Open post: Jackets @ Lightning

While I"m away please feel free to post your thoughts on this game in the comments below!

This game has the classic "let down" feeling surrounding it. The old Jackets would lose games like this to teams bleow them in the standings.

However these are the new Blue Jackets who don't look anything like those teams of old. They need take care of a Tampa with a solid hard working effort (you take short cuts you get beat) and get out of town with two big ones.

Chances are I won't be able to catch any live feeds of this game so I will look forward to reading your comments from my handy dandy iPhone.

GO JACKETS!

-LTL

More season previews

ESPN has their NHL season preivew up. Here are some snippets:

Question: Are the changes to the Blue Jackets' lineup enough to get them in the playoffs for the first time?

Answer: Sorry, but not quite. Howson has taken important steps to change the makeup of the team, but he still lacks a proven point producer on the back end and might not have the No. 1 center he needs to get maximum production from Nash. There is also a concern about the lack of secondary scoring. Close, but no cigar, in the ultracompetitive Western Conference.

There is a lot more in this preview and they, unlike many of the other previews we've read, actually most of their facts straight on the Jackets.

ESPN also makes their predictions for individual trophies, division, conference and cup champs. Not to worry, no Jackets to be found in any of these lists.

The hockey Buckeyes rolled over York 9-3 on Saturday in an exhibition match. Sophomore co-captain Zach Pelletier had a hat trick. Many Buckeye forwards attributed to the scoring including highly touted freshman Zac Dalpe who added a goal.

They'll play their first regular season game at home versus Miami this Friday. If you follow college hockey and would like to see what the latest is with the Miami Redhawks be sure to check out this blog as the auther does a fantastic job with it.

The Lightning owners contine to boost their fantasy team. They shipped their toughest d-man in Shane O'brien with winger Michel Ouelet to Vancouver for Lukas Krajicek and a minor league forward Juraj Simek. This as the Rangers took two games from the Lightning this past weekend in Europe.

Sounds pretty knee-jerk to me. O'Brien should make the Canucks top 6 that much tougher while Krajicek should help out the Lightning's owners yahoo fantasy league.

-LTL

Calm before the storm

Not much going on in the hockey world during this extended labor day weekend. Expect things to really start gearing up in the next week as players start funneling into town, coaches continue their preseason preparations and executives and staff members start crossing all the t's and dotting all the i's as season approaches.

There has been a little news floating around out there. By now most have heard of about the Jackets singing 2007 94th overall pick Russian right winger Maxim Mayorov to a 3 year entry level contract.

If you recall Howson sent three 4th round picks to move up and grab Mayorov in the 4th round. Most thought was a top 20 talent in that draft year but he slipped as NHL teams were scared off by the transfer agreement issue and questions about his willingness to come to NA.

..but now it certainly appears he will be staying in NA and Howson could come out of this one smelling like roses should the big Russian develop.

The question now is where does he play? Assistant GM Chris MacFarland had this to day:

Assistant general manager Chris MacFarland tells the Columbus Dispatch that they have not decided where the 18 year old will play this season, either with Brandon of the WHL or Syracuse of the AHL.

"That's a tough thing to ask of an 18-year-old," MacFarland explains of placing him in Syracuse. "We'll get a chance to see him in training camp and make the call."

The upside of a year in the WHL is that it will give Mayorov a chance to dominate against players his own age while adjusting to the North American game/lifestyle. His contract also won't kick for another year. The downside is that he would be unavailable to the Jackets until his junior season concluded.

The upside to Syracuse is that Mayorov could develop and adjust to NA game/lifestyle with other Russians Nikita Filatov and Andre Plekhanov and be available to the Jackets for recall. The downside is that the Jackets would burn a year of that contract on development as an 18 year old Mayorov would be playing against men in a much tougher league.

Getting my first look at Mayorov he certainly has the tools to be an NHL player. He has great size and skates very well for a big man. Like most young players he need to work on his play away from the puck but there is certainly a lot of talent and potential there.

I think the Jackets have an idea of where they'll put him next year but I do believe them when they say they really want to see where this kid's skill stacks up in camp and then make a decision.

Tampa continues its yahoo fantasy league offseason with their acquisition of Andrej Meszaros and now they've signed him to a whopping 6 year 24 million dollar deal. This move brings their cap hit to 54 million according to nhlnumbers.com. They currently have 8.75 million tied up in 6 defensemen and 30.417 million in 11 forward. Lecavalier alone will make about 1 million less than their entire defense next season.

