Scenes from the CBJ Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Night

While I was unable to attend tonight's Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Night party at Nationwide Arena, the miracle of modern social media allowed me to have a window into this evening full of fun.  Allow me to share a few vignettes, more or less in chronological order:

Having the best time! #CBJ great way to appreciate your fans! twitter.com/TmEnslen/statu…
— tracy Enslen (@TmEnslen) April 10, 2013

JD says Boone is headed to Springfield #cbj twitter.com/ddawley/status…
— ddawley (@ddawley) April 10, 2013

Met Bill Davidge and George Matthews tonight #CBJ twitter.com/zsmith316/stat…
— Zach Smith (@zsmith316) April 10, 2013

The line for Bobrovsky is already 50 people deep and he doesnt start signing for an hour. #cbj
— DKM Hockey (@DKM_Hockey) April 10, 2013

Having fun in the #bouncehouse #cbj #fanappreciationday twitter.com/lovexamillion/…
— Pamela Lybarger (@lovexamillion) April 10, 2013

Gallos' Six-Pack for Game 40: San Jose Sharks

At the 5 minute mark of the third period tonight Mrs. Gallos nudged me, and pointed out that in the last game we bailed at that point to get a table for post game festivities with our friends.  This game was a completely different feeling, and we stayed around to watch Bob record the fourth shut out of his career, and his fourth shut out as a Blue Jacket.  If that doesn't say something about Philly's defense, it should.  Tonight the Blue Jackets validated their previous 6-2 victory over San Jose with a 4-0 shut out in Nationwide Arena.  

There was a good, spirited crowd of 17,771 tonight, but as a long time fan I can't help but observe that the last two years still loom heavy in the barn.  It was a nice, active crowd, but I have heard the barn in full bay like a pack of blood-hounds after Cool Hand Luke.  There is a palpable difference.  Nonetheless, the good things that this team has done is starting to slowly rebuild that noise.  It would be educational to see what happens if these crazy dudes make the playoffs.  

The CBJ took the lead in tonight's game in the first period off a really nice Matt Calvert goal.  In the second period the Jackets stretched their lead early in the second period off a nice James Wisniewski slap shot followed two minutes later by a Ryan Johansen wrister which was set up beautifully by Marian Gaborik.  Gaborik closed out the scoring in the third period, walking in off a beautiful feed from Artem Anisimov, and showing great patience as he scored.  Sweet stuff.

All in all, it was a completely different feel after this game compared to after the Minnesota game.  Winning is good for you!  And now for this games six pack!

Beer tastes better after a win!

1. My first, frosty cold Yuengling goes to Mr. Matt Calvert.  Part of the reason is that he scored the game winning goal in the first period (pretty cool).  The other part of the reason, is that in my nice neat world as the arm chair hockey GM, this game should be a poster child game showcasing the reasons why it is impossible for an NHL team to run a line with not one but two relatively diminutive players such as Calvert and Cam Atkinson..  See, the problem with that strategy is that eventually you will have to play the San Jose Sharks, who will use their superior size to simply push these players out of the game.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The Calvert line looked dominant tonight with Letestu in the middle, trashing my theory about smaller players not being able to complete with the really large teams like the players on San Jose.  My theory may hold up on the road, where the Sharks coach has the last line change, but for now and at home, this line is very quick and tenacious on the puck, and they did a great job of keeping San Jose chasing them. Good stuff!!

2. My second nice, cold beer goes to our new scorer, Marian Gaborik.  I give him this beer for the patience he exhibited with the puck.  The first time on a beautiful pass to #Yoey for his second period goal, and the second time when he scored his own goal, taking a great feed from Arty, putting the goal tender down, and then walking to the open part of the net for the easy score.   The best part was that those goals really took the game out of San Jose's hands, and thwarted a come back attempt.

3. My third cold beverage goes to James Wisneieski, for his slap shot goal the second goal.  That goal firmly cemented momentum in the CBJ's favor, and was scored at a pivotal moment.  In spite of the fact that the Sharks did some pushing, for the most part, the CBJ seemed ready for it.  Wiz is finally getting a chance to get his slap shot going.

