Post-Game Analysis: Blue Jackets Vs. Blackhawks

Well, I almost nailed the pre-game prediction.

Yes, I had the order of teams mixed up, but it certainly was a lot closer than my first ever pre-game guess. Props to me for guessing the final score, anyway.

In any event, what an exhilarating game last night. An 11-round shootout, the longest in the history of the Columbus Blue Jackets (CBJ). It really had the feel of a playoff elimination game, or at least a game for playoff qualification, as in the late March/early April time frame.

It was most interesting as to how the game turned, given the two divergent team styles. It was also interesting that Chicago, at home, played a game more suited to the CBJ's style. That, or credit the CBJ for slowing down one of hockey's most electrifying teams.

At least the CBJ, it being their first game on Versus in two years—I've given up on them, or any non-O-6 or non-Atlantic Division team, being on NBC for the Sunday game—represented themselves well.

That all being said, onto what went well, what went OK, and what went wrong:

The Good

* Steve Mason is rounding into the form that he consistently exhibited last season. It was also great to see his show of emotion/rage for the lack of support, particularly in the shootout. This looked like the fire that he displayed last season. Here's to his welcome return, on all aspects of form.

* Kris Russell continues to contribute in all aspects of his game, coming off the particularly puzzling five of six game stretch of healthy scratches. That's two games in a row in which he scored a goal. And, what was that I saw? Could it have been his first ever goal from the point? Granted, in was on the break, but he did rip that shot. So long as Russell doesn't regress, and given all of the injuries to the defensive corps, I think it'll be a while until he's benched.

* Antoine Vermette getting back into the goal scoring fray. Vermette has always been a streaky scorer, but he has been consistent in all other facets of his game this season.

* Sammy Pahlsson found the back of the net! Did I really see that? I know, Hitch keeps telling us he's a 50-goal guy, 40 or so of which are the goals he prevents from opponents' top scoring lines, but can we finally get to the 10-goal scoring side of things? Still, a huge lift and goal for Sammy.

* Kris Versteeg for that sweet, double toe drag move. It also happened to be the ESPN Top 10 plays, No. 1 play of the night. Gotta give credit where it's due. Versteeg has become quite the Jackets-killer the past two seasons.

* Jared Boll continuing to excel in his role, hitting anything that moved. Not as hearty or as stout as Buffy (Dustin Byfuglien), but still a force.

* The CBJ staying within their game, utilizing strong back checking, and being stingy in the neutral zone. This is the blueprint for competing against a team with such ballistic firepower as the 'Hawks possess.

* Huge props to the Chicago faithful, with over 20K in attendance. For those of you who think Columbus matches up with just about any hockey team, as it relates to supporting their hockey club, take a gander at that fan support. Sure, it was the first game off of a long road swing, and yes, it was Hossa's debut, and yes, it was potentially Quenneville's 500th win as a coach. But it was also a weeknight, and a school night, so in response to that "excuse" from CBJ-nation...nada, no way. It doesn't hold water.

* Commodore and Hejda logging beaucoup minutes. It was nice to see the synergy from last season emerge once again.

The OK

* Fedor Tyutin and Anton Stralman appeared to have not responded well to the back to back games. Tyutin's starting to whip into form, shades of the later quarters of last season. And while Stralman did commit three penalties, overall he has been quite a pleasant surprise on the defensive end this season.

* Another quiet night, offensively, for Rick Nash. Again, the argument against the +/- system—he was down to a minus-10, but after being held in check the past two games, he's brought it down to minus-six rating, with two consecutive plus-two efforts.

The Bad

* 1 goal in 11 chances? Now Mason knows how Niklas Backstrom feels up in Minnesota. Continually losing these shootouts—particularly given Mason really stepping up from the debacle against Calgary in which he stopped only one of four shootout attempts—could be something to look back on, should they not qualify for the playoffs.

* Quite a bit of over-reverence by the Versus broadcast team. Yes, we know the 'Hawks are an emerging power in the NHL, but the CBJ aren't exactly a "woe is me"
tale. A little objectivity, fellows. Then again, a night off from their local broadcast "team" was a welcomed respite.

* So much for the No. 1 ranked power play team in the NHL, at least, last night. It was shades of last season—haven't the CBJ faithful suffered enough?

So, in summary:

1. A signature game, in spite of the outcome for the CBJ.

2. Steve Mason's return to rookie season form.

3. Versteeg's double toe drag.

4. The crowd at the United Center.

Up next, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have really improved after their embarrassing 1-7-1 start, going 4-4-2 in their last 10 games. Not the time for the Blue Jackets to lick their wounds and look past the Leafs, in anticipation for Saturday's contentious game against the Colorado Avs, and their departed former captain, Adam "Benedict" Foote.