GDT: Game 61: Columbus at Toronto | 3/3 7PM EST

[Nordique]

Anisimov's line had some good shifts tonight, that was nice to see. Gaborik is rusty though, needs to shake that off asap.

Jenner and Johansen look really good together to me. In fact of all the wings Joey has played with this season, I think Jenner is the best fit.

The 4th line is looking like our second best line on many shifts. Its not that Dubinsky and Anisimov's lines are playing all that bad, its just how good Letestu and McKenzie play together, and Calvert is playing with that persistent edge to his game right now.

Horton, Gaborik, and RJ need to step it up. Thats alot of salary tied up in guys not leading as expected.

Bob looked like Vezina Bob tonight.

I'm real happy with the defensive unit, and Johnson is at the top of the list for me. The depth on defense we thought we had, we indeed do have. Savard and Prout look really good.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

I know this has been discussed like 500million times, but we need to keep Nikitin. He was subject to being the odd man out, and even scratched earlier in the year, and everyone assumed he would be traded or just walk as a UFA after this year. He seems to be a slow starter, but he is so stable and steady on the blueline. He deserves to stay, even if Erixon, Golo, etc are knocking on the door.

 

[major major]

Anisimov's line had some good shifts tonight, that was nice to see.

Gaborik is rusty though, needs to shake that off asap.

I'm real happy with the defensive unit, and Johnson is at the top of the list for me. The depth on defense we thought we had, we indeed do have. Savard and Prout look really good.

I don't think its a coincidence that Arty has scored every game since he's been in between Foligno and Gaborik.

I think this is exactly what we should expect from Gaborik, he'll float around and score every few games, which I appreciate. There is no higher gear.

And agreed on the defence, they were all great tonight. I especially like how good they were at tying up sticks and clearing pucks from the slot, which we needed because there were a lot of rebounds in the crease. The Leafs in their zone were also really slow to get out to protect the points, so you could tell our d-men were enjoying the extra time to move the puck and find different shooting lanes.

 

[major major]

I know this has been discussed like 500million times, but we need to keep Nikitin. He was subject to being the odd man out, and even scratched earlier in the year, and everyone assumed he would be traded or just walk as a UFA after this year. He seems to be a slow starter, but he is so stable and steady on the blueline. He deserves to stay, even if Erixon, Golo, etc are knocking on the door.

He had an excellent game. Good defence, set up Arty for the goal and rang one of the iron later on. We're spoiled that we have a guy on our third pair who we can put in any situation, powerplay, shutdown, you name it.

 

[Wendy Clear]

2 points. You can nit-pick many things here and there, but they won an effectively 4-point road game against a team we're directly competing with for a wildcard spot.

Onto tonight. Tough one but the Stars also played last night. Get a couple goals early and they might not have the legs to play catch-up.

 

[EspenK]

Add 4 pt games to my list of pet peeves. We won we are 2 pts closer. They lost we are two points closer. They win and we lose we're 2 pts further behind.

I think Jenner is fine where he is. Who else you going to put there? Foligno probably but then you screw up the Arty-Gabby line.

Good overall team D last night.

 

[pete goegan]

It's always interesting to see the team/game from the perspective of the opposition. Here's what the Toronto Globe and Mail had to say:

The Leafs lost their third consecutive game since the NHL resumed action after Sochi on Monday, this time doing so in a 2-1 dud against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that is one of a handful suddenly surging up behind them.

You could see why in Monday’s loss, too. One of only a few teams younger than the Leafs, the Jackets are fast and well coached and strong on the puck, breaking out surely and quickly of their own zone, hard through the neutral zone and then going hard to the net.

Ever since getting Nathan Horton back in January, they have also quietly become one of the league’s best teams, going 14-6-1 while dramatically improving their possession game.

There’s little fancy about what they do, but it’s the kind of hockey that works in the league these days, and in this game anyway, it was in very stark contrast to the mixed bag the Leafs were able to offer up.

“They play a very good team game,” Leafs defenceman Cody Franson said afterward. “They don’t give you much.”


