That about sums up last night's performance I'd say.. .wouldn't you?
....and so much for home cookin.. more like home cooked courtesy of those desert dogs from Phoenix..
....and so much for home cookin.. more like home cooked courtesy of those desert dogs from Phoenix..
Do you want to know who the Phoenix Coyotes looked like last night? Look no further than your 2008-2009 Columbus Blue Jackets. They were air tight defensively, got great goaltending, out competed the other team, were smart with the puck and capitalized on their chances.
The Jackets on the other hand need to stop reading their own press. They look more like a pretender than a contender right now. They aren't getting the goaltending, as Hitch would say they aren't putting the work before skill, they aren't making smart hockey plays... nothing is working.
STOPLIGHT GAME REVIEW
vs. Phoenix
10.28.09
SCORE: Phoenix 4 Jackets 1
* Too many stupid penalties. Sure some were questionable calls but when you're trying to get back into the game you can't hold (Nash), you can't have a goalie interference (Brass) and you can't hook (Stralman). Especially when your PK and goalies can't stop me from scoring on them. This team has to be more disciplined.
* In the spirit of Halloween Kristian Huselius put on his best version of a horror show. The forwards a whole weren't great by any stretch but Juice really struggled. I'm trying to figure out how he gets over 18 mins in ice time.
*Pahlsson was good in the faceoff circle but what exactly am I missing about this guy? He's supposed to be a defensive specialist right? I'd like to think I watch this game pretty close but I have yet to see any "wow" defensive plays from him. Yeah he's in good position and has an active stick but for 2.65 mil a year I'm lookin for a whole lot more than that from this dude.
* 13184 in attendance. That is not nearly good enough Columbus. Economy... week night.. it's only Phoenix.. yadayada... just excuses. Friday will be a sell out b/c those other 5,000 seats will be the Pens bandwagon.
* Jackets PK has gone from hero to zero. It gave up.. count em... 3 power play goals in this game. That 3rd goal where Michalek had an entire net to shoot out captured all of what has been wrong about this team and this unit.
3 BRIGHT LIGHTS ON THE NIGHT
The Jackets fall to 6-5 and if they aren't careful that great start they got off to will be as forgetful as SAW VI.
To leave on a positive note... The Jackets were able to rise up, compete against and beat the best teams in the league last season when things looked bleak. They'll get their first chance to replicate that when the Penguins and their bandwagon waddle into town on Friday.
-LTL
vs. Phoenix
10.28.09
SCORE: Phoenix 4 Jackets 1
GREEN
* The first period was good...right? Too bad they got carved up like a pumpkin in the other two.
* Even though he didn't win I liked RJ's willingness to mix it up out there and try to get a spark. Unfortunately he also got a 2 minute roughing penalty tacked on.
* Mike of the R Bar for hangin the "picture". Not sure what that is? Stop on in and ask him.
* Give Labarberra credit... he was much better than Mase and the score reflected it. He made a couple of real nice saves on Umberger deflections that may have been game changers.
* Nice tribute to Dave King from game ops and the crowd did their part to thank him for his time here.
* The first period was good...right? Too bad they got carved up like a pumpkin in the other two.
* Even though he didn't win I liked RJ's willingness to mix it up out there and try to get a spark. Unfortunately he also got a 2 minute roughing penalty tacked on.
* Mike of the R Bar for hangin the "picture". Not sure what that is? Stop on in and ask him.
* Give Labarberra credit... he was much better than Mase and the score reflected it. He made a couple of real nice saves on Umberger deflections that may have been game changers.
* Nice tribute to Dave King from game ops and the crowd did their part to thank him for his time here.
YELLOW
*Thought Filatov played a fantastic first 20. He really made some sharp plays at high speed. Quite frankly he generated the most offense of any forward I can recall. Would have liked to have seen him out there more when the game was still in question.
* They did get another PP goal but when it had the chance to pad that lead when the game was still 1-0 it couldn't convert.