4. My fourth cold beverage goes for Sergei Bobrovsky, for his fourth career shut out, and his fourth shut out with the CBJ.  Bob was very solid tonight in goal, and the defense did a good job of keeping the Sharks to the perimeter.  Bobrovsky stopped all 30 shots that he faced.  Detective Bobrovsky was on the case tonight!!

5. My fifth, frosty cold beer goes to Ryan Johansen.  Yoey was thought to be questionable for this game, and the CBJ called Michael Chaput up from Springfield as a precaution.  Yoey was not to be denied though, and answered the bell, and scored a beauty of a goal on the great feed from Gaborik.  A real nice sniper's goal, which is good to see from him.  He seemed to have a good jump tonight.  

Adrian Aucoin

6. My sixth cold beer goes to Adrian Aucoin.  The elder statesman of the defensive corps survived the trade deadline by doing what he was brought in to do, which is be a great influence on the young D-men.  Paired with Wiz tonight, Oakes made a beautiful set up pass for Wiz's goal scoring slap shot.  Wiz has to take those shots off the pass.  Once you catch the puck and set it, the goal tender has time to respond.  Aucoin has done very well for the CBJ this year.  

All in all, this was a really fun game.  The CBJ shut out the Sharks.  You tell me if they were outworked!

Friday the Blues come to Nationwide, and the team has time to get a day off and to actually have a practice! Another crucial Western Conference tilt as the CBJ fight to keep their playoff hopes alive.

GO JACKETS!!

Morgan's Six-Pack for Game 39: The Minnesota Wild

Columbus Blue Jackets - 0  Minnesota Wild  - 3
Blue Jackets are on the outside looking in

The traveling Minnesota Wild visited Nationwide Arena as the Jackets look to open a brief three game home stand before starting a season-defining 6 game road trip out West.  Coming into the game, the CBJ's expansion cousins are seven games above .500 and with 44 points are clinging to 7th place in the West.  Despite the story lines surrounding this week's trades, the Jackets look to show tonight's crowd of 15,909 that the playoffs are no joke.

Well, then tonight's game happened. The loss tonight was disappointing.  Spirits were high after the trade deadline acquisitions and talk of playoffs, while a long shot, were still a possibility.  The Blue Jacket's looked confused and couldn't solve a team that played smart and bought speed every shift.  It's easy to pick on one or two mistakes the Jacket's players made to channel our anger, but the team showed us that despite how well it's done this season, that their overall record lends itself to the inconsistency we saw tonight.

Lay an egg, get some eggs.

1.  Vinny Prospal, the first can of suds is for you.  You skated strong in the first period trying to cause turnovers and take away time and space from a talented team.  I don't know if you're penalty in the second was an NHL caliber hooking call, but you did stop moving your feet - the death knell for any obstruction type penalty.  Oh, then you got dumped a second later.

2.  Ryan Johanson - I couldn't help but notice you getting tossed from at least three face-offs tonight.  In close games you have to mind your manners in the circle.  Stay square and let the visiting opponent get their stick set.  The team needs you taking big draws, not getting tossed from them.

3.  The Blue Jackets Power Play.  A handful of shots on four attempts.  A good power play a playoff team has.  It may be too late in the season now, and I've been saying it all year - the power play is stinky cheese.  Tonight's game was won on the Power Play, kind of like in the playoffs

4.  Sergei Bobrovsky, you have got to be in a state of blackout drunk perpetuity with all the beers this blog tosses your way.  Trust me, we were drinking tonight too. I know the 21 saves on 24 shots doesn't really say it, but you played well tonight.  A couple of breakdowns in front of you were all the different tonight.

5.  Cody Goloubef gave one heck of a post game interview on the radio tonight.  Despite the seemingly high school newspaper-esqe questions you were asked after a tough loss, you answered the questions politely and the way any guy looking to stay in the NHL should.  Great interview.  I don't know that I could have been so gracious.

6. Mark Letestu - giving us another game to love you.  As this team looks to improve and upgrade it's personnel over the next few years, we hope that nights like tonight give some special consideration to your chances as a future Blue Jacket.

