Jackets go 0-1-1 on the weekend

I've been away from a computer most of the weekend but I did get to catch both both games this weekend so I'll just combine both of my thoughts into one post.

Lets start with the Wings.

Really what more can you say other than "those guys are good - damn good". This biggest difference between the Jackets and the Wings is their superior puck moving defense - they just don't make mistakes, always jump up in the play and make quick tape to tape passes that just spring their forwards into the zone. The Jackets have a lot to do to really match up against this squad and its probably take some upgrades on the back end to make it happen -- either that or Nik Lindstom needs to retire asap.

There really isn't much to say regarding the game. Nash grabbed his team leading 11th goal on a 5 on 3 but after that the Jackets couldn't get anything going on special teams and Wings kept driving the net and banged in goal after goal. Leclaire didn't play bad he and the team just got beat by a better team.

Its not like the guys didn't try to play their game, they just couldn't catch the Wings as they just moved the puck to quickly. Hitch will have to go back to the drawing board to figure out how this Jackets team can at least make a game of it.

On to the Nasvhille game last night.

This was a much better effort by the boys last night. The first period was a mess as the team couldn't stay out of the box...well that and there were some very suspect calls by the refs. Really some of them were just flat out brutal.

The Jackets outshot the Preds 39-29 and really took over the game starting from the 2nd period on. Some players really stood out and I think the star of the night was Curtis Glencross. He was scheduled to be a healthy scratch and then Michael Peca went down with a groin problem and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as Glencross scored his first of the season and added a helper. That doesn't tell the whole story as he was really flying last night beating guys to pucks, hitting, making plays..you name it.

Also got to hand it to the team as a whole for not packing it in when they were down 3-1 in the 3rd. They kept at it and finally got rewarded with less than 5 minutes remaining and then quickly added another tally a few seconds later....and that's the difference between this team and previous editions....this team doesn not get rattled and is sticking to their system and staying in games to the final horn sounds.

How terrible was the camera work in Nasvhille last night? That disaster rivaled the terrible reffing and *that* is hard to do. Note to Nashville - stay away from the brews and live music until after the game.

From a Win/Loss perspective it wasn't a pretty weekend as the team only collected 1 point out of a possible 4 but there were positives to build from in the last game against Nashville that they should be able to build from as they look to take on Nasvhille again tomorrow at Nationwide.

So the team sits at 8-5-3...which is still 2nd best in the Central although Chicago (who is beating Detroit right now) sits only 1 point back while Nasvhille is only 2 out. Now it should be very apparent as to why its so critical to get off to a good start so that the team can absorb a losing streak without completely going into a tail spin. Now the key is to come out and put it to Nasvhille and make it a 4 point swing in the Central. That and we owe these guys as we haven't beaten them in 9 straight games.

Also a side note - looks like Kris Beech will be recalled from Syracuse to replace Michael Peca on the roster so still no NHL debut for Derick Brassard who is tied for the AHL lead in scoring with 5-15 for 20 in 16 games. Beech isn't playing that bad either as he's got 5-10 for 15 in 16 which puts him at 11th best in the AHL.

-LTL