Three Stars and Game in One Picture: AZ @ CBJ

I really can’t figure out too many different ways to wrap this thing up. The Blue Jackets never showed up to play the Coyotes…at least the Blue Jackets that made the Dance last year. That’s been the story of this season though, hasn’t it? Whether by injury or by confidence or what ever reason you can imagine the Blue Jackets have just not been able to put together a decent string of play. Sure…there was December….but the more we see this season the more that looks to be a fluke; as if their best 12 games this were all contained within that one month.

I’m digressing. The Blue Jackets have, realistically, been out of the running for a while now. It doesn’t excuse nights like the last 3 we’ve seen the boys in blue play. Thankfully, the internet out in the middle of Nowhere, Texas disallowed me access to much of the onslaught.

3rd Star: Antoine Vermette

Vermette got the second assist on the game winning goal. Screw it, put Forsberg here. I know he got lit up but whatever, it’s not like he’s actually ready for the majors yet and he didn’t give up a whole bunch. In the amazing race that is the road between the Jackets and the Falcons Forsberg playing his 3rd ever NHL game and not looking supremely terrible…yeah, he gets the 3rd star. What? I’m not drunk. You’re drunk.

2nd Star: Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Well, yeah, newsflash this guy is pretty good. His goal (the Coyotes’ GWG) was a pretty spectacular blast and hey, he’s also a pretty good defensive player too, eh?

1st Star: Mike Smith

Mike Smith is a pretty awful goaltender, so anytime he stops all the shots he sees on EV is a time to celebrate. Hell, first star? Give him all three! Way to go, bud.

Game in One Picture:

Stud: James Wisniewski’s Powerplay Goal

Hahahahaha, hot damn was that a snipe. That’s such a pretty sight to see; Wisniewski just CLAPPING one so hard it almost sets the net on fire? (Though thankfully not because a fire on a pool of frozen water is a FIRE HAZARD so stick tap to Wiz for keeping the arena’s bestest interests in mind) I’m still excited. It’s a thing of beauty.

Dud: James Wisniewksi’s Play Immediately Following His Powerplay Goal
Seriously, Wiz? What was that….can we even call it a pinch? It seemed more like one of those things where you put a finger in your mouth and your tongue gets pinched super quickly and super painfully.

Yeah…ok, so still a pinch, but woof. Also the PK was pretty bad today too. Gave up the winner and then the killer.  As for the other side of the coin ⅓ ain’t bad so he can have dessert.

All in all tonight didn’t sway my opinion of the season one way or another, it just pushed it further down the path of crippling apathy. You gotta hope that the team swallows their pride and really goes for the full tank. No point in playing themselves in to a subpar draft spot now.

I’ll still watch every game (so long as GameCenter Live lets me!…stupid Texas :c )

Carry the Flag!