The Jackets looked confused tonight and they were outworked.  They didn't look like a 30th place team, but they sure as sh!t didn't look like a team fighting for a playoff spot.  Minnesota brings a lot of speed, but it seemed to be their quickness that out-matched the Jackets.  Despite the beer I consumed during this game, it was sobering to see that when Bobrovsky isn't "Save the world from complete aniliation good" in goal, this team stands little chance on it's own offensive merit.  Marian Gaborik played well the first two periods, but I didn't notice him much the 3rd period.  You make like 12 times as much as your center tonight, but you guys seemed to have a little chemistry tonight, especially down low.

While the #CBJ twitter feed nearly consumed itself after the loss in St Louis, most fans now understand how difficult it really is for the Jackets to make the playoffs.  I have not given up on the Jackets, however I understand how nearly impossible the task is.  I am not going to judge another fan's belief that this team will win 7 of the remaining 9 games it has left on the schedule.  But if the CBJ is going to play it's February hockey in April, it will be back to playing it's regularly scheduled tee times this month as well.

The CBJ play Tuesday in Nationwide Arena against a rejuvenated San Jose Sharks.  Every game from here on out is a must win.  With 9 games left, it's likely 7 wins are needed for playoff bonuses.

DBJ's six-pack for Game 38: St. Louis

St. Louis 3 - Columbus 1
16-15-7, 4th in Central Division, 10th in Western Conference
13th overall draft pick (plus 17th and 24th!)

With every game critical in this playoff stretch run, the Columbus Blue Jackets flew into St. Louis trailing the host Blues by a single standings point.  The Blue Jackets ran into a Hitchcockian buzz-saw and lost, 3-1, in regulation 

This was a big one, no doubt about it.  A regulation win would have had the CBJ leading the Blues by one standings point.  Instead, the regulation loss has Columbus three behind St. Louis.  St. Louis now owns eighth place with 42 points.  Edmonton and the CBJ are in 9th/10th with 39. (Edmonton has a game in hand.)

It's going to be a dogfight all the way to the finish if this team is to get to The Dance for the second time in its history.  The odds are not with us (9% chance to make it?), but this team has a strange habit of defying expectations just enough to stay in the conversation.

With 10 games left, it looks like the Blue Jackets will need 15 points to have a reasonable shot at the playoffs.  Are they up to the challenge, especially considering that so many games are on the road?

If it's St. Louis, do we have
to ask for our 6-pack of Bud Light
in French now?  Budweiser being
part of InBev now...

1. Beer number one goes to Ken Hitchcock.  If there is anyone who can coach his team to sit on a one-goal lead for an entire period as if it was a four-goal lead, it's Hitch.  The Blue Jackets were skating in mud for most of the night (I'll presume that there were some tired legs from playing the night before, too, but St. Louis was in the same boat), and I'm guessing that it drove the team crazy.

Gallos' Six Pack for Game 37: Nashville Predators

Tonight the Columbus Blue Jackets picked up two crucial road points by beating the host Nashville Predators by a score of 3-1.  Fox Sports is reporting that the CBJ have not won in regulation in Nashville since April, 2006. The CBJ sort of waded into this one, and leaned hard on Sergei Bobrovsky in the first period, but he stood tall and the first period ended scoreless.  The CBJ weathered the storm in the first 10 minutes of the first period as Nashville came at them hard.  

The CBJ scored first in the second period on a power play goal by James Wisniewski that included the first point in the Blue Jackets uniform by Marian Gaborik to get him off the devil numbers in career points (he came into the game with 333 goals, 333 assists, and 666 points).  Nashville answered, and the game was tied 1-1 at the end of two periods.

The CBJ came out hard in the third period, took control of the ice, and started spending a lot of time in Nashville's zone.  After a very long possession shift, Brandon Dubinsky rifled a perfect pass through the crease to a crashing Gaborik, and the CBJ went ahead 2-1.  That turned out to be the game winning goal.  Later in the period, Matt Calvert had another goal waived off for a 'distinct kicking motion', which this time was at least a good call.  Matty was not to be denied though, and in his next shift came through the high slot and rifled a shot past Pekka Rinne to stake the CBJ to a 3-1 lead.  The Jackets shut it down from there, and walked away victorious.  They picked up two big points to keep in touch with the dogfight for eighth place in the West.

