Columbus-Phoenix: Jackets look to End Four-Game Skid

The Jackets take on the up-start Phoenix Coyotes for the 4th and final time of the year.

The Jackets have won two of three and will look to get back on the winning side of things tonight in Glendale.

From a playoff-picture standpoint, Phoenix sits 9th, just one point behind the Nashville Predators for that 8th spot while the Jackets sit 11th and four points out.

Keys to lighting em up

Get the swagger back.

The Jackets seem to have lost it.

That "strut", as Hitch has referred to before, is gone. They had it going into the All-Star break but somewhere along the way they have completely gotten away from what has made them successfull.

The Jackets need to come out and act like they should win the game, not hope.

Survive injuries.

We know Fedorov and Modin are out. The next hit was Leclaire.

The good news is that he'll be back on Sunday; the bad news is that he'll be back Sunday and there are two important game between now and then.

But injuries can't be an excuse, the guys on the ice must perform.

Norrena needs to regain form.

I'm not going to sugar coat this—Norrena has been bad, real bad, in his last handfull of starts. He's just not making the big-game saves like he did last year, and if the goaltending can't compete, this team can't win.

That's just the way it is this season, the offense just isn't there, so goaltending and defense must be exceptional every night.

Shane Doan, Phoenix's key player, must be contained. He has 53 points in 53 games.

Watch the rookies.

Mueller and Hanzal are making an impact (why can't we ever get rookies to make this kind of impact—a story for another day). Mueller is red hot—37 points in 53 games—including 18 points in his past 13 games.

This kid is really gelling well with Doan.

Score by committee.

Actually, the Coyotes do a damn good job at spreading the wealth throughout their lineup.

They have five players who have scored 30 or more points. Contrast that to the Jackets who have just two players with over 30 points. Translation—you can't just shut down two of the Coyotes and expect to win.

Work for goals.

Bryzgalov has been a whale of a Christmas gift to the 'Yotes (really it's hard to believe Burk couldn't trade this guy, and that Phoenix got him off waivers).

Jackets are going to have to work for their goals...get to those rebounds and score the dirty ones.

Somebody besides Nash and Z needs to step up.

Granted we still need Nash and Z to perform, but they could use some help. Chimera has been doing better lately, but where have Novotny/Malhotra/Peca/Fritsche/Vyborny been for goals?

Nowhere.

PP has been back to its bad ways of late. They could certainly use some help from this special team tonight.

Who knows with this one.

It seems the Jackets have been playing better on the road than at home of late...Another big two points up for grabs.

The Jackets just can't afford to lose very many more games to realistically have a shot.

Lets see what they've got in store for us.

I may need to break out the oxygen (again).

GO JACKETS!