For those that are into this sort of thing, CNNSI.com has a really good read about the potential of another lockout on the horizon. One word I have for both sides if they let it comes to that -- "idiots".

-LTL

Secondary scoring shows up, Jackets end 7 game home skid

1st period - Jackets outplayed but come of it with the lead 2-1

2nd period - Jackets outplay the Lightning but come out of the period tied 3-3

3rd period - Relatively even but powerplay finally comes through with a timely goal - Jackets win 5-2

It was certainly a strange game amongst two teams that have long shots at best to make the playoffs. I'm sure the team felt good about getting the following monkeys off their backs:

1. They finally won at home

2. They finally scored their first powerplay goal in 7 games

3. It was only their second regulation 5 goal game (Detroit on Feb 15th was the other) since Tuesday October 23rd!

Lit it up

Gosh, how about Rusty Klesla. He finished a +4, led team in minutes played with 25 (7+ of those shorthanded), 2 hits and 2 blocked shots. I'm tellin ya, the best thing that could have happened to Rusty was Foote doing what he did.

Lets not forget Hejda either. He finished a +3 with over 22 mins of ice time.

Secondary scoring. Whether it be b/c Tampa is in such disarray right now or b/c Mike Smith can't stick handle or just a little luck...the Jackets finally goals from someone not named Nash or Zherdev. MacKenzie, Vyborny, Peca, Chimera & Novotny. Peca and Novonty were in huge droughts so perhaps this game can jumpstart them a bit.

The guy in my section yelling at Smith to "set taser to suck".... classic..

Nash & Z. Both collected two assists a piece. I really like the way Nash was vocal to the refs after that non-high stick call. He's taking the reigns of this team folks.

Leadership. In fact I've noticed just a different presence on and off the ice from Nash, Klesla and Leclaire. I think these boys are realizing this is their team now -- its their time to lead it. Gives me goosebumps. Grab it and run with it fellas we are behind ya.

Faceoffs. Boys won 65% of em last night.

They also outhit the Lightning 21 to 14.

PK killed off all 6 PP including a double minor.

Congrats Derek MacKenzie on your first ever NHL goal!!! So that makes MacKenzie, Russell, Boll & Brassard as players who scored their first ever NHL goals this season. Am I leaving someone out? I'm pretty sure Glencross had one prior to Columbus.

Dim the light

Nice hustle by Fritsche to set up MacKenzie's goal.

Did not like the way the team gave up a 2 goal lead to Tampa but b/c they were able to rebound from it in the 3rd I won't lable it a "bust".

Poweplay with a goal! ..and a timely one at that -- whooo-hoo...

I just don't know what anyone sees in Ron Hainsey.... this guy cannot see the ice... just re-watch this game and concentrate on Dan Boyle -- that is what a powerplay QB is supposed to do. We need a temendous upgrade in that area over the summer. Please come to Cbus Brian Campbell - pretty please - we'll even overpay, give you a NTC and sell you Adam Foote's house!

Bad turnover by Russell on St. Louis goal... bad shift change that led to Lecavalier's goal between Hainsey and Klelsa... really they just got an unlucky bounce on that one..

Not much out of Lecavalier last night....dude is a lot bigger than I thought he was though....and Martin St. Louis can't be over 5'4" - the ice girls were taller than this guy.

Aaron Rome. I wanted to give this guy some props as well. Rome has been playing really solid. A friend of mine pointed something out about his game, he is extremely good at clearing out lanes to allow Leclaire to see shots. Rome finished a -1 but logged over 16 minutes of ice time including 5+ of PK time. For only his 6th ever NHL game this guy is a making a nice case for himself out there. Will be interesting to see what happens with him this offseason.

Busted bulbs

This team has got to learn how to play with a lead. Its like no matter what they have to make it a one goal game. Need to learn to finish off teams. All part of the growing process - at least that what I tell myself.

6 penalties. They got it away with it last night against the 7th best PP but that's not gonna happen most nights.

Refs. Boll for goalie interference when he didn't even touch him... Nash with a stick to the chops right in front of the ref yet nothing...

3 bright lights on the night

1. Rusty Klesla - anytime your a +4 you've had a damn good night

2. Derek MacKenzie - 1st NHL goal

3. Goalie snow sculpture in front of RBar - