Mase1 back, again! Apologies..
Well, I guess any notion that an 8-2 run was in this team's makeup, was squashed, last night, as the LA Kings, a rising power in the Western Conference - digest that for a minute, eh? - rolled into Nationwide Arean, took every early punch from the Blue Jackets, survived, then dominated the CBJ in every aspect of the game, last night, posting a 4-1 victory.
Look, I want to be positive - I pride myself on being positive, which is tough for someone who used to be an auditor, for so many years. But, after trying to be fed the Kool-Aid by Hitch and our TV broadcasting team - "We're only eight points out of the last playoff spot" - Hey myopians: Did you also notice that we'd played 3-4 more games than those above us? So actually, we were more like 12-14 points out of the last playoff position. So, quit insulting our intelligence - be confident, but quit insulting those of us who actually still care and are knowledgeable about the sport.
Seeing that I do like to be positive, given last night's outcome - let's face it: there were no green lights to be given out, at least for this team. So, being the creative dude that I am, I would like to take some liberty and reward green lights for some areas that would otherwise be ommitted.
With that, onto the recap:
GREEN
* Matt The Freekin' Mask - AKA our 7th Man - heck, he really is our 1st - 7th man. If this team had 1/10 his heart and passion, we'd go 82-0 and lift Lord Stanley's Cup, every year. MTM - now AKA MTFM - offered me (like I'm gonna say ' no') tickets right behind the Kings bench. Let me tell you: There's no more 'in the game' feeling than being right behind a NHL team's bench.
* MTM, again - for delivering the best line of the night, one that even Dustin Brown of the Kings overheard and absolutely cracked up - after the Kings scored their 4th goal, our hero delivered the following: "We might as well get ready for golf season".
* The fans - the 13,709 more-than-faithfull fans, which again, is at least 3,709 more fans than this team deserves. The fans also got behind the team when they made their opening surge at the Kings net. They stayed behind their team, even when the Kings scored that opening goal, and even when they scored their second goal. In the third period, they booed, lustily, when the team was put away. Even RJ Umberger acknowledged that the fans had every right to boo.
On that subject (the crowd), I'd like to clarify my position: I never blame the fans, for either staying away (I'd suggested that, once, but, like all of you who responded - as a season ticket holder, I too, couldn't pee away that much money) or booing. Years ago, Brett Hull said that this market gives so much more than they receive - ironically, he said that during the Dougy Mac era. So, has much really changed?
* Jonathon Quick - the Kings goalie was outstanding, stopping everything the Jackets were throwing his way. His ability to stop all those early shots - the Kings were outshot, 11-2, in the first 8 minutes of the game, which included 2 penalty kills - yet, minutes later, scored a goal and it was (essentially) game over, at that point.
* Anze Kopitar - the games first star, one can only imagine if Dougy Mac would have drafted this stud instead of Gilbert Brule. Then again, Kopitar went to the best place, for him, as I'm sure he would have been rushed by Dougy Mac, then squashed by the 'old school coach', for not playing the north-south, responsible, two-way....zzzzzzzzzz.
YELLOW
* Vermette scored a goal. He, Jake (Voracek), RJ and Raffi were about the only players who competed, last night. That's about all I can muster, to the positive, about the CBJ play, last night.
RED
Gawd, this list is far too long - so, I'll try to summarize, as best as I can.
* Hitch - Yes, I admire a coach who doesn't give up, but, c'mon - did you REALLY think an 8-2 was a' coming? I guess, when you slig enough crap, you actually start to believe your own BS, after a while.
* The TV "team" - so, are we still in the race, now that we're NINE points out? And they fire the only two decent broadcasters - Jim Day and Danny Gare - we had, and keep these two. Ugh...Oh, and I'm sure Matt Greene's 2nd goal of the season was "a goal-scorer's goal"
* Mason - Yeah, he's back. Two goals allowed on three shots, in the third period? Wait, here it comes: “I don’t think of this as a step back. I made one mistake. You guys (in the media) can jump all over that if you want. I played well the rest of the way, so …" This was Mase's rude comment to Aaron Portzline of the Dispatch, after allowing that soft goal against Belanger in Minnesota.
And they call Cleopatra the Queen of Denial. More proof that Mase is Hitch's boy, and that he has a lot of growing up to do (see recent comments about his ego from Dave Rook and Daryl Reaugh, current Stars analyst and former Hartford Whalers goalie). Wait, didn't CBJ brass say that about a certain 18-year old Russian, earlier this year? That's right, you don't bail out on a 21 year old...
So, in summary:
1. MTM - Nuff said.
2. The Crowd - you may not love me, but I love and have the deepest respect for you.
3. Only 147 days until the NHL draft. Say it with me, "Taylor Hall! Taylor Hall!"
The Jackets, and their loyal Jacket Backers, go out to the Scottrade Center, a place they haven't won at in over three years. Then again, the same can be said for a lot of places this team has played. Safe travels to the Backers!
Carry the Flag?
- Mase1
