Easy come easy go

Whelp.... so much for that great 4 game win streak and super highlight reel goal by Nasher..

Just as we were all settling in really thinkin about the playoff picture the Jackets quickly find themselves losers of their past two road games and once again their inability to win on the road rears its ugly head.

Not sure about the rest of you all but after the Jackets went down by two goals I knew the game was over. Outside of the very rare occasion this team as its currently made up just cannot battle back from any kind of a deficit, especially on the road. It just seems to be in the makeup of this team that can't be fixed over night -- its an ongoing battle Hitchcock and Howson will have to address that will utlimately result in some pretty sizable player turnover.

Just not enough guys on this team give what it takes to win on the road in this league.

So on to the game:

Lit it up

The Avalanche. They are sure tought to beat at home and they showed us why last night? Down their 3 best offensive talents in Sakic, Smyth and Statsny the Avalanche made quick work of the Jackets exposing turnovers and their mobile defense showed us all why its vital to have defensemen who can move and skate puck and hit tape to tape passes.

Dim the light

Modin scored his first goal. He looked good next to Nash, at least in the second period.

Brassard is really starting to show us why we should all be excited that we may have finally drafted a legit top 6 center on this squad. He picked up his first career point and certainly looked much better than Peca next Nash and Modin.

Kris Russell, who has struggled of late, logged a lot of ice time (over 20+ minutes) and played perhaps one of his best games. Hitch really went to him in the 3rd to try to spark some offense.

PK was perfect again last night killing 4 of 4 penalties against.

Leclaire was okay. Made some big saves early but alas the Avalanche just wanted this game more.

Tollefsen fight was good. Better than him turning the puck over that's for sure.

Busted bulbs

2 goals in the past two games on the road? Not gonna cut it. Scoring has once again dried up like the desert.

Jason Chimera. Abosolutely brutal. Made two horrible turnover on the Avalanche goals. The first one was an intercepted pass that led to the Avalanche rush in which Finger eventually was a defelected shot through. The other a similar turnover that resulted in an odd man rush and dagger of a 3rd goal. The Jackets can NOT commit these kind of plays and expect to win on the road - especially when they aren't generating goals.

Fritsche, Vyborny, Malhotra, Glencross, Peca... ghosts last night because I didn't even see them.

Only won 43% of faceoffs. Typicallly faceoffs are a strength for this squad.

3 bright lights on the night

1. Derrick Brassard - notched his 1st career point and looked real good next to Nash and Modin in the 3rd
2. Fredrick Modin - got that first goal
3. Nash - not a great game, had a nice dish to Modin for the goal, some other scoring chances and was better than anything else related to the Jackets performance

Generally just a very uninspired performance by the whole team. This was a big opportunity to get two points in the standings against a team they are in direct competition for in terms of that 8th playoff position. Instead of a hard fought game we got one good 20 minute period. To little to late.

I know it was their 3rd game in 4 nights but if they want the playoffs that stuff can't matter -- they must find a way to win tough games like this on the road.

Jackets go back to Dallas on Tuesday. Its their final game of the year against the Stars who have taken all 3 games thus far against them.

I would fully expect this team to rebound with a much more inspired effort but Dallas is an experienced team who will be fully prepared.

-LTL