Beer tastes better after a road win!

1. As usual, my first cold beer is for Sergei Bobrovsky.  He played dynamite in goal again today, carrying the team through the first period when Nashville was coming hard.  He stayed on top of his game throughout the game, and answered some serious pressure by Nashville in the second period, and down the stretch to preserve the win.  BOB!!!

2. My second icy cold adult beverage is for young Matt Calvert.  Although he had another goal waived off for playing DKM Hockey (snicker, I crack me up), he was all over the ice in the third period, and snapped off a good wrist shot to get his redemption goal and the insurance goal for the CBJ.  Matt has really started to become more consistent with his game, which is really good to see.  He and Cam are a real threat due to their speed and effort.  

3. My third cold one is for new Blue Jacket Marian Gaborik, who scored his first assist and goal as a Blue Jacket.  The goal was the game winner, and we hope the first of many.  Gaby's old Ranger teammates seemed to know exactly what to do with him, and were able to hit him with many long passes that show great potential for future explosiveness from this player.  He seemed to understand the concept of back checking, and was decent in the defensive zone.  Welcome aboard Gaby!!

4. My fourth, cold, luscious, beer goes to Brandon Dubinsky.  Returning to the lineup after fighting off a knee sprain, Dubinsky took part in a dominant shift, where the CBJ cycled the puck deep in the Nashville zone.  After fighting off a couple of Nashville defenders, Dubinsky walked off the end boards with the puck and hit a crashing Gaborik with a perfect pass for the game winning goal.  He showed lots of grit and played well, as well as picking up two assists.

5.  My fifth cold beer goes to James Wisniewski.  Wiz scored the all important first goal on the power play.  That power play needs what Wiz can bring to it, and it is already improved since he came back from the broken foot.  Wiz leads the team in power play goals, and that was a huge momentum changer in this game.  

6. My sixth cold beer, times 4, goes to Todd Richards, Craig Hartsburg, Keith Acton and Dan Hinote.  They have created an environment where the players can succeed, while keeping the pressure on the players if they don't work hard enough.  The players have taken that and turned it into great chemistry in the room.  It's gonna be fun to watch these guys down the stretch.

Score board watching in April is a great thing if you are a CBJ fan.  The boys did their job tonight, winning on the road. They are going to have to repeat that feat if they want to make the playoffs.  If they keep playing like they did tonight, they have a shot at it.

GO JACKETS!!!  

I am very much in like with today's two big trades

Up until about 2pm today, I thought the Blue Jackets were going to sit pat at the trade deadline.  Really, there was not much harm in the Jackets being cautious observers today.  I'm glad the Jackets passed on Pominville, except for two seasons his numbers are very Umbergian.  I was hoping that maybe today that JD and Jarmo might sniff out a buyer for one or two of the many RFAs/UFAs the Jackets will have at the end of this season.  First the Lightning / Senator trade broke, and in a tweet I pondered if we'd see a pending assault weapons ban hysteria like frenzy the last hour up to the deadline.  Well, as the hour drew near, it showed the JD and Jarmo were in fact, busy little bees. Here are the two big splash acquisitions for the CBJ today:

JD and JARMO ARE SO AWESOME!

STEVE MASON - NOW SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM

Steve Mason is sent to the Philadelphia Flyers in return for G Michael Leighton and a 2015 third round pick.  This is a good "heads up" trade by Jarmo.  Mason is an RFA this summer and given his contract status, I'm curious to see what kind of qualifying offer, if any, he would  have gotten despite playing respectably in his starts this season.  If another team gave Mason an offer sheet, the Jackets would likely stop negotiating and taken the compensation, likely some third or fourth round picks.  Then they are left with turning an existent  prospect into a backup which seldom ends well.  Now, Mason's RFA status is Philadelphia's mess to consider.  They love goalie drama.  They haven't had a solid goal tender since Bernie Parent and the list of starters they've had since reads like the periodic table of elements.   I think both Leighton and Mason were in desperate need of a change of scenery and that probably helps them both.  I say there's a cloud of doubt that follows Mason to the Flyers and no one in the Columbus media cares enough (or is aware) of Leighton's skeletons.  Well, they are also much easier to over look considering the 900k cap hit.  I like this trade, it's a good trade, not a "Holy Cow, did you see what Jarmo pulled off" kind of trade.  Seriously, its the Flyers taking another troubled goalie but this time giving up little to do it.  Slowly the Flyers learn, if at all.