* Game Ops was okay. Would like to see even more replays. Still don't get why they don't have someone sponsor those?? Beuhler?
* Good to see Klesla back out after taking that puck to the grill. Too bad his offensive game continues to impersonate a ghost.
*Thought Filatov played a fantastic first 20. He really made some sharp plays at high speed. Quite frankly he generated the most offense of any forward I can recall. Would have liked to have seen him out there more when the game was still in question.
* They did get another PP goal but when it had the chance to pad that lead when the game was still 1-0 it couldn't convert.
* Game Ops was okay. Would like to see even more replays. Still don't get why they don't have someone sponsor those?? Beuhler?
* Good to see Klesla back out after taking that puck to the grill. Too bad his offensive game continues to impersonate a ghost.
RED
* I guess it's appropriate that there is this much red so close to Halloween. Jackets got pushed out of their own building in the 2nd and 3rd periods. The 'yotes just had their way with them, especially physcially, and locked them right out of the game.
* Absolutely careless plays with the puck. No look passes across the creases...bad reads.. defensemen jumping in at inopportune times... The Jackets are tying to get too cute right now. Examples: Chimera has scored twice with rockets from the hashmarks.. you'd think he'd fire from there right every chance he'd get right? Instead last night he waits until there is almost no net to shoot at before letting it go. Voracek tried a cute pass early that didn't work.... a period later he is in the exact same position -- you'd think he'd learn and shoot right? Nope.. he tries the same thing. Fire the puck boys and crash for rebounds! Get back to the basics.
* Absolutely careless plays with the puck. No look passes across the creases...bad reads.. defensemen jumping in at inopportune times... The Jackets are tying to get too cute right now. Examples: Chimera has scored twice with rockets from the hashmarks.. you'd think he'd fire from there right every chance he'd get right? Instead last night he waits until there is almost no net to shoot at before letting it go. Voracek tried a cute pass early that didn't work.... a period later he is in the exact same position -- you'd think he'd learn and shoot right? Nope.. he tries the same thing. Fire the puck boys and crash for rebounds! Get back to the basics.
* Too many stupid penalties. Sure some were questionable calls but when you're trying to get back into the game you can't hold (Nash), you can't have a goalie interference (Brass) and you can't hook (Stralman). Especially when your PK and goalies can't stop me from scoring on them. This team has to be more disciplined.
* In the spirit of Halloween Kristian Huselius put on his best version of a horror show. The forwards a whole weren't great by any stretch but Juice really struggled. I'm trying to figure out how he gets over 18 mins in ice time.
*Pahlsson was good in the faceoff circle but what exactly am I missing about this guy? He's supposed to be a defensive specialist right? I'd like to think I watch this game pretty close but I have yet to see any "wow" defensive plays from him. Yeah he's in good position and has an active stick but for 2.65 mil a year I'm lookin for a whole lot more than that from this dude.
* 13184 in attendance. That is not nearly good enough Columbus. Economy... week night.. it's only Phoenix.. yadayada... just excuses. Friday will be a sell out b/c those other 5,000 seats will be the Pens bandwagon.
* Jackets PK has gone from hero to zero. It gave up.. count em... 3 power play goals in this game. That 3rd goal where Michalek had an entire net to shoot out captured all of what has been wrong about this team and this unit.
3 BRIGHT LIGHTS ON THE NIGHT
1. Let's see... Dave King tribute?
2. Umm.. Umberger trying to find a spark...?
3. Wait.. I got it....!! No traffic leaving.. heck there wasn't any traffic getting in either...
The Jackets fall to 6-5 and if they aren't careful that great start they got off to will be as forgetful as SAW VI.
To leave on a positive note... The Jackets were able to rise up, compete against and beat the best teams in the league last season when things looked bleak. They'll get their first chance to replicate that when the Penguins and their bandwagon waddle into town on Friday.
-LTL
