So the Blue Jackets have lost three games in a row now. But these weren’t your standard Blue Jackets losses. These weren’t cataclysmic events of magnificent ineptitude, despite what Twitter would have you believe. All three were just hockey games. Against Buffalo, they pretty much controlled the play and lost the goaltending battle something fierce. That happens. The Carolina game was a dud, a game where pucks were bobbled, the PP differences helped swing the game, and nothing else seemed to go right. It only came across as disappointing because they jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Against the Sens, the Jackets had the slight edge in controlling the play (well in terms of shots, it was basically a dead heat in shot attempts), they just couldn’t pull it off. A couple of pucks hopped over a sticks, a couple whiffs, a couple of good bounces for the opposition. These games happen. They happen to every team. This is a good team now. They legitimately won eight games in a row. They now lost three straight games. If they win four, lose one, win two, lose one, win two more and then lose another one, they would still be 8-3 in their last 11 games. But I think the perception would be much different.
My point here is that this is NOT something to be too worried about. This isn’t a total collapse. No reason to hit the panic button. The very best NHL teams lose 20 to 30 games per year. They rarely crap the bed, but they lose games where their goalie just doesn’t have it, or the opposing goalie is on fire, or they don’t get the bounces, or the opponent gets the bounces, or its the second night of a back-to-back, and third game in four nights. These last three losses suck, as it hurts them in the standings and takes a little wind from their sails. But those games were “good team losses”. They were the kinds of games good teams lose, which is good in a strange kind of way.
3rd Star: Cam Atkinson
Cam had good boxcare numbers against the Sens. Goal, assist, three shots, four blocked shots. Sounds like a solid game. Problem is the offensive production came on the powerplay. At even strength Cam was buried in the Jackets end, to the tune of a lowly 42.9% corsi. Considering Cam’s offensive role, the four blocked shots should have been a dead giveaway. He was 50% on offensive zone starts, so he wasn’t buried that way, nor was he tasked with tough matchups, as he played most of his time against Eric Gryba, Coling Greening, Zack Smith, Marc Methot, and Chris Neil. Side note: I really want to see Cam fight. This only comes up now, as seeing him jostle with Nate Gerbe against Carolina got the thought in my head, and Cory Conacher causing ruckus last night kept it there.
2nd Star: Craig Anderson
Anderson was very good, but wasn’t exactly 2013 lockout shortened season Craig Anderson. He went 26 for 26 at even strength, which is something to hang your hat on. He had no chance Cam’s goal, and A Wiz bomb is a Wiz bomb. He was definitely the better goalie on the evening, as McElhinney grossly misplayed the game winning goal. Absolutely no reason to not be in a controlled slide in the situation. Demonstrated a lack of situational and positional awareness by CMac.
1st Star: Stephane Dacosta
He scored two goals. That was pretty much it. Da Costa is a fourth liner who managed only eight minutes of ice time despite his scoring. The first was a Johnny on the spot number, while the second was a nice finish but more the product of nice plays by Conacher and Jason Spezza. If I had my druthers, Spezza would have taken home this honor. But I have no druthers. So he doesn’t.
Picture Courtesy of Ashley Ware
Dud: RJ Umberger’s Finish
Umberger actually played pretty well. He was one of the top Jackets players in terms of puck possession, he had five shots on net, and had numerous beauty scoring chances. It says something about a player who keeps getting scoring chances. Clearly that person is doing a lot right, as just getting to a place where you have multiple goal-mouth tap in goal chances in a single game is a very good thing and tough to do. But sweet lord RJ finish! Seriously. Finishhhhhhh. This game could have been 5-2 heading into the third period had RJ just manage to tap in a few of the potatoes left sitting on the doorstep for him.
Stud: Dirty Passes
Go watch Atkinson’s goal from last night. Watch Matt Calvert. Now go back to the Carolina game and watch Ryan Johansen’s feed on Umberger’s goal. Both are just ridiculous one touch through the legs drop passes to setup a fairly simple tap in goal. Considering the context of those goals, the amount of defensive pressure Calvert and Johansen were under on those plays, and man you just have a super wicked awesome pass.
The Blue Jackets will look to get off the schneid at Nationwide on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. Big divisional game, but really, past their first couple guys the Caps are nothing special. If the Jackets can get four lines rolling again they should be in line to get back in the W column.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