OMG - MARIAN "AMBULATORY CARE" GABORIK IS IN COLUMBUS!

Then the BIG trade.  Confirmed are: Blue Jackets get F Marian Gaborik in exchange for F Derek Brassard, Derek Dorsett, D John Moore and a 2013 sixth round pick.  I like this trade, but I'm not in love with it.  I know its very easy to fall in to a  romantic swoon over this trade when your team acquires a legitimate scorer - SEE JEFF CARTER.  To be honest, these are the kinds of trades you want your GM to be able to orchestrate.  This is what I expected from JD, maybe not so soon. Let me break this down for the Jackets players first:

Derek Brassard - as members of the Ice Crew weep, you cannot  hide in obscurity while playing in New York City.  The media has expectations, the season ticket holders have their own nickname (the Blue Seaters), and the city itself will eat you up with its bigger than everything style.  This is a needed salary dump and kind of a "quid pro quo" between the teams of "I'll take some bad salary if you take some bad salary.'  If Brassard wants to be playing in North American in 2014-2015, he better make it in New York.  But hey, if you can make in New York, you can make it anywhere, right?

John Moore - with Wisniewski, Tyutin, Johnson, Erixon, and Nikitin still around and with the emergence of Prout and the anticipated arrival of Murray next season - Moore found himself in a very actionable position.  Even if Tyutin/Johnson are moved and Wisniewski is bought out (total worse case scenario there folks) Moore is still a third pair defenseman.  The Rangers have a frugal blue line budget and Moore fits the bill in that regard.  This also fits the 'budding prospect' role of any trade to placate tired NYR fans.

Derek Dorsett - you're dating a girl from my high school alma matter, so I feel a kinship.  But seriously, there has to be tangible value to a trade and Dorsett fits this bill.  Glen Sather knows this, but the NYR dressing room is low on testicular fortitude.  Dorsett immediately possesses everything you could ask a non-regular goal scorer to have.  Grit, energy, work ethic, energy, grit, and the swagger every hard nose hockey player has.  It won't take long for the Blue Seaters to fall in love with Dorsett, and that's because he's awesome.  There will be a standing ovation when the Rangers come to Nationwide Arena next season, and it will be for this fella alone.

Lets break down Gaborik

Marian Gaborik has one less point than Mark Letestu so far this season, and makes 12 times as much money.  There is the lingering doubt that this could be the greatest salary dump in New York Rangers history, but I believe Gaborik is still capable of 30 goals a year, even in Columbus.  There are two dynamics that come with Gaborik - his health and his salary.  There is no question about his skill, assuming 100% that simply leaving New York puts him back 1 point per game form.  Now that he's out from under the Bobby Valentine of hockey, I think he'll do well here in Columbus.  Between Natalie Taylor and Aaron Portline, Gaborik is going to like the way he looks - I guarantee it.  I'm going to say the arrival of Gaborik means Prospal is here for one more season to play Crash Davis to Gaborik's Nuke LaLoosh. 

Leesen to me vill you, Ga-bor-ick.  Ve must teach you
good interview vhen you in a slump or pull dat
hip flexor again.

