GDT: Game 81: Columbus at Tampa Bay | 4/11 7:30PM EDT

[jackets4life]

I think Richards thought he would get a big effort from his team in front of Cmac.

I can also see this being Richards line of thought. And he did get that effort in my opinion, aside from the 6 straight PIMs in the 2nd period. Take those away and tonight is a much different story.

 

[FANonymous]

You crossed the line there.

I knew this was going to happen.

Kind of like how everyone knew we were going to lose this game when they heard McElhinney was starting?

If Bob needed the rest, then there's nothing that can be done about it. That being said, he had all of yesterday to rest and he's definitely not as mentally weak as some of the starting goaltenders we've had in the past. If someone were to say to Bob, "Hey, I know you've been working a lot for us and you're probably really tired, but we really need you in goal against Tampa," I have no reason to doubt that Bob could've been prepared for this game and I would have no problem with McE playing against Florida, regardless of the result against Tampa Bay.

The road was already hard enough, why make it harder by playing your second string goaltender against superior competition if you don't have to?

 

[ca5150]

I can also see this being Richards line of thought. And he did get that effort in my opinion, aside from the 6 straight PIMs in the 2nd period. Take those away and tonight is a much different story.

Yeah I'm not too mad with that effort, Philly couldn't get it done last night in Tampa either, they are a good team and they gave the same big effort for their goalie, making his NHL debut. He got a couple lucky bounces that Cmac didn't.

 

[Robert]

I can also see this being Richards line of thought. And he did get that effort in my opinion, aside from the 6 straight PIMs in the 2nd period. Take those away and tonight is a much different story.

Don't forget at least two crappy goals a Vezina goalie could have stopped...

 

[FANonymous]

Don't forget at least two crappy goals a Vezina goalie could have stopped...

Vezina doesn't count since it was in a shortened season!

 

[Robert]

Vezina doesn't count since it was in a shortened season!

I get that too.... nice work, and it's not even a strike year...

 

[EDM]

Richards' decision was bad coaching period. No excuses for it. Player decisions are one of Richards' greatest weaknesses.

 

[major major]

I was pretty impressed by the effort tonight. They could have taken it easy and it just seems like this team doesn't have a bit of lazy left in it. I don't mind the start for C-Mac, even though we would have won if we had the Bob of late in there.

If we lose tomorrow night I'm going to be pretty upset. Our chances against the Bruins are pretty meager. So tomorrow will be like a playoff game, in the sense that your chances of winning the series go up and down so much in a single game.

 

[Jyrki]

Our 6 on 5 basically sucked. Where were the swarming 6 guys in front of the net that we saw from Chicago or Phoenix? Even with 7 or 8 seconds left we were still getting too cute.

JJ and Wiz playing catch at the point:

#howtoscoreinthelastminute#watchandlearn

 

[cbj21]

Richards' decision was bad coaching period. No excuses for it. Player decisions are one of Richards' greatest weaknesses.

ORLY, based on what?

 

[db2011]

I've only read the last few pages but I have no problem at all with starting McElhinney tonight. That's why you have a backup. Bob has played an awful lot of games lately in a short period of time, and the last thing I want is for him to get burnt out for the playoffs.

The assumptions here are what get me. One, that we would have won with Bob in net. Yes it's more likely, but the arguments I've seen are insinuating that Richards lost the game before it started because of his choice in goal, which to me is poor analysis.

The other assumption is that management thinks like we on HF do, that a matchup with the Pens is so much worse than a matchup with the Rangers that it's worth risking the wholeness of the goalie. I assume they've had this discussion, too, and decided there are reasons to like a Pit matchup as much as an NYR matchup.

 

[SuperGenius]

Richards' decision was bad coaching period. No excuses for it. Player decisions are one of Richards' greatest weaknesses.

ORLY, based on what?

Based on the fact he made up his mind months ago about Richards.

