GDT: Game 68: Columbus vs. Carolina | 3/18 7PM EDT

[Jaxs]

Cool.............................................................


What we see: 14 years of building with no success to speak of, and only 1 playoff appearance with no wins. The fanbase is anxious for this run, and they demand the playoffs because after years and years of futility, we finally have fielded a team that could compete.

What JD/JK see: A year and some change into the building process. They have only been here that long, and came to a team expected to pick high in the draft and start from the bottom up and restart the foundation. Turns out, they were left with a better foundation then once thought, but building still needed to be done. So, they let the team play and they got hot. So they wanted to help out the streak by not only acquiring Gaborik for the stretch run, a player they could have seen help them long term and short term, while also getting rid of players they felt didn't fit in or didn't seei n their future plans. It was worth the risk.

Anyway bringing it to this year. They brought in Horton, a guy to help them build long term who has a past history of winning and is good in the room. We had the slow start, but played their way out of their inconsistency and youth to get in the race. Now the TDD comes, and they're basically in the same spot as last year. They want to help the team, but without sacrificing the future. So they dealt Gaborik away for a spare part who could play in case of injury, and draft picks for cap space to use later. They didn't want to absolutely take the team out of the race, because the goal is still the playoffs while maintaining the parts they have and building together, so they got Schultz to stabilize the back end due to the injuries.

Long story short, they want the playoffs, but they weren't going to sacrifice next year for it. They don't just want IN the playoffs, they want to make noise there. I know the old saying is once you get in you're dangerous, but seriously, this team MIGHT win a playoff round, but thats probably all the current group can do. They can be great, but they're not going to force or speed up the process in order to do it.

What they did is not the popular opinion of fans right now, but it was the best move for the future of the team. Fans demand success now due to the horrible past of the team and the failure they had, but JD/JK aren't going to speed up their building to make it up to the fans because of the previous management team failures. They will do it on their own time, because that's how to do it right.

Well said. I agree with your assessment. What many here were wanting for Jarmo to acquire, Vanek/Moulson/Edler/Ehrhoff, would have created a bigger void than what it would have filled. JK/JD thought the prices were too high and weren't going to jeopardize what this team has going for it now (some don't like what it has going for it) or trade high end talent like Wennberg, or 1st round picks, or players on the roster who may or may not be core players.

 

[jackets4life]

Looks like that's what it will take, too, since Richards was asked, probably by Lori Schmidt, about putting him back in and the coach said he was very happy with the way Comeau played. I was not.

There was no hesitation in that response. Sure he had his normal physical presence, but I really don't like to see dirty players playing for our team, and that's what it looks like he's becoming, that hit last night was again borderline at best. Richards said he liked the overall team game last night, sometimes the shots just won't go in. If I was Lori Schmidt I would have asked the follow up question: "But do you think having Cam Atkinson in the lineup would have helped you bury more than one of those 47?" That's what Richards has to ask himself, and apparently the answer is no, confusingly enough.

 

[blahblah]

Depends on the team we are playing. It we won 1-0 against a good team than I would be satisfied. But if we only won 1-0 against a hapless team like Buffalo or Carolina than I would be concern.
You may be right and I be completely wrong on this issue. But I'm nervous right now.

The fact that you are including Carolina and Buffalo in the same sentence proves you are not looking at this objectively. Carolina is a much better team and not that much worse than we are. They match up well against us. I'm nervous ever time we play them. On to the bolded; you it would appear that you are letting your fears color what actually happened on the ice last last.

Understandable. However teams do lose to teams beneath them in the standings at this time of the year.

Give Carolina credit for manning up in front of their goal tender. We didn't get to many second chances and they blocked a hell of a lot of shots. They were also fairly disiplined; even though we should have had another couple of PP's.

Bob let us down last night; but he does that every now and then. Richards should be able to tell when he has an off-night now and pull him quicker. I know Bob won't like it; but he was off last night. He should have been out after before that 3rd goal went in.