But its his health, and how that impacts his salary negotiations, that scares me the most.  I wrote yesterday that I believe JD and Jarmo aren't going to get all emotional in signing guys because they can't believe they came here in ther first place.  Gaborik is on a pace to miss 20+ games every other season.  I don't know if he likes to drink (alcohol consumption has serious effects on the body's ability to repair muscle fiber) or is just genetically prone to pulling and tearing stuff, but at 7.5 million dollar a year cap hit I'd like to see a more sturdy 7.5 million dollar man.  Given the level-headedness JD and Jarmo have shown the last 72 hours, I can't believe they're going to rush out and give him a 5 year S35 million dollar extension they second they are able - Conn Smythe Trophy notwithstanding.    If they are both smart and committed, contract negotiation should start around the Olympics next season.  Socialized reward, privatized risk.

Overall, I like both of these trades in the fact that neither team is saddled with long term baggage.  Columbus didn't move and draft picks and isn't receiving a loafing Stephane Richer in return.  Columbus has cap room for next year to try out this Gaborik experiment.  The Rangers are only exposed to one year of Brassards fluffy contract, although Brassard will really have to earn his money playing for Torts next year.  But these are the types of trades any capable GM should be able to make.  Maybe because the Blue Jackets have NEVER had a management staff capable of making sensible trade or acquisitions is why these blew up social media today.  I haven't fallen deeply in love with management because this type of management should have been here YEARS ago.  I am very happy they are here now.  These are the type of deals that this team should have been capable of making since day one.  The silver lining to my "matter of fact" feeling about these trades is I do very much like that each of these trade have a very calculated feel to them.  They don't seem thrown together last minute, or made out of haste and desperation.  What's not to like about that?

A sign of signings to come?

While trade rumors fly around like trade rumors at the trade deadline, a little news did break out of the CBJ camp today.  The Columbus Blue Jackets sign Mark Letestu to a 2 year $2.5 million dollar contract.  To me, this signing identifies the kind of contracts we might see from John Davidson and Jarmo Kekalainen as we approach the offseason. This signing is actually pretty significant considering the amount of RFAs and UFAs the Blue Jackets have coming up at the end of this season.  I wish I could be a fly on the wall to hear the conversations between uber-loyalist majority owner McConnell and John Davidson as he looks to turn this team around.



And then there was one...

Having my Cake and Eating it Two

Totally awesome cartoon by Nate Beeler in today's
Columbus Dispatch kinda says it all!

Here we sit, on April 2 (hence the two in the title) and the Columbus Blue Jackets are sitting one point out of playoff position, having been leapfrogged by the Blues while the CBJ were idle.  For the second time in franchise history (hence the two in the title) the CBJ are part of the playoff conversation in April.  There is a healthy assist from the truncated schedule in there, but the reality is some hot goal tending and a team that has pulled itself out of the cellar by their skate laces deserve a healthy helping of credit.  And it is being noticed locally, as is evidenced by the cartoon by Nate Beeler at the right that appeared in today's Columbus Dispatch in the op ed page.  Subscribe now to get this awesome content! (hopefully that satisfies the lawyers)

Having watched the CBJ squander many an opportunity to engage the local casual fan in past years, it is really refreshing to see how this team has established a home ice advantage down at Nationwide arena.  In the past we have often seen the CBJ lose in these important home stands, or fail to show up when the big crowd is on hand.  This is a credit to the hydra like leadership of the team, and the will of the players who seem to keep on chugging no matter the situation.  There's also that thing about a hot goal tender, as evidenced by Sergei Bobrovsky  being named the third star of the month of March by the NHL.

But where do we go from here?  The Blues have a couple of games in hand, and they have loaded up at the deadline by picking up Bouwmeester from Calgary.  They are in 'full on win now' mode.  We are probably going to have to pick someone else to leap frog to stay in play off contention.  Nashville has games in hand, but also has to play Chicago four times down the stretch.  Detroit has seven of their remaining 12 games on the road.  The CBJ are in a similar situation, with only 4 home games remaining, and 8 on the road.  For the CBJ to make the playoffs, it will be a tall order, and they will have to do it on the road.

So for me, in my opinion, our CBJ are going to fade late, and are unlikely to make the playoffs.  Which means of course that we get a shot at the lottery for the number one pick, which is pretty cool.  This does nothing to diminish the pride and satisfaction that I have for what this team has accomplished.  And, of course, based on what they have accomplished so far, maybe it is unwise to count them out.  Some of these western conference teams had better focus on putting the CBJ away soon, because if you let them hang around, there is no telling what this group can accomplish.