 

[Columbus Mike]

I agree, that's the one thing we'll never know, if Bob needed the rest, then you had to start Cmac. But let's remember, Bob had a month off during his injury, and another month where he played 3 games for the Olympics and he just had 8 days off from the flu. So I don't think fatigue is an issue with him. I think Richards thought he would get a big effort from his team in front of Cmac.

So his month off in November means he was fresh now? Or his three games during two weeks in February?

McIlhenny gave up a couple of bad goals, and had we lost 5-4 I'd throw him under the bus. The reason we lost is because we only scored twice against a goalie making his first NHL start. Picking on the goalie and Richards is too easy.

 

[Jaxs]

Not that anything can be done now, but throw out the needed rest angle.

Bobrovsky was rested last night. In the morning, though, he put in an extra-long session of on-ice work at the Forum. He was soaked with sweat on his day off. That is his mentality, and it carries.http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com...12/tough-times-only-make-jackets-tougher.html

 

[JACKETfan]

The music in Tampa Bay sucks

True. But they have a big bandstand out front nearly every game that usually has a pretty good band. People arrive early to party. No snow of course.

Inside the arena they also have a huge organ very prominently displayed.

 

[EspenK]

Why is this game more important than the Florida game? What if we won tonight with Bob and lost to Florida with Curtis? Would that have helped us more than if we beat Florida with Bob now?

First things first. And had we won I think Bob should have started tonight also. After today he has at least 3 1/2 days of rest before the first round starts.

 

[EDM]

Okay, SuperGenius. Since you chose to insult me by saying I made up my mind about Richards "months ago", PROVE IT. Specify the posts that I made "months ago" that demonstrate I made my mind up about Richards back then. And it you can't do it, try making your posts substantive rather than frivolous attacks on others' positions.

 

[CBJx614]

Allowing Bob to not have to play the games in Florida allows him to solely focus on the playoffs, be it Boston, Pitt or NYR it allows him to not have to worry about tonight or the next day and allows him to push himself harder than he would if he had to prep for a game. It gives him a week to prepare for the playoffs.

 

[JacketFanInFL]

I haven't read through the thread yet, but wanted to share some thoughts.

Tampa has the best fan experience I've ever experienced. The music is always upbeat, they utilize their local celebrities, their production is always on point and entertaining, and their soldier salute every game is so touching. This isn't a knock on NWA, but it always feels like there's energy in there.

To the game. I was so impressed by our effort and forechecking. We dominated possession and had a lot of takeaways. We just fail on getting guys in front of the net and when we do, we shoot it into the first man's pads and it's blocked. Traffic must get there faster.

This Schultz guy is Charmin soft, I was not impressed at all with him.

Savard just needs to work on his coordination, but he's coming along nicely I must say.

McBackup just doesn't get it done for us. He doesn't control the puck very well and gave up quite a few rebounds.

The idiotic penalties have to stop. We were lucky to only get that stretch of 3, because it could have and should have been a lot more.

We have been the victim of so many heart breakers, I really had the feeling we'd pull that one out. Hats off to the Lightning.

 

[SuperGenius]

Okay, SuperGenius. Since you chose to insult me by saying I made up my mind about Richards "months ago", PROVE IT. Specify the posts that I made "months ago" that demonstrate I made my mind up about Richards back then. And it you can't do it, try making your posts substantive rather than frivolous attacks on others' positions.

It's not an insult, it's an observation of a fact. Other than a post saying he was your favorite CBJ coach over King, or being happy with how he was motivating them, you've been complaining about his decisions since early 2013.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/search.php?searchid=25431277&pp=25&page=2

Some highlights:
From 1-24-2013:

I know it is highly unlikely they would buy out RJ.

But I was astonished on opening nite to see an "A" on RJ's chest. I am undecided on Richards. But frankly, on my scorecard, Richards has one strike against him for his incredibly stupid decision to put an A on RJ's chest. After the horrible performance RJ turned in over the first 70 games last year, and after he chose not to PLAY hockey during the lock out, rewarding him with an A was not showing good judgment in my view.

