you gotta reach up and grab that star if you wanna shine: Dallas vs Columbus preview 10-17-2011

Puck Drop: 7pm eastern
Tv: Fox Sports Ohio

*DISCLAIMER* If you can't handle flowery happiness you should just leave right now. This preview is the stereotypical Ohio sports fan preview. That fan who at the beginning of the season is overly optimistic and eventually turn to the bottle while they cry themselves to sleep after a loss.

Well folks here we are beginning of the season, last in the league, and no wins. Couldn't get worse right? The only place to go is up, right? RIGHT! So ladies and gentleman it's time to put on your positivity pants and join me on this wonderful ride.

DALLAS:

• Lehtonen : He may be a beast of a goalie. He may not of lost a game yet. He's only allowed 6 goals in the past 4 games he's played. Guess what? the BJs scored two of the goals. For all you non math majors that's 1/3, that's 33ish%, that's the same amount of goals as "better" teams like Chicago and Phoenix scored against him this season COMBINED. No one can be perfect all the time.  :)
• Not including shoot outs, in the past eight meetings Dallas hasn't allowed the BJs to score over 2 goals. Don't get negative on me now guys. Didn't your momma ever tell you one goal is all you really need to win a game?

COLUMBUS:

• Carter: He was placed on IR on a week to week basis with a foot injury. HEY THAT'S OK! Now Brassard will be moved to the first line where he seems to flow the best. Which then shifts Prospal to the second line alone with Vermette. Two things happen here. The offensive scoring opportunities open up immensely and my dream of a Vermette/Prospal bromance begins to come into view.
• Prospal has 3 goals this season. Nash has 2 goals this season. We are only five games into the season! Combined that's a goal a game! All you really need to win a game is one goal.
• Tonight will be our night to break our losing streak. Tonight will be the night to show the NHL we shall overcome and NOT be the joke of the league. Hey guys if we lose at least we are number one at something and that something is losing. So good luck boys and show those Stars what you got. 

I scream

You scream

We all scream for an end to a losing streak.  

What the NBA lockout could do for the Blue Jackets

With the 2011-2012 lock out looming above basketball fans heads everywhere it means good things for hockey. Many Ohio State fans are falling off the bandwagon and looking for somewhere to go. Why not welcome them into the loving arms of the NHL? The Indians missed the playoffs, again. Why not welcome their fans into the loving arms of the NHL? Where are all those angry, woe is me Browns fan going to go after they "just" miss the play-offs? They usually run straight into the arms of the Cavs but wait the Cavs won't be there. Ohioans can try and not watch sports until spring training. Will they? No, because sports is every Ohioans oxygen. Unfortunately Hockey might not be where these fans run. Lets roll through the Good News and Bad News this possible full season NBA lock-out brings us.

Bad News:

• As I stated earlier, sports = oxygen. Which means people invest their lives in college sports and high school sports. With the MAC finally starting to show they are a force to be reckoned with in the NCAA basketball tournament all those jumping off the BIG 10 bandwagon will now be climbing on the MAC bandwagon. High Schools like St. Edwards, Walsh Jesuit, Moeller, Xavier, Whitmer, Cardinal Mooney and Glenville are constantly in the National spot light for wrestling, basketball and football. If any of these teams have a good year that will be enough to satisfy the sports bug for most Ohioans. 
• If people do decide to run into the arms of the NHL the North East and North West fan base is shot. In the North East Pens, Sabres,Bruins, and Canuks fans run rampant. The Avs farm team, Lake Erie Monsters, is located in Cleveland. With inexpensive games and a fun atmosphere new hockey fans will probably end up at Quicken Loans Arena instead of Nationwide Arena. In the North West you have farmers and fans of all things Detroit, Cincinnati, and Ohio State. It's the place where all the Division 6 High Schools hail. People eat, sleep and breathe high school sports here. Being without the NBA could possibly be a breeze for them. 
• The lock-out won't make the Blue Jackets magically a better team. It won't make them have the team chemistry they need to even dream of making the playoffs.

Good News

• Last year a good amount of Blue Jackets games were not shown in half of the state because they aired at the same time as the Cavs. If the whole NBA season is locked out you won't have to miss a single Blue Jackets game on Fox Sports Ohio. 
• If the Blue Jackets start to do well the news will ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT THEM. The news loves to talk about their sports teams. Usually hockey gets overshadowed by the Cavs, LeBron, and Snowstorms. An NBA lock-out will lead to zero talk about the Cavs and minimal talk about LeBron. Therefore, the Blue Jackets can now wiggle their way into the hearts of Ohioans. 
• You will NEVER go a game with out laughing. I love the BJs BUT when you have a team that has very little chemistry hilarity will ensue. I can't even tell you the amount of times someone had a breakaway and passed it to a member of the other team. What's even better are the fan reactions. They range from "o my please take my life now" to "if i wanted to see someone play like this i would have watched the Browns lose" to "HEY REF THERE HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF FOUL OR SOMETHING THERE". That last one is my favorite one. Cute little overly optimistic fans who blame everything on everyone else.
• Even though the BJs mascot, Stinger, is a bit on the creepy looking side you have nothing to fear. He won't molest you like some teams mascots will. *cough* Tommy Hawk *cough*

So boys, you know what to do. It's time to show Ohio that hockey is where it's at.

I scream 

You scream

We all scream for a possible NBA lockout

Slow Start for the BJs

Right now there is as running joke with some of my friends that I am the reason why the Blue Jackets have yet to win a game this season. They claim my lack of blogging and abandonment of this blog has been a jinx for the team. So in an effort to prove them wrong I'll be blogging yet again.