As of Thursday, our next game, the level of intensity of play is going to take a quantum leap as the post trade deadline period begins.  At the bottom of the incredibly tight western conference, this signifies the start of playoff mode. The CBJ have to match or exceed that elevation in the level of play.  Honestly, I think they have that in them, if they can find a way to do it.  These few days off come at a good time.  I think our defense is going to need to elevate itself, the power play needs to get on track, and the forwards will be bolstered by the eventual return of Dubinsky and Foligno.  And of course the goal tending, both Bobrovsky and Mason will need to remain white hot.  It can be done.

So as this final phase of the 2012-13 season comes to a close, I am going to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride, while taking every opportunity to cheer the CBJ for what they have done.  Because I am having my cake, and eating it two!

GO JACKETS!!

DBJ's 5 Thoughts on the Howson re-hiring

He's back!

In case you missed it, Columbus Blue Jackets majority owner John P. McConnell announced this morning that former Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Scott Howson has been brought back to the team in a newly-created position, Senior President of Hockey Operations.

There is a lot to process in this announcement, so I thought it best to break it all down, 5 Thoughts- style.

1. First, the surprise/shock element.  I totally appreciate that the times dictated that Howson was fired, but could anyone have predicted that Howson's roster and the Howson-developed talent pool would perform the way it has since he left town? Not me.  I figured that the team was going to tank for the balance of the season.  Instead, the boys in Union Blue are in sole possession of 8th place...above the playoff qualification line.  Which shows why I'm a blogger and Howson is back in charge on Nationwide Boulevard.

Morgan's Six-Pack for game 36: The Anaheim Ducks

Columbus Blue Jackets 2 - Ducks de Anaheim 1 - F/OT
8th Place in the Western Conference**

Anaheim ignores the rules.  Well one rule in particular - You know, that rule, "i before e, except after c."  Well, Anaheim is a proper noun, so I guess it gets a pass.  But what about ancient Anaheim?  Anyways, that's always bugged me, kind of like excuses.  So before and during tonight's Blue Jackets game at Nationwide Arena versus the 51 point having Anaheim Ducks, I had to endure talk (whining, really) of the Jacket's travel schedule.  Then, on this day of religious significance, I had to endure more talk (whining, really) of the hockey gods.  I am an Atheist.  Well, a hockey Atheist anyways.  I refuse to believe in an ancient Greek or Roman-like group of deities creating hockey to torment humanity solely for their amusement.  I don't imagine the 1976 Canadiens or the 1980 Islanders fans as a collective whined about hockey gods, but I can be sarcastic at times.  Chance favors the prepared athlete, the rest is left up to the law of physics, individual skill, and team play.  Anyways...   

Like NASCAR, the Blue Jackets now find themselves in a playoff spot with 12 laps to go. The Jackets are giving up 2 or 3 game in hand to the three teams nipping at their heels, so I'm not going to hold my breath.  The Blue Jackets have already taken their proverbial last pit stop and have to try and finish the race on barely enough fuel and slick tires.  Face-palming my NASCAR metaphor?  It replaced a "Battle of Stalingrad" metaphor I had originally written, but shelved for another post.  Stay in school kids.

Happy Easter, the Ducks laid an egg!

I don't really have a good structured six-pack for tonight.  My thoughts are lingering on what to make of this team the last 12 games.   A lot of what I saw from the team tonight and what I witnessed in social media tonight will likely cause a couple posts that I've had in "draft status" to actually become published.  But I'll give credit where credit is due with a couple of easter eggs stuffed with some Cashe, because that's what Easter is all about, isn't it?

1.  Mark Letestu, as a member of my family on the DKM Hockey Oregon Trail Adventure, you are naturally at my CBJ Easter Egg hunt today.  Like my mother-in-law would, I'm just going to tell you where I hid the egg stuffed with the $100 bill is. It's the egg on the hose bib.