From 2-7-2013:

Sorry but to me the obvious screw up was the idiot behind the bench. Tie game, two minutes left, you have a power play and you send out Umberger, Dubinsky and Foligno who have a combined ******* ZERO GOALS BETWEEN THEM. You leave Letestu (4 goals), Anisimov (4 goals), Prospal (3 goals) and Brassard (2 goals) on the bench ?????? With the friggin score tied? There is bad coaching and then there is sh** for brains. Richards set up for that PP falls into the later category. I have got to believe that from his box, JD was writing a note to himself "coach is *********** idiot". I am done with Richards. I have tried to stay sanguine about the results of the games this season and I will try to do so in the future. But while we are lacking in talent there is no reason to tolerate complete stupidity from the head coach. Umberger, Dubinsky and Foligno on the power play with the score tied with 2 minutes left? Just unbelievable.

From 2-9-2013:

One more pin in my Richards doll. Loved the comments in today 's paper that Richards is giving RG more ice time, despite his horrible play, so that he can get going. But he punished Brassard by benching him during the critical last two minute power play because Richards did not like the way Brass played in the third period. Yes, Richards, with the game on the line you give time to the guy who has sucked every game while you punish that guy who could have actually helped win the game in those last two minutes of regulation.

From a few days ago:

After this game I have joined the anti-Richards group. It is his job to prevent them from playing "prevent".

And by the way, Cam's goal is evidence of why you do not bench Cam. He and RyJo are the only two Jackets capable of making that shot.

And yes, Tropp made a big difference instead of RJ in this game. (gag me with a spoon).

I don't know what else to tell you. Sorry you're offended but it seems pretty clear to me.

 

[Nanabijou]

I'll also voice support for playing CMac last night. I would have done the same thing. That's a lot of games over a period of a week for any goalie. Bob will be ready to go for today and then will get another few days off to be ready for playoffs.

Wasn't his best game, but I find CMac gets supremely under-rated as a competent backup goalie around here.

 

[db2011]

Not that anything can be done now, but throw out the needed rest angle.

Bobrovsky was rested last night. In the morning, though, he put in an extra-long session of on-ice work at the Forum. He was soaked with sweat on his day off. That is his mentality, and it carries.http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com...12/tough-times-only-make-jackets-tougher.html

I love that mentality, but you can't base your opinions on what players say. Rich Peverly wanted back on the ice after nearly dying a few minutes prior.

You can't "throw out the needed-rest angle" because of what Michael Arace says.

 

[Jaxs]

I love that mentality, but you can't base your opinions on what players say. Rich Peverly wanted back on the ice after nearly dying a few minutes prior.

You can't "throw out the needed-rest angle" because of what Michael Arace says.

Take from it what you will. This has been kicked around enough.

 

[ca5150]

Not that anything can be done now, but throw out the needed rest angle.

Bobrovsky was rested last night. In the morning, though, he put in an extra-long session of on-ice work at the Forum. He was soaked with sweat on his day off. That is his mentality, and it carries.http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com...12/tough-times-only-make-jackets-tougher.html

Exactly, Bob is a machine, he doesn't need rest and fatigue isn't in his vocabulary. If they played Cmac because of fatigue, Bob would have taken the day off. Dude loves 'stop the puck'

 

[ca5150]

It's not an insult, it's an observation of a fact. Other than a post saying he was your favorite CBJ coach over King, or being happy with how he was motivating them, you've been complaining about his decisions since early 2013.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/search.php?searchid=25431277&pp=25&page=2

Some highlights:
From 1-24-2013:


From 2-7-2013:


From 2-9-2013:


From a few days ago:


I don't know what else to tell you. Sorry you're offended but it seems pretty clear to me.

That's great, love the work you put into this! ha