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...hit-with-third-straight-loss/article17256771/

 

[EspenK]

Other than implying that the Jacket's improved play is due to Horton's arrival in the line-up, good article.

Thanks for posting.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Not encouraging, but at the same time Porty is just covering his @$$ by putting out two directly contradictory statements. If Murray's injury is minor than he got the quote from the coach, but if his "source" is right and Murray is out a while then everyone thinks Porty has inside knowledge.

I wish we could get a new beat writer.

Sooo....Aaron's supposed to just pick and report the statement he believes is most accurate? Or should he use his own medical expertise and provide his own medical assessment?

This.

A lot of fun has been had at Porty's expense for his "reporter" comment, but that's what he is. Beat writers are often called on for opinion, and like any, AP picks and chooses his spots.

While not totally satisfied with his work, you can't fault him for reporting information from two sources, even if it's contradictory. That's his job.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Other than implying that the Jacket's improved play is due to Horton's arrival in the line-up, good article.

Thanks for posting.

There is the implication in a number of Canadian media reports that the two are linked. While he' been underwhelming, he has had moments, and it's possible his insertion in the lineup has maximized the roles/talents/combination of other players. So there might be some effect, although it's obviously not as much a result of Horton's play as those oversimplified reports indicate. I did not know how fascinated the Canadian media was with Nathan Horton. Is it just because he's a player they think people have heard of?

 

[pete goegan]

There is the implication in a number of Canadian media reports that the two are linked. While he' been underwhelming, he has had moments, and it's possible his insertion in the lineup has maximized the roles/talents/combination of other players. So there might be some effect, although it's obviously not as much a result of Horton's play as those oversimplified reports indicate. I did not know how fascinated the Canadian media was with Nathan Horton. Is it just because he's a player they think people have heard of?

I agree with you and EK that Horton isn't the entire answer, but I think your proposal that his entry into the lineup helps others fit into their most useful role hold water. In fact, I think the same may be said of Gaborik, who is not having a tremendous impact, personally, but I think makes Nick and Artem more dangerous, as well as allowing RJ and Matt to make the third and fourth lines more effective.

As for the Canadian fascination with Horton, might it not have something to do with the Clarkson/Horton debate in free agency, last off-season? Those two were the most sought after players available and there was quite a bit of chatter regarding who got the best player. With the way Leafs fans enjoy self-flagellation and the rest of Canada enjoys their discomfort, crediting Horton with the Jackets resurgence may just fit into their general zeitgeist!

 

[Viqsi]

I know this has been discussed like 500million times, but we need to keep Nikitin. He was subject to being the odd man out, and even scratched earlier in the year, and everyone assumed he would be traded or just walk as a UFA after this year. He seems to be a slow starter, but he is so stable and steady on the blueline. He deserves to stay, even if Erixon, Golo, etc are knocking on the door.

Enh. I'm still willing to move him. I mean, yeah, when he's on, he's really on, but the gap between his best and his second-best is still freakin' huge.

 

[bizzz*]

Enh. I'm still willing to move him. I mean, yeah, when he's on, he's really on, but the gap between his best and his second-best is still freakin' huge.

And that says someone who had RJ Umberger as a favorite player. His gap is even bigger.
With injuries to Tyutin and Murray the Jackets gonna dress 4 right-handed d-men tonight, I don't get how can someone think that trading Nikitin now could be a good idea.

 

[ca5150]

Just got back in the States from the game. A few thoughts on Toronto.

• Great city, clean, no crime, no shady looking people on the subway.
• Entire city is under construction!
• Air Canada Centre isn't as nice as Nationwide, the lower concourse is kinda claustrophobic, it's not all open like Nationwide.
• Fans are very quiet most of the time at the game
• Fans were all great, even after the loss, polite, nice, were very interested in Columbus and us as fans for making the roadie
• Hung out with Boone Jenner's family at the bar and game, they were all really cool, he had about 10 people at the game. They saw us Jackets fans and flagged us down to come join them, very cool people.

Great experience and so happy we got a huge W!