Three Stars & Game in One Picture: Buffalo @ CBJ

Woof. That was not fun. In a game that the Blue Jackets most certainly could have (and arguably should have looking at the season to date) the team fell down in almost every aspect of the game to hand Buffalo a win – their first since January 12th when they beat the Capitals. I’m trying not to point out what happened to the Caps since then, I’m also trying not to point out that when it comes down to it, it can come down to a single game. I’m not because I really don’t think either fate will befall the Jackets this year. I think everyone associated with the CBJ wants to get this over with so let’s review the three stars and (hopefully) put this behind us. Every team has an off night – just stinks when it finally happens.

3rd Star: Derek MacKenzie

The only line to produce any points tonight was the fourth line so if any Blue Jacket was gonna make tonights ranking it was gonna be someone from that unit. I am fine with the MacKenzie call. Guy works his butt off every night and his goal brought the team even early and kept everyone from cliff diving a little longer than might have otherwise happened. The fourth line for the Jackets is pretty good – and that’s a statement to the depth this organization is developing. I’m just happy I get to write about one Blue Jacket tonight.

2nd Star: Christian Ehrhoff

First of all the guy has too many consonants in a row. Second of all, ok fine, he scored the first shorty of the night. And he got two assists. And he was plus 4. And he’s a defenseman and part of a squad that blocked an astounding 30 shots tonight. The system that Buffalo used tonight worked – it was stifling against a middling Jackets squad. For me, he’s the symbolic choice for a squad that simply did their job better than the home team tonight.

1st Star: Ryan Miller

I’ll be a bit more effusive about this one. There’s a reason Buffalo stayed in it early and there’s a major reason they won tonight and that’s their goaltender. Miller’s play in the first period was simply stellar and perhaps it frustrated the Jackets squad a bit too much and set them off their game for the rest of the evening. Miller made players like Anisimov, Atkinson even Umberger look like they couldn’t shoot a puck to save their life. He saved 36 shots on the night. Add that to the blocked shots the team in front of him did and you have a winner on the ice.

Game in One Picture

Stud: The Defense. WIth Savard sick and Goloubef unable to make it in time the team rolled with 5 dmen. They did a serviceable job under not ideal situations.

Dud: Special teams. Come on man – the first shorty of the season and then you give up a SECOND one? Nothing was clicking tonight – but boy was it obvious when the Jackets couldn’t convert and in fact, gave AWAY points on the man advantage. Oh well.

Alright. Tomorrow is a new day. Monday brings a game in Carolina. No jumping off bridges till we see how this bright young squad responds.