Blue Jackets Outshoot But Do Not Outplay Streaking Flames

It's not that the Jackets didn't play hard—most guys were battling.  Hitch singled out the Fritsche-Manny-Chimera line for just that, but they couldn't really create any sustained attack and couldn't beat Mikka Kiprusoff.

That and, once again, their powerplay failed them—more on that later.

Lit it up

The only two real bright spots for me on the night were the rookies Jared Boll and Kris Russell.

Boll continues to do his job and do it well. Yes he took a penalty on a hit in the third period, but that was a hard-working penalty where he was getting in on the forecheck and trying to make something happen. He also took one of the NHL's best players, Jarome Iginla, off the ice for five minutes.

I'd like to see this kid paired with Nash for a while, so open up some room for him.

Kris Russell played by far his best game of the year as a young rookie. He was on the ice for what had to be a season high over 19 minutes, and even though he made some mistakes, he really looked more confident out there. He basically created the lone goal for the Jackets when he used his speed, vision, and passing ability on his play to Glencross for the goal. Look out for this kid in the second half of the season.

The Flames did everything they should to win a road game. Their big guns scored when needed to, their goalie made big saves when necessary, and their defense shut down the Jackets.

The game looked damn good in HD last night on FSN...well, except for the score graphic.

Dim the light

Well the Jackets did score a goal. Curtis Glencross's sixth of the year.

Most of the team competed. The team is in games, but we are definitely seeing that "thin line" towards winning that Hitch preaches about. The lack of skill in this lineup is really starting to show.

Busted Bulbs

Where to begin...

Lets start with the biggest dissapointment of the night—once again the powerplay.

0-6 on the night...just one score and the Jackets could take at least a point out of this contest. It's Becoming obvious that it's not the coaching or the scheme, but just a lack of talent to execute an effective powerplay.

Timely goals

Novotny misses a breakaway. Klelsa misses a perfect opportunity in the slot. Nash misses a wrap around and half breakaway.

Goals that we were getting in October we aren't getting now.

Penalties

We could have turned this game off after the 5-on-3 early in the first. This team cannot come back from being down a goal—in fact they are 2-12-2 when they don't score first. Those penalties absolutely killed us.

Officiating

I just don't get it anymore. Completely arbitrary calls. I can only imagine how frustrated the players on both sides get. There is absolutely no consistency.

Crowd

Only 13k in the house for this one.

December

3-3-2 after what was supposed to be a make it or break it month for the Jackets.

Injuries

Manny goes down at the end of the third. Looks to be out a few weeks. This team can't afford this many injuries, and its showing.

Offense is a no show. Probably Z's worst game of the year. Fedorov is a six million dollar bomb that we can't unload fast enough. Westcott was terrible. Nash can't score in—make that five straight now.

3 bright lights on the night

1. Kris Russell - best game by far as a pro, really starting to play confident out there

2. Jared Boll - you notice him when he's on the ice, every shift—not enough Jackets are the same

3. Energy - most of the team at least came to play tonight...still had some passengers though

As Hitch said in his post game presser: "we are what we are right now," and that they are trying to "keep this thing afloat" until some regulars get back. Now with Manny out for an extended period, that challenge grows bigger.

The boys are back at it Friday night against the LA Kings, the worst team in the Western Conference. In fact, the Kings have the worst record in the entire NHL.

Unfortunately, we know how this Jackets team reacts when playing a squad below them in the standings. Lets see if they can reverse that trend.

I suspect Hainsey will be back in the lineup Friday while Westcott sits. Today is the roster freeze until Dec. 27th, so if Howson is looking to shake things up, that won't happen until next Thursday at the earliest.

-LTL