Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Chicago Blackhaws: Postgame Analysis

Well, it's been a while since I've done a postgame recap.  It could've been something about the Blue Jackets losing 20 of 23 games that affected my motivation to write.  Well, write anything that's fit for family hour. 

But, glutton for punishment that I am, I decided to provide a post-game analysis of this exciting Saturday matinee game—hey, can we have more of these, in the future?—between the Columbus Blue Jackets (CBJ) and the Chicago Blackhawks ('Hawks).

I will provide my analysis by what went right (for the CBJ), what went OK, and went flat out ugly.

With that...

The Good:

The crowd - Attendance: 18,378.  Now, I will also say that, as it was a Saturday Matinee, the Standing Room Only Crowd (SRO) was boosted by a sea of Blackhawk fans.  I'd claim some serious bandwagon-jumping, but, it appeared they traveled en masse to cheer on their squad. 

So, props to their fans for supporting their team!   I would have estimated that at least 5K fans were 'Hawks fans.  Frankly, given the slop that comes with losing 23 of 29, props also to the CBJ faithful, those remaining 13K, or so, who attended the game and deserve so much more.

The Captain, Rick Nash, FINALLY getting off of the worst goal-scoring drought of his career, 11 games, with two goals, both of which helped the CBJ not only get back into the game, but take a lead into the third period.  Welcome back, Captain!

I can't believe I'm actually giving this guy a green light, but, Juice (Kristian Huselius), with a goal to open the CBJ's scoring, two assists, and a +2 +/- rating.  Oh, and get this:  Juice actually blocked a shot.  So, while he's earned a lifetime achievement award, in the awful category, this season, I have to give Juice his due.

Maybe a few more games on that third line might just be the wake-up call that he needed—no wait, it's too late, isn't it?

Antoine Vermette - Two helpers (assists), sure, but, 16 of 20 wins in the faceoff circle?  Wow!

Jan Hejda - sure, he didn't register a goal or an assist, and yes, he only finished with a +1 rating, but, Hejda blocked 5 shots and, more than anything, gave Patrick Kane a vicious hit. 

This hit prompted the best line of the night, from a friend of mine, who texted me the following:  "Hejda's hit was on behalf of the cab driver Kane punched, over the summer."

The OK:

The team's ability—dare I say, grit?—to come back from a 3-1 deficit, take the lead, fall behind by two goals with five minutes to play, score a goal to bring it to within one goal, only to run out of time, at the end?  At least it looked like this team actually cared, from the 12:24 mark of the 1st period, on.

RJ Umberger with a sweet feed, through the 'Hawks neutral zone traffic, to set up Raffi Torres' goal, late in the game, to give the CBJ a chance.

Nice to see Kris Russell score another goal; however, Russ was a bit weak on the defensive end.

The Ugly:

You'd better grab a Snickers—this might take a while...

The plodding, unathletic defense.  Oh yeah, this team's "built for the playoffs".

The defense - yes, I've already given them a RED, but, for all those times they left Steve Mason, helpless, they deserve, at least, another Red Light.

The execution—actually, the lack, thereof—of slowing down the 'Hawks desire to knock the CBJ out, early.  The CBJ were down, 2-0, seven minutes into the game.  You knew it was coming, and you couldn't stop it.  No excuses...

Being outshot, by the 'Hawks, 12 to 5, in the final period.  Way to grab victory by the horns, boys...

Steve Mason - yes, so many of those goals couldn't have been stopped by Patrick Roy, on his greatest night, Mase is not exactly stating a case for getting his starting netminding job back.  The sophomore slump continues...

OK, that wasn't a lengthy as it could have been.  But, the goaltending "stylings" of Cristobal Huet—the great equalizer, for 'Hawks opponents—as well as the 'Hawks missing on first period goal scoring opportunities - the score could have easily been 5-1 or 6-1, in the first period.  So, credit goes to the CBJ for making it an exciting, competitive game.

The bottom line, however, is that it's another loss, and now, after winning three games in a row, the CBJ have now lost three games in a row.  So, we've solidified our stronghold on that 14th position, out of 15 teams, in the Western Conference.  Yipee...

So, can we now end the charade and start planning for both a total re-build and this summer's draft party?