The 5-Hole: Blue Jackets News and Notes – 11/10/09
Every Tuesday, WFNY’s The 5-Hole brings you up to date with the goings-on of the CBJ…
The Week That Was
Week: 2-0-1, 5 points
Overall: 9-5-2, 20 points (t1st division; t3rd conference)
Those numbers are a beautiful thing. The NHL functions much like the NBA, wherein the three division leaders in each conference get the top three seeds. It’s ironic that what was thought the be the deepest division in the conference to start the year is actually one of the worst in the conference. The Jackets’ 20 points would put them even or behind four of the five teams in the Pacific Division, for example. But, you just have to win your own division; that’s all that matters. The Jackets are currently tied with Chicago for first place with identical records.
Wednesday, 11/4 in Columbus – Sharks 3, Jackets 2 – SO (Box Score) – Highlights
Thursday, 11/5 in Atlanta – Jackets 4, Thrashers 3 (Box Score) – Highlights
Saturday, 11/7 in Columbus – Jackets 3, Hurricanes 2 (Box Score) – Highlights
The Jackets played a red-hot Sharks team to a shoot-out, and followed that up with two classic trap games. They won both of those despite playing like crap for 40 minutes in each. So, there are two ways to look at it: it’s good that they’re now good enough to do that, but it’s bad that they can only get themselves up for the big games. Still, they’re technically on pace for 102 or 103 points while having had some injuries and playing a tough portion of their schedule. I’d give them good marks so far.
I can’t remember a time when the Red Wings were coming to town and it felt like Columbus was the true favorite. Such is the case on Wednesday, as the Winged Wheel makes its first appearance at Nationwide this year. The Jackets are catching the Wings at the right time: they are without Johan Franzen, Valtteri Filppula and Jason Williams. Williams, who was traded to the Jackets last season and contributed to their playoff run, broke his fibula in the Wings’ last game. How bad has it been for Detroit this year so far? They’re 16th in scoring (2.80 gpg) and a staggering 23rd in defense (3.07 gapg). I’m always a little wary of the Guys in Red, but it would be nice for Columbus to get a little “playoff payback” on Wednesday.
Coach Ken Hitchcock, who notched his 500th win last season in a shoot out win over Toronto, is reaching another milestone this week. Wednesday’s game against Detroit will be his 1,000th game as a coach in the NHL. “To me, the 1,000 games is more meaningful,” Hitchcock said. “What the Blue Jackets did for me last season (a pregame ceremony on March 12) was very nice, but I don’t look at the wins. The 1,000 games I’m just proud to be in the league that long. It means you’re not a two-year wonder. It means that someone thinks enough of you to keep you employed.”
Congrats, Hitch!
Up Next
The Jackets have a couple of off days before three more home games this week. It’s time for the first rematch with Detroit (7-5-3, 17pts) on Wednesday, and Anaheim (6-7-2, 14pts) comes calling on Friday. The Jackets then get a couple more off days before Edmonton (8-8-1, 17pts) comes calling on Monday night. They then have a few more off days before heading out onto the road for five straight starting next week.
Who’s Hot, Who’s Not
Hot: RW Jakub Voracek. A lot of guys could go up here, but Jake is starting to look like he’s taking a step to the proverbial “next level”. He just turned 20 in August, and he’s close to a “point per game” scorer in this just his second full season. He has 1 goal and three assists in his last four games, and is plus-3 over that span. On the year, Jake has 5 goals and 7 assists (12 points) in 16 games.
Not: C Antoine Vermette. Vermy has just two points (two assists) in his last six games while mostly playing on the top line with Rick Nash (who has been scoring in bunches). Vermette is still playing decent defense and is solid in the faceoff circle, but when he’s playing with Nash he needs to score to take some of the pressure off of The Captain.
Injury Update
The Jackets are finally starting to get healthy. Jan Hejda is back and getting back into game shape. Mike Commodore pronounced himself “pain-free” after Saturday’s game against Carolina. Derick Brassard and Fedor Tyutin have not missed any game time with their hand injuries suffered last Sunday against Washington.
The only regular missing time right now is LW Kristian Huselius, who has missed the last three games with a shoulder sprain. He skated by himself on Monday and is slated to skate for the coaches today. If all is well, he could rejoin the team on Wednesday and be back to full practice on Thursday. This would put his earliest return to the ice at next Monday, most likely.
Fredrik Modin has shown no improvement. Counting on anything from him this season is looking to be more and more of a long shot.
Trap Game Quotes of the Week
Today was about finding a way to win. We had a team sitting here waiting for us and we played back-to-back (games), getting in late.
–Coach Ken Hitchcock, after the 4-3 win in Atlanta.
In all honesty, that was an awful hockey game for two periods. Terrible. I don’t know how many offsides and icings there were. There was no energy. Dead. (In the second intermission) we talked about how we could win the game with one good period, how we were only down a goal thanks to Mason.–Defenseman Mike Commodore, after the 3-2 win over Carolina.
We played one period, and we got away with it.
–Hitchcock, after the win over Carolina.
There you go. As I said above, it’s a sign of overall improvement that Columbus has played bad stretches in two games against inferior opponents and still came out with wins. Those are points you need later on in the season, and it’s definitely a good sign that they can get those wins now. However, that doesn’t absolve them for coming out totally flat against teams they should jump on and bury. It shows that they’re still learning how to be a truly good team. But, that’s a good thing.
November 10th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
great stuff as always. I keep telling people to get behind this team, at least the jackets are competitive. Also, I really like Scott Howson as GM, it seems his moves are paying dividends. Carry the Flag!
November 10th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Thanks for the comment.
I would contend that Howson should be a candidate for executive of the year, and that he would be deserving on a three-year arc. What he’s done with this team since being hired is nothing short of miraculous:
*He’s completely flipped the roster, and in his second full year had a playoff team
*He made two solid trades last season at the deadline to buttress the playoff run WITHOUT giving up any big prospects or draft picks
*He’s drafted and coalesced a young group of talented players, and he’s locked them ALL up long-term (with the exceptions of Mason, Voracek, and Filatov who are all in the first or second years of their rookie deals, and are reportedly going to be offered extensions in the off-season)
*Most importantly, he re-upped and locked in his franchise star player for eight years without letting that player even reach free agency
For that last point alone he deserves the award, but when you look at his entire body of work since taking the job he deserves league-wide recognition.
November 10th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
I would disagree with you about $50. Frankly, Vermette has been doing exactly what he should be, which is forechecking well, double shifting, and great defense. The guy is solid on both ends of the ice, which is something that we need
if you go and watch the film, vermette has about 12 centering passes each game, all of which go to a player but can not be coralled. He is playing great.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
I’m just glad to see Mason looking sharper than he did at the beginning of the season. He basically saved the teams’ butts that night against Carolina.