I didn't see a lazy team, I saw a frustrated team who was up against a hot goalie and who had ZERO puck luck. I really didn't have a problem with the way they played tonight, much like Coach Richards. In fact, I wouldn't be disappointed if they play that same game in MTL. a different result would be nice, but there shouldn't really be any changes made unless Comeau is suspended again.

Ding, ding. Had that feeling all night that if you get one that the flood gates would open. I've seen this team do it before. Carolina didn't get a shot on goal for like half the game. We dominated them for 2 periods. They had some flow in the 1st half of the second; but other than that they really didn't do anything.

One of those posts goes in earlier or RJ's puck goes six inches to the right and this could very well have been a different result. We had their goal tender beat half a dozen times, at least. We just couldn't finish.

Joey 1 shot, Horton 2, Arty 2, Foligno 2. Lots of shots but the top guns sure weren't firing. When Wiz, JJ, Calvert, Comeau, et al are leading the shot parade I don't believe that is good for the Jackets. Umby, Dubi & Jenner did combine for 11 but that still leaves 29 from the D & 3rd & 4th lines.

5 - 1 goal games out of the last 6. That is not going to get us into the playoffs much less win any playoff games.

It's actually 4 of the last 6. You probably flipped the 4-1 win we had against Detroit.

Keep in mind that Johansen hit the post; a couple inches lower and we're in the game. 2 or 3 shots a game, for those you listed, is on average. I'm not concerned about it. Foligno barely takes 1.5 shots on goal to begin with. AA doesn't even average 2 a game. Close but not quite. Johansen seemed to be more in play-maker mode. Not sure I'm upset about that. I don't think Johansen had many good looks that he didn't take.

I'm hoping that Horton can get his game going before next season. He's not quite right. I don't think he's bad; but we obviously could use more from him.

We are obviously in a scoring rut right now. We're working through it.

 

[EDM]

The failure to use a gifted offensive talent like Atkinson speaks to Richards' ultimate failure. His knew found fascination with "physical" untalented players is a real problem.

 

[Viqsi]

Hey I'm telling it like it is.

Translation: "I'm depressed and have decided that all of the doom and gloom at the back of my mind actually represents reality, and so I'm trying to impose it on everyone else so they understand the same way that I now understand."

Concluding failure because that's the past trend independent of actual on-ice observation is not a good way to be taken seriously.

Anyway:
Think we can win against the Canadians Thursday night playing like we played tonight. Last time I check the Canadians are a far superior team than the Hurricanes.

Yes. Easily. Because we actually played very well (with the notable exception of a few dumb penalties) and simply didn't get the bounces while they did. This sort of thing happens; we've been on the receiving end of that kind of good fortune as well this year and others.

 

[Viqsi]

The Jackets will need to play better than they did tonight Aspie... Many are using our 46 shots tonight as a reason to say the Cane win was a freak of nature... I say we did not play hard enough to win.... lazy...

For ****'s sake. I didn't even know the shot total, but I was actually watching the game, and I say we played exceptionally well. We outchanced them at every opportunity, dominated possession, and hardly ever had the puck in our own zone outside of penalty kills. How the hell is that not "playing hard enough"?

**** happens sometimes. We've seen it happen to our opponents; why would we be immune?

* * *​

Cool.............................................................


What we see: 14 years of building with no success to speak of, and only 1 playoff appearance with no wins. The fanbase is anxious for this run, and they demand the playoffs because after years and years of futility, we finally have fielded a team that could compete.

What JD/JK see: A year and some change into the building process. They have only been here that long, and came to a team expected to pick high in the draft and start from the bottom up and restart the foundation. Turns out, they were left with a better foundation then once thought, but building still needed to be done. So, they let the team play and they got hot. So they wanted to help out the streak by not only acquiring Gaborik for the stretch run, a player they could have seen help them long term and short term, while also getting rid of players they felt didn't fit in or didn't seei n their future plans. It was worth the risk.

Anyway bringing it to this year. They brought in Horton, a guy to help them build long term who has a past history of winning and is good in the room. We had the slow start, but played their way out of their inconsistency and youth to get in the race. Now the TDD comes, and they're basically in the same spot as last year. They want to help the team, but without sacrificing the future. So they dealt Gaborik away for a spare part who could play in case of injury, and draft picks for cap space to use later. They didn't want to absolutely take the team out of the race, because the goal is still the playoffs while maintaining the parts they have and building together, so they got Schultz to stabilize the back end due to the injuries.

