Tonight We Make History: Columbus vs Detroit Preview 10-21-2011

Puck Drop: 730pm

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Ohio/ 97.1 and Bluejackets.com

Tonight, no matter the outcome, we make history. The question is will it be laughable history or honorable history. Will the Jackets ruin the Red Wings win streak? Will the Jackets continue their lose streak and enter the franchise hall of fame for worst start to a season? 

Tonight the Red Wings take the ice at home after six games off and a week long of running around thanking the town. There is no doubt they are well rested and itching to play. The question is will the time off from competition make them hungry for a win? Or will they take tonight lightly because the Jackets have a win less season? With the Red Wings defense being spot on this season I fear for yet another loss for the Jackets. Especially since the Red Wings play the same regardless of who is on or off the ice. Also, you can't forget the fact Swede Johan Franzen is on fire. 2 goals, 2 assists, and 4 points the Jackets need to watch him. Anytime Franzen has an opening it's going to be bad news. He will seize the opportunity and fire one into the hole faster than Jackets fans can find the nearest bridge. The only downside for the Red Wings is Todd Bertuzzi. A player known for cheap shots that helps rally their opponent to a win.

Tonight the Jackets take the ice beat down yet hopeful. Tonight they look to turn it around. Can they do it? I believe they can but then again I'm biased. I grew up right outside of Chicago and my whole family is Ohio State lovers. Therefore, I loathe everything Michigan. False, I like Ford pick up trucks, Motown music, the sand dunes and the fact I can get to Canada. The real point here is I dislike the dirty stinky armpit of the United States also known as DETROIT. I don't like Bertuzzi as a player. He scares me. I'm afraid he's going to take out one of my babies tonight. So tonight I look forward to seeing the Umberger, Brassard and Nash line. Towards the end of the last game they started to flow better. They started to connect. Tonight I believe they will finally come together and light it up. Out of all of the lines Arniel has put together the first line of Umberger, Brassard, and Nash is my favorite. Hopefully the excitement and dedication that line brings to the ice will trickle down to the rest of the team. Even though Russell is -1 look for him to bring some energy tonight. His goal last game set the Jackets on fire. I look for Russell or Brassard to score first tonight. 

What needs to happen:

• Nash needs to calm down. He's so amped up about having to win these next few games it's affecting his game play. He cannot whiff 2 inches away from the net tonight. 
• The Jackets need to learn the Goal Post is NOT your friend. 
• Mason needs to watch his glove side. It's been what kills him the past few games. 
• The Jackets need to score first and hold off all the Red Wings advances. 
• Franzen needs to be watched. One man needs to be on him at all times.
• And obviously the Jackets need to win. It's sad to say it already but it's DO OR DIE TIME

I scream

you scream

we all scream for some history. 

We're #1 ! We're #1! We're #1 at losing! : Columbus -2 to Dallas-3

Well guys here's the Bad News: the Jackets lost. Good News: we're the best at losing and it's feels great to be the best at something right? RIGHT?! RIGHT! Let's just get this sadness over with.

First Period:

Fourty seconds in the Jackets were almost scored on and were called for off sides. Just the way anyone dreams of starting a game. The next four shifts consisted of four different lines. Then five minutes in the Jackets got a glimpse of hope. Johansen  fired a clean shot into the goal. Happiness and cheers all around until the refs disallowed it because Dorsett was in the crease. With 11:05 left in the period Nash was set up for a great shorter and just when we all got excited he whiffed. Yes, he whiffed right there in front of the net. During the next shift, in comedic Jackets fashion, not only did a Stars high stick Mason so did Martinek. Good thing the high stick went without notice or else that would be the most embarassing penalty in the league. With 8 minutes to go Ott take a trip to the sin bin for tripping and shocker a wasted power play. A little over 3 minutes left in the period and both Dowell and Bass were handed five minute majors for getting in a knock down wrestling match. Period ended with no goals and the Jackets out shooting the Stars 12-4.

