The Blue Jackets are marching…

It’s time for the Blue Jackets to start the march to the playoffs. By all accounts it’s going to take 92 points to make the playoffs in the Western Conference this season. Can the Jackets go 20-12-3 for 92 points? The next 10 of 13 games are in the friendly confines of Nationwide Arena. Do they have the fortitude to show the conference, and hence the league, that they should be taken seriously? This is the time of the season that, as the saying goes “the men are separated from the boys”. There will be hiccups along the way. There always are. But the attitude of this years’ team is miles away from where their attitude was a year ago.

The Blue Jackets march down Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C.

Let’s take a look at the next three games; at home versus Detroit, Ottawa and Dallas.

The Red Wings, 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, are coming off a loss to Phoenix and are hungry after the All Star break. They will take the ice minus the services of Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom, who are serving as of now the “suspension” mandated by the league for skipping the All Star weekend in Montreal. Chris Osgood is starting in goal with one of the leagues’ worst GAA and Save% for a starter. This is a game the Blue Jackets should be able to get the win as long as they stay out of the sin bin. Mason in goal for the CBJ Tuesday.

The Senators, 4-4-2 in their last 10 games, downed the Washington Capitals 3-2 prior to the break. They are 12 points out of a playoff spot and you just know they want the win against a Western Conference team. The Blue Jackets are 7-2-1 against Eastern Conference teams this year and hope to extend that record on Friday. Their top line of Heatly, Spezza and Alfredsson are potent. This is offset with Huselius, Malhotra and Nash for the Jackets. RJ Umberger has played and scored very well against Eastern teams since coming to Columbus. Alex Auld (9-11-5) in goal for the Senators and Mason (17-11-2) in goal for the jackets.

The Stars, 5-3-2 in their last 10 games, are coming out of the break with a win over the Florida Panthers 4-1. The Blue Jackets are looking for the win if, for no other reason, than to beat Ken Hitchcock’s former team. The Stars have had a rough first half to the season and I’m sure they’re looking to this game as a must win. Marty Turco (19-16-7) looks to get the start for Dallas. This being the second game of back-to-back games, look for Wade Dubielewicz; acquired off waivers from the NY Islanders prior to the break, to get the start in goal. If he can do for the Blue Jackets what he did for the Isles last season, he should be a good addition to the team.

The trade for Jason Williams has already proved profitable to the Jackets with 4 points in 4 games for a +3. He has also shown that he has the “one-timer”; something that was sorely lacking on the power play thus far. With players getting healthy and making their return to the line-up, look for the play to be elevated even higher. Jason Chimeras speed has been missed while he was on IR. He makes his return Tuesday against The Red Wings.

The Bottom line is this. “Hitch Hockey” is the rule of law for this team. It’s been proven to work and the guys have bought into the system. By the way, so have the fans. So clap your hands and bang your drums. It’s time to start marching towards what we’ve never seen in Columbus… a playoff run.

Rick Gethin

Posted by Rick Gethin on Jan 27 2009. Filed under Central, Columbus Blue Jackets, Western Conference. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.