Long story short, they want the playoffs, but they weren't going to sacrifice next year for it. They don't just want IN the playoffs, they want to make noise there. I know the old saying is once you get in you're dangerous, but seriously, this team MIGHT win a playoff round, but thats probably all the current group can do. They can be great, but they're not going to force or speed up the process in order to do it.

What they did is not the popular opinion of fans right now, but it was the best move for the future of the team. Fans demand success now due to the horrible past of the team and the failure they had, but JD/JK aren't going to speed up their building to make it up to the fans because of the previous management team failures. They will do it on their own time, because that's how to do it right.

You get a cookie.

 

[Nordique]

The failure to use a gifted offensive talent like Atkinson speaks to Richards' ultimate failure. His knew found fascination with "physical" untalented players is a real problem.

Those gifts haven't been on display much since the New Year and pretty much have been MIA since the Olympic break.

Cam needs to find consistency in his game, ways to find space and get that shot off more regularly.

I have no problem with the scratching, but I do hope we see him back in the line up and contributing by the playoffs.

 

[blahblah]

The failure to use a gifted offensive talent like Atkinson speaks to Richards' ultimate failure. His knew found fascination with "physical" untalented players is a real problem.

It can be questioned; but your conclusion(s) could be way off base.

I'm not a fan of how Richards buries some of the young guys; but I don't have the whole story. Is he a bully or is he seeing something that we don't or can't?

This has probably to do more with Cam than a "fascination" with physical "untalented" players.

Is this an Arniel with Commie type of thing? (Irrational) Or is this just a Cam isn't doing the right things or the game is a bit too rich for Cam right now and Richards is trying to ice the most competitive team possible?

All I know is that I think it's a bit overblown and a red herring. Cam wasn't playing well for a while. He wasn't the only one. We *****ed and complain all the time about Richards needing to bench someone. He does it and we go all nuts.

Sounds, partially, like desperation from the fan base because we're struggling to score. Cam isn't a savior and the Pens losing Neal and Kunitz impacts them more than us scratching Cam. Let's keep it in perspective. Scratching Cam shouldn't be that big of an impact.

I don't like how long this is going on, however. Cam and Richards should have their thing worked out by now.

 

[Viqsi]

The failure to use a gifted offensive talent like Atkinson speaks to Richards' ultimate failure. His knew found fascination with "physical" untalented players is a real problem.

Again: he did the same thing with Johansen when Johansen was dogging it, and Johansen's more or less fine nowadays. Atkinson should be able to turn it around soon. He just hasn't been the same guy we fell in love with before (and even from earlier this season). It's fixable.

The way Atkinson's played of late, I seriously doubt he would have scored. Heck, maybe this could be used as some sort of motivation for him: "The team could have used someone with your skill, but you're not applying yourself, and therefore we took a loss. Shape up, kid."

 

[Hipster Letestu]

The failure to use a gifted offensive talent like Atkinson speaks to Richards' ultimate failure. His knew found fascination with "physical" untalented players is a real problem.

I completely agree. I don't think this team is anywhere near good enough to have the luxury of scratching a 20 goal scorer.

 

[jackets4life]

Cam needs to find consistency in his game, ways to find space and get that shot off more regularly.

You can't find consistency in your game if you're sitting in the press box. You just can't. Now I've had mixed feelings about the scratching, going into last night I was supportive of it, but at some point you have to let the kid play through this and allow him to get back to form. We need guys who can finish chances, and to see Cam sitting up there when we only convert one shot out of 47 is so frustrating.

If there's something to get past between the coaches and him, I wish they'd just settle it and move on. Like others have said, the one goal outputs are becoming tiresome in a hurry. If only there was a player with 20 NHL goals this season in our system somewhere.