Second Period:
The period started off slow with a bunch of missed connections from both teams. Until about four and half minutes in when Ott wins the face off and scores on Mason. The Jackets first line did a great job on coverage and Mason just missed it on the glove side. First time I have ever seen Mason falter so bad. About six minutes in Johansen gets pushed into Lehtonen and was sent to the sin bin (2 minutes) for interference. Yet again another dumb call the refs made. Then Robidas high sticks Paulson and gets sent to the sin bin (2 minutes) nullifying the power play. In a moment of craziness Dallas puts too many men on the ice. Morrow takes the penalty and gets two minutes in the box causing a 4 on 3 which after twenty seconds turned into a 5on 3. Yet again, POWER PLAY WASTED for both teams. The rest of the period plays out like this: no goals, the post got a lot of action, a few scuffles in front of the Jackets net and more wasted power plays. Period ends with the Jackets down 0-1 and out shooting the Stars 12to7.

Third Period:
Within the first two minutes of the period Jamie Benn knocks the puck out of the air, bounces it off the boards to himself, laterals, and the scores for his second goal of the season and Dallas' second of the night. They should have credited Benn with the assist for his goal because that was just one of the most beautiful utilization of the boards I have ever seen. 2 minutes after that Souray heads to the box (2minutes)  for cross checking Nash. This lead to a beautifully executed pass from Nash to Brassard for the Jackets first goal of the season. Shortly after that a shot attempt by Souray is deflected by Ryder and tipped in past Mason giving the Stars a 3-1 lead. Souray holds Nash on the next shift and is sent to the box for 2 minutes which of course leads to nothing. With 3 minutes left in the game Russell fires and scores on a lateral move. At this point the Jackets are getting fired up. With 1:28 left in the game the Jackets pull their goalie. The frenzy begins. Shot after shot after shot is fired upon Lehtonen. Denied, wide and posts. 18.5 seconds left Jackets call a time out to make one last attempt at winning this game. Umberger wins the faceoff but the Stars went hard blocking every attempt at a perfect pass or shot. Thus the game ended with Columbus falling to the Stars. This game with haunt the Jackets for awhile. There were too many near misses and almost made shots in this game.





3 Stars
Lehtonen: I was really hoping to have all three stars be Jackets but alas Lehtonen is just too beastly to not be allowed on this list. He only allowed 2 goals after being shot at 40 times.
Brassard: You have to give props to the man who first got past Lehtonen. He really stepped in for Carter last night. Also, with that goal Brassard scored the 2,000th goal in franchise history. Multiple stick taps to you buddy.
Russell: A beautiful unassisted wrister in the third to helped set the team on fire. A little too late for the fire to happen but Russell's goal definitely pumped up the whole team, something that Nash was trying to do all game.


Random Observations

• I like the Umby, Brassard and Nash line it just took them a while to get their flow on. 
• If you take a shot everytime the announcers say "Jackets, yet again, missed the mark" it makes watching more tolerable
• Does anyone really know how to pronounce Lehtonen?
• I dislike Ott immensely but he and the puck have some weird creepy love affair. They always seem to find each other. 
• The Refs of tonights game are the Stars dirty sleazy skank
• I really like the Jackets new goal song (the whip by locksley) unfortunately think it's been used by other teams.
• The way Nash constantly sacrificed his body for the team was hot. I've never been attracted to Nash in anyway until that game.
• Nash's mouth guard looks like a grill. "SMILE FOR ME DADDY"
• Fox Sports Ohio always zooms in on the Jackets play board. Apparently all the other teams are paying the cameraman. O who am I kidding no one wants to know what the Jackets next move is.
• I'd really love to see a cage match between Ott and Dorsett. Dorsett got under Otts skin and it made me about as giddy as a kid on christmas morning.
• My wrap up is a little disjointed and not flowing together.... don't worry that's just an homage to the Jackets