Unfortunately it's the Jackets who continued to get owned after yet another loss to the Nashville Predators.
1. The Predators finished the 6 game season series with a 5-0-1 record. That's 11 of 12 possible points for those keeping score. The Jackets? Well they finished with a 1-5 record. That's 2 out of 12 possible points for those worse at math than me (and that would be sayin somethin). The Jackets are now 2-11-2 against the Central. Not that is means a thing this year, but we are never gonna get anywhere in this league if you can't win against your division.
2. It was another game of mistakes against the Preds and the Jackets made more of them. And besides the Rick Nash goal, when the Preds did break down Rinne was there to clean up the mess. Antoine Vermette with an inexcusable turnover on that first goal. Another late period goal allowed on #2. Methot with a terrible break out (or whatever you call that) that eventually found it's way into the net on goal #3. Goal 4 a tip but who even cares by that point.
3. The one area I find myself constantly beating my head on my lap top over -- break outs. This team cannot get out of their zone with any puck possession on a regular basis. When they do finally get out it's almost luck. Is it a skill thing? Chemistry? Mental mistakes? Thinking ahead to the April golf greens? Who knows but it's been a chronic problem since, well, since forever.
4. John Moore is playing his ass off out there. Good for him. I know he had his moments in this game but you can tell this guy is really trying. He's skating well. He's making contact. He's determined. He's motivated. He breaking out with speed. I just hope he can bottle this up and bring it each and every night at this level. Really impressed with him but guarded about burning him out.
5. Thought Bred Lebda really struggled early but got better as the game moved on. He had a boneheaded delay of game penalty and missed an open net but he made some plays later on and has got a nice smooth skating stride that gets him up/down the ice well. Paired with Tyutin he saw the 2nd highest ice time on the team with 21:14. Not gonna win us any games but he looked to be a serviceable warm body while we let Savard bake on the farm in a better enviornment.
6. Hey, at least we know that with a 13-29-6 record through 48 games that both Priest and Howson's jobs appear safe. I still feel like I got punched in the gut after reading that.
EXTRA SHOTS:
Todd Richards is now 2-4-1. New car smell already worn off? Jackets first PP looked very dangerous but went scoreless. Enjoyed Rick Nash's goal. We haven't seen nearly enough of those kind of hard driving nobody is gonna deny me goals from him this season. Offense continues to be a no-show -- just 8 goals in their past 4 games. I've been to roughly 15 home games and have yet to see this team win. The only win I've seen was the one win AT Nashville on 11-19-11. At least I made it count I guess. Fail for Nail watch -- Islanders lost but both Edmonton and Carolina won. The Jackets now have a 8 point cushion in the basement. Steve Mason was just kind of there -- he got hung out to dry a couple of times but didn't have many big saves either. He stopped 25 of 29 for a .862 save%. I do wonder if he's being showcased with these two starts in a row. Is Club CBJ catching up with Vinny Prospal? He's been real quiet of late going pointless in his past seven games. We need him to heat back up to drive up that trade value.
Boys back at it tomorrow @ Tampa which will be their last game before the All Star break. After slumping pretty bad in January, Tampa has rebounded with 3 straight wins.
The Fail For Nail Rail rolls on.
-LTL