 

[Jaxs]

In reference to Richard's post game presser, he liked Tropp's play, he liked Comeau's play and said he'd have to think about Cam going back in the lineup per Lori Scmidt's question. He liked the fact that the team generated 47 on net with 79 attempts. http://video.bluejackets.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=1330&id=580546&lang=en&navid=DL|CBJ|home

 

[Cash for Nash]

Again: he did the same thing with Johansen when Johansen was dogging it, and Johansen's more or less fine nowadays. Atkinson should be able to turn it around soon. He just hasn't been the same guy we fell in love with before (and even from earlier this season). It's fixable.

The way Atkinson's played of late, I seriously doubt he would have scored. Heck, maybe this could be used as some sort of motivation for him: "The team could have used someone with your skill, but you're not applying yourself, and therefore we took a loss. Shape up, kid."

Not the same thing at all. I don't think this Atkinson deal is an attitude deal (let's send a young player a message). Honestly he's not THAT YOUNG (25 in June).

I think there are size limitations that Richards is concerned about as the games get more physical and defensive minded. And that is his dilemna.

 

[pete goegan]

There are small guys who succeed in the league - St. Louis, most notably, and last night's first goal scorer, Gerbe, for example - so size is not a complete disqualification for Cam. Clearly, though, there is something being asked of him that he's not satisfactorily providing. He's never going to rock guys like Tropp or Comeau, but he has to be pesky, aggressive, and dangerous, more like Calvert and MacKenzie. As I've said, I much prefer him to Comeau, but I see why Richards may not agree. I expect him back in the lineup Thursday, either because the Habs are small and fast or because Comeau is suspended, and I hope he plays well enough to keep the spot permanently. If he can become what Richards wants and consistently can contribute 25-30 goals, that makes one less hole for Jarmo to fill in the off-season.

Now I see that Boll is back, so that gives one more banger on the roster to play ahead of Cam. That would disappoint me, greatly.

 

[major major]

It can be questioned; but your conclusion(s) could be way off base.

I'm not a fan of how Richards buries some of the young guys; but I don't have the whole story. Is he a bully or is he seeing something that we don't or can't?

This has probably to do more with Cam than a "fascination" with physical "untalented" players.

Is this an Arniel with Commie type of thing? (Irrational) Or is this just a Cam isn't doing the right things or the game is a bit too rich for Cam right now and Richards is trying to ice the most competitive team possible?

All I know is that I think it's a bit overblown and a red herring. Cam wasn't playing well for a while. He wasn't the only one. We *****ed and complain all the time about Richards needing to bench someone. He does it and we go all nuts.

Sounds, partially, like desperation from the fan base because we're struggling to score. Cam isn't a savior and the Pens losing Neal and Kunitz impacts them more than us scratching Cam. Let's keep it in perspective. Scratching Cam shouldn't be that big of an impact.

I don't like how long this is going on, however. Cam and Richards should have their thing worked out by now.

Cam needed a wake up call so I was glad he was scratched, but keeping him benched I think hurts him more than it helps. The impact on the team might not be all that big in the short run because he's not playing well, but its not good for Cam and that's not good for us in the long run.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

My thoughts:

Controlled the entire 1st period. With the exception of one breakdown and Bob allowing a goal on the only shot he faced for probably 15 minutes, the team just couldn't get anything to go in.

I thought the got undisciplined in the 2nd and allowed Carolina to take control of the game. Would have been 4-0 if one goal had not been waived off for offsides but the definitely allowed Carolina back in the game and to take control of it.

I did not stay to watch the 3rd period. It sounds like Carolina went into the prevent defense and they still couldn't score. To me it doesn't matter if Cam is in the lineup or not. it doesn't matter who is shooting when the goalie stops everything you throw at him.

They may have controlled 40+ minutes of the game but they lost it because of the undisciplined play of the 2nd period.

 

[Fro]

one line to wrap up last night "too many offensive zone penalties"

 

[hockey17jp]

Johnson and Wisniewski had more giveaways than the T-shirt cannon last night.

 

[Fro]

Shawn Mitchell ‏@smitchcd 2m
Doubtful #CBJ will deviate from last night's lineup on Thu. vs #Habs Richards: "The guys that were in, to a man, were pretty good."

