Jackets-Blackhawks: Columbus' Woes Reach New Heights

Two things we learned in a big way last night in the Jackets' 7-2 to loss at home to the Chicago Blackhawks:

1. The young guys who have been holding this team together all year, Nik Zherdev and Rick Nash clearly don't have the experience to know how you have to play when games matter.

2. The veterans on this team, the ones who should know how to play in games like this, do not have what it takes to lead this team towards a playoff push. That's Adam Foote, Michael Peca, Manny Malhotra, Fredrik Modin, Sergei Fedorov, Rusty Klesla and so on.

No fire, no competitive spirit from any of these guys (yes, I know 91 was out still).

How else do you explain dropping two straight games to the two worst teams in the Western Conference?

How else do you explain getting completely embarrassed in the process in front of a home crowd that is trying their hardest to believe in this team?

It's unacceptable and with that, the Jackets have pretty much kissed goodbye any shot at the post season.

Columbus has won once -- ONCE -- in its past eight games.

Lit it up

Nobody....that is nobody in a Blue Jackets sweater anyways.

Dim the light

There were a couple of minor positives. Although pointless, Gilbert Brule played his best game of the year and was the Jackets' best forward which unfortunately, on a night like last night, isn't as good of a compliment as I'm sure Brule would hope to receive.

Dick Tarnstrom recorded his first goal as Blue Jacket and his second point in as many games. He played well, but did have one bad turnover.

If you can't see the difference between a guy like Hainsy and Tarnstrom when they are carrying the puck up the ice, then look closer. Tarnstrom is very cool and calm with the puck and finds the open man with ease to gain the blue line with puck possession vs. Hainsey who has a very hard time finding that man and often chooses to dump it in.

The power play scored a couple of goals.

At least Hainsey was willing to drop the gloves to stand up for a teammate.

Busted bulbs

Let's start with the fact that only Jason Chimera and David Vyborny were the only non-minus players wearing the CBJ.

Aggressive, motivated, emotional, engaged, physical, pumped -- all words I would not use to describe this team's play last night.

Anyone notice Rick Nash last night? I sure didn't. Once again, our franchise player plays the invisible man.

Is it possible to turn the puck over any more than we did? Doubt it.

Michael Peca's worst game of the year might have earned him a one-way ticket out of town come the deadline.

Nice to see absolutely no teammates, other than Hainsey, sticking up for each other. I've seen chess players more pissed off when losing.

Freddy Norrena allowed six goals. Three on game's first four shots. No big-game saves. The league seems to have figured this guy out. He was hung out to dry quite a bit, but he has got to make a couple saves early to keep this team in it.

3 bright lights on the night

1. At least I stayed home and watched this one.

2. Gilbert Brule - Five shots and his best all-around game as a Jacket. Can he keep it up?

3. Ron Hainsey - At least someone on this team showed some fire.

Did this team miss Jared Boll this much? Have they really fallen apart this much since the Jody Shelley trade?

Or is it just time to call a spade a spade?

I'd say right now Hitch has gotten just about everything he can from this team. As he said in the paper this morning, after this game, they'll either completely fall off the map or they'll go on a run. They aren't going to do much more "hovering" (as he called it) in the standings.

One thing is becoming crystal clear. GM Scott Howson's decision on whether to become a buyer or a seller is being made for him. The next five games before the trade deadline on Feb 26th are all on the road. I expect some major moves as before or on the date as Howson really begins to put his stamp on this team.

On to Detroit on Friday. A game at which I'll be attending in person, but at this point, I beginning to seriously wonder what I was thinking when I bought the tickets.

It could very well be another ass kicking.