When you look at the roster you've got Nash, Vermette, Umberger, Carter, Prospal, Wisniewski, and Mason. I get all giddy and giggly when I see those names on one team. They SHOULD be lighting it up. They aren't. In fact they have yet to win a game this season. To make it even worse they lost in a shootout to the AVS. THE AVS!!


Blue Jackets get your shit together and prove my friends right that I am a jinx for not blogging.

I SCREAM

YOU SCREAM 

WE ALL SCREAM FOR A HOPEFULLY BETTER SEASON... please

Happy Birthday Antoine!!!

Happy Birthday Antoine Vermette!

Who knew God would bless us 29 years ago today with such a beautifully talented and looking man. 

I am glad the Blue Jackets have you on their team. 

Ohio needs something good and that my talented BJ is you!

Have a blast in a glass tonight. 

Rock on !

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FEDOR!

 

Happy 28th Birthday Fedor Tyutin! 

I hope you show all of Columbus how to party like a Russian. 

BRING ON THE VODKA!

With 20 assists this season you deserve it. 

To those who have departed during the Frenzy WE SALUTE YOU

Today we say goodbye to eight BJs who didn't make it through the free agency frenzy alive. Some of them I will miss and some of them I barely knew. I have written each of them a letter.

Dear Mathieu Garon,
You stepped up when Mason was out and gave a few top teams a run for their money. You didn't have the best record but you had heart. Tampa Bay is lucky to have you. If you don't play much this season take the chance to be a mentor and leader from the bench.


Dear Chris Clark,
You played more than half the games in the season yet you didn't stick in my mind. Constantly your injuries held you back. If you don't retire take this time and nurse your battle wounds.


Dear Jan Hejda,
O dear Jan when I saw Colorado signed you to a 4 year contract I was not shocked. Over the past few years you have not produced. I am not quite sure why the Avs signed you but I hope you take this second chance as an opportunity. Good Luck. Make the BJs proud.


Dear Anton Stralman,
You claim to be a defenseman but you only produced offensively. I truly wish I could say wonderful and beautiful things about you but I can not. I haven't followed your career enough to miss you. May you find your way in this crazy NHL world.


Dear Craig Rivet,
Craig, Craig, Craig, 14 games you played and 23 minutes you spent in the sin bin. Craig, Craig, Craig. When you came from the Sabres I had such high hopes for you. I was like this "Old Man" he is going to rock my world. I can feel it. Craig, Craig, Craig. O how wrong I was. It pains me to say this, since I've been following your career since you were on the canadiens, but maybe it is time to retire. Take all you have learned and become a coach. It seems as though you have the heart and passion to do so.


Dear Ethan Moreau,
What happened to you? Where did you go this season? I've loved you since your two year stint with the Blackhawks. You were an alternate captain and you had one goal and five assists. ONE GOAL AND FIVE ASSISTS?!?! I can't ice skate so I shouldn't judge but come on buddy we all know you can do better. With that being said, What is going to happen to you this off season? I hope someone picks you up. I hope a scalding hot fire has been lit under your ass because it'd be a shame to leave the league on such a low point in your career.

Dear Sami Lepisto,
I can't exactly be sad because you are now playing for one of my favorite teams. Soon you will be in the black and red. Soon you will be playing with the likes of Toews, Hossa, and Kane. Soon you will be getting interviewed by one of the best reporters in the league. I hope you have thick skin because Chicago sports fans are ruthless and undying. Here is a hint if you get scared there are two places to hide : Behind John Scott or Coach Qs mustache.  Although we know you won't hide. You are a warrior who goes into battle swinging. You are a spectacular defenseman who has barely been to parties in the sin bin. The Blackhawks are lucky to have you. I hope the fans shower you with love and fangirls.


Dear Scottie Upshall,
I went through the seven stages of grief when you signed with Florida. I was at a Buffalo Wild Wings when I saw your name flash on the screen. My chicken wings dropped in shock and I immediately denied it was you who had signed. I kept telling myself "Wow Scottie Upshall must be a popular name".  Which slowly went into pain and wondering if I was a good fan. Then I became very angry and started saying "Florida take the whole team but leave scottie alone." Quickly I became very depressed. My heart shattered into a million hockey pucks. Why Scottie Why? Did Scottie even know? I haven't actually hit the happier stages of dealing with grief. I refuse to accept this. Beam Scottie back to Columbus right now! You hear me? Granted you didn't produce like we thought but you were here only a short amount of time.  You seemed like a leader. I specifically remember the moment when the Blue Jackets were losing against the Blackhawks and your demeanor was positive. You truly believed the Blue Jackets would win the game. You and your positivity will be missed. I loved you on the Coyotes. I loved you on the Blue Jackets. I'm sure I will love you on the Panthers. Farewell my sweet scottie, farewell.

For those who have been BJs

WE SALUTE YOU.

Welcome Baby BJs

It's a little late but I would like to welcome the precious little ones to the NHL.

After giving up their first round pick in a trade for Jeff Carter the Blue Jackets watched the action fly. As the second day rolled around there were some antsy guys up for the draft. With each pick through out the day I'm sure many of these guys had thrown the towel in thinking they wouldn't go at all. Over the next six rounds the Blue Jackets drafted six guys who show fight, heart, integrity and undeniable skill. Over the next week I will give you an in depth look on our six new little jackets. Until then lets give a big BJs welcome to Boone Jenner, T.J. Tynan, Mike Reilly, Seth Ambroz, Lukas Sedlak, and Anton Forsberg.

i scream

you scream

we all scream for new BJs !