest of the team for coming out in the 3rd and playing a solid game of hockey.


Unlike the lead blown two nights prior, the Jackets played their style of hockey throughout the 3rd period tonight.  They played big, played physical, kept the turnovers to the minimum, and won battles in the important areas of the ice.  There was a little bit of bad news coming from tonight's victory.  As Aaron Portzline once said, if the Jackets are playing their style of hockey, forwards are going to get hurt.  Nick Foligno left the game in the third, nursing what appeared to be a lower body injury - or was the best feigning of an upper body injury I've ever seen.  As confirmed by Head Coach Todd Richards, Folgino will be evaluated further tomorrow.  Let's hope it's not a long term injury and something that Nick can come back from quickly.  Foligno would be a great assest if this team looks to continue playing long into the month of May.

Despite the injury to Foligno, the Jackets come away with a 2-0 win against the metro division rival Philadelphia Flyers.  Bob turns away 37 shots for a well earned shutout. The Blue Jackets now sit just two points behind the third place Flyers and find themselves in the last wild card spot in the East.  The Jackets take the ice tomorrow night back home in Nationwide Arena against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks.  There is no time for love Dr Jones, the Jackets have to get right back at it as the Tornoto Maple Leafs have decided to give up losing for lent. 

Buckle up folks, this one is going to be another nail biter, likely down to the last game in Florida.

Win to Get In, Tie to Get By

Last night the Columbus Blue Jackets fell to the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in overtime.  A crucial point was gained to help solidify the last Wild Card Spot, and we move on to a road game against Philly.  The CBJ withstood a Colorado push in the first period, totally dominated the second period, but only came away with two goals.  Half way through the third period the worm turned, the bounced on in off one of our players, and all of a sudden we were playing Avalanche hockey which they are better at than we are.  So it goes.  83 points, which really helped when Toronto decided not to lose to Calgary.  Cam Atkinson gets his 20th goal.  Blake Comeau combines with Nick Foligno to get a 'no quit' goal.  Good stuff.  I gotta run!

GO JACKETS!!

Jared Boll to be named captain of Columbus Blue Jackets

According to multiple sources inside the team, winger and pugilist Jared Boll will be named as captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets within the next week to ten days.  Internal presumption is that Boll's ascendancy to the "C" will coincide with the end of the Columbus Blue Jackets regular season.

Excitement on Nationwide Boulevard is palpable.  One source said, "Boll exhibits the true Viking spirit every time he drops the gloves."  Another said, "Boll has been hugely popular with a team-targeted marketing demographic.  We can't wait to capitalize on his being the face of the franchise.  T-shirts with the 'BOLL KNOWS' slogan are already on order."

An eight-year veteran with the club, Boll was drafted 101st overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.  He signed his entry level contract with the CBJ in time to start the 2007-08 season in Columbus.  In 409 NHL games, Boll has 25 goals, 28 assists, 53 points, a -33 plus/minus and 1,001 PIMs.  According to HockeyFights.com, Boll has engaged in 131 regular season NHL fights and 10 preseason fights (!).  He has appeared in 21 games this season.  Boll signed a three-year contract extension with the Blue Jackets at the start of the 2013-14 training camp.

Boll will be the sixth captain in Blue Jackets franchise history, following Lyle Odelein, Ray Whitney, Luke Richardson, Adam Foote and Rick Nash.  The captaincy has been vacant since the end of the 2011-12 season when Nash was traded to the New York Rangers in the offseason, and the issue of who would be the next captain has roiled the fanbase and apparently annoyed the club for almost two years now.  Another team source, speaking on terms of strict anonymity, spoke to this frustration when they said, "We were looking for someone to shut that conversation down and keep the seat warm for Boone Jenner.  Jared's done everything we've asked of him, both on the ice and in the community.  He told us that he will gladly retire when Boone's ready, and we weren't confident that any of the other guys on the roster would do that.  Knowing the pounding that he's already taken, I'm sure Jared will look at retirement as a relief."