2.  RJ Umberget got mugged, here's an egg with a dollar in it.  I'm going to say the tone for the game was set early on when Anisimov cross-checked Beauchemin across the collarbones a few minutes into the first. Hockey is a physical game and the Ducks are a big physical team.  Don't poke the duck. 
3.  Vinny Prospal - here is a Cadbury Creme Egg.  My CBJ Oregon Trail wife showed us the Hockey equivalent of the Schroedinger's Cat experiment would be a complete failure.  You cannot, at the same time, exist in a state of "Skate until the Whistle" at the same time as "Celebrate like it went in."  You proved both planes of reality cannot exist at the same time.  The swirling lights, cannon booms, and AC/DC fueled calamity that ensues when both are tried at the same time is a World-Ending chaos we don't need to see again. 

I can't figure out the atomic mass of this mu**a f**king deuteron.

4.  Sergie Bobrovsky.  You will not be allowed outside to participate in this Easter egg hunt for fear you will get hurt.  You will get a giant Easter basket and all your eggs will be filled with 50 dollar billz.  Please return to your safety cocoon and we will bring you your stuff.  This team can't afford for you to get hurt.

The last two eggs go to Anisimov, Calvert, and Atkinson.  The three of you looked good tonight.  I don't have any delusions that you will become a 55 point per month line, but there's something their.  I'll say Anisimov is what will make or break that line combo.  Not that he's the best player on that line, but the puck movement after the face-off is what will define that line.

Were the Blue Jackets out worked?  No.  Were the Blue Jackets sloppy?  Yes.

Looking ahead to the playoffs, cuz that's what everyone but the Blue Jackets are doing...  The style of play the Blue Jackets have played during their 12 game point streak is the type of game EVERYONE plays in the Playoffs.  Hot goal tenders and a well oiled power play get you playoff wins.  The Blue Jackets existence outside of 30th place is solely due to Sergei MF Bobrovsky.  In the Playoffs, when effort matches effort, skill in all three zones always wins - except after the 2nd OT, then the first mistake usually loses.  A stat that jumps off the page at me is this, of the teams qualifying for the playoffs as of tonight, the Blue Jackets have ALLOWED the most goals and they have a goalie who's as hot as the center of the sun.  All while 20 out of their last 23 games have been decided by a goal.  The CBJ weren't getting blown out early in the season either. 

All that stands in the way of a Blue Jackets playoff appearance is a ironically scripted end to the Blue Jackets last season in the Western Conference.  The travel to and from the west coast is brutal and unfair to the Blue Jackets, so I've heard.  A move to the East gets rid of  something like 12 of those ugly 'later timezone' games over a 82 game season.  But what the CBJ have left in front of them is 8 out of 12 on the road, all out West.  The team is 4-10-2 on the road, where they have proven to be Vladomir and Estragon, I'm sorry kids, to be Jeckel and Hyde in their past 4 road games. 

So, the end of this season will go one of two ways.  1. They will play on the road as the statistics suggest, and fade from playoff contention.  It's bizzaro world indeed when dropping out of the playoffs picture in the closing days of the season is still encouragement to the fan base.  I guess that's kind of like giving your kid $50 bucks for getting a C- on his report card because you're used to seeing Ds.  Or, 2.  The Jackets will show us that the 4-10-2 road record is just a fluke.  They will out right win 8 of their last 12 AND all the teams with 2 and 3 games in hand will tank, proving as everyone suspected when Howson made all these moves, the team would make the playoffs.  See what I did there?

The Blue Jackets play Thursday, April 4th in Nashville, Tennessee against the Predators.  The next two games are must win games for the Blue Jackets if they don't want to depend on other teams losing to have a  shot at Lord Stanley's Jello mold.  The Jackets are ahead of the Predators by two points, but the Preds have a game in hand.  Then, the very next night, the Blue Jackets play in St Louis.  The Jackets have a one point advantage over the reeling Blues, but the Blue Notes have 3 games in hand over the Blue Jackets.  The Jackets have largely played well against Central division opponents this season, so there is hope.  But make no mistake, not winning both those games would be like blowing a tire with 10 laps to go in a NASCAR race.  Your odds of winning are almost zero, unless there's a huge wreck behind you.