 

[blahblah]

My thoughts:

Controlled the entire 1st period. With the exception of one breakdown and Bob allowing a goal on the only shot he faced for probably 15 minutes, the team just couldn't get anything to go in.

I thought the got undisciplined in the 2nd and allowed Carolina to take control of the game. Would have been 4-0 if one goal had not been waived off for offsides but the definitely allowed Carolina back in the game and to take control of it.

I did not stay to watch the 3rd period. It sounds like Carolina went into the prevent defense and they still couldn't score. To me it doesn't matter if Cam is in the lineup or not. it doesn't matter who is shooting when the goalie stops everything you throw at him.

They may have controlled 40+ minutes of the game but they lost it because of the undisciplined play of the 2nd period.

Meh, I don't think the Cane's controlled anything in the second. We just go into move of a wide open game. It should have still been 1-0 after the second and we could have easily scored a goal or two. Bob gave up a couple of weak goals.

The reason it looked a bit like that in the second is we took those three penalties and they got some momentum off of that.

Carolina didn't play much different in the 3rd. They were playing that way the whole night. They couldn't really stop us from playing in their zone most of the night. They just layered it up in front of their goal tender, shut down most of the passing and shooting lanes, and got to most of the loose pucks.

Carolina generated almost no forecheck the whole night. That had an early odd-man, a pretty weak PP goal, and a good shot with a poor save attempt by Bob on the rush for the 3rd goal. Bob did make 2 or 3 good saves on one good forecheck that Carolina had in the 1st or 2nd (I think it was toward the end of the first); but other than that I can't think of many other real chances they had the whole night.

 

[EDM]

At the time was Cam was benched, he was second on the team in goal scoring, well on his way to 25+ goals. Ridiculous no matter how you look at it. There was a time everyone was screaming for Anisimov to benched because he was "cold". But they continued to play him and he broke out of it. The idea to bench a young guy with Cam's skill set in favor of Tropp is ridiculous. You play a young guy like Cam and ride him out when he is struggling because you know that when he gets it going again, he is going to give you some big goals.

 

[EDM]

The idea that Richards needed to bench "someone" is not something that I can take seriously.

 

[blahblah]

At the time was Cam was benched, he was second on the team in goal scoring, well on his way to 25+ goals. Ridiculous no matter how you look at it. There was a time everyone was screaming for Anisimov to benched because he was "cold". But they continued to play him and he broke out of it. The idea to bench a young guy with Cam's skill set in favor of Tropp is ridiculous. You play a young guy like Cam and ride him out when he is struggling because you know that when he gets it going again, he is going to give you some big goals.

Have anything new to add that hasn't been said already by half a dozen others?

To clarify, just me however. I never said Cam should be scratched and certainly not for being "cold". I said Cam is bit one dimensional and if he's not good enough is his own end to justify his existence if he's not producing. His play before he got scratched wasn't very good. He was a bit of a liability. To be honest that whole line was a liability (Dubinsky included).

I'm not agreeing with Richards; I'm stating it's not as clear cut as the picture you and others are painting. I don't care who's in the lineup as long as we make the post season.

 

[IHeartZherdev*]

Aaron Portzline ‏@Aportzline 2h

RT @ohiotom: @Aportzline Could Horton be a candidate for a game off? Seems invisible, maybe hit a wall. / Can't find touch in press box.


Horton gets to play through his slump and re-find his touch because he's Jarmo and JD's guy and has a big contract.

Cam is a Howson guy who dared to be friends with Gabby, hence he doesn't get to play through it and find his touch.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Aaron Portzline ‏@Aportzline 2h

RT @ohiotom: @Aportzline Could Horton be a candidate for a game off? Seems invisible, maybe hit a wall. / Can't find touch in press box.


Horton gets to play through his slump and re-find his touch because he's Jarmo and JD's guy and has a big contract.

Cam is a Howson guy who dared to be friends with Gabby, hence he doesn't get to play through it and find his touch.

Perhaps you should ask Portzline to explain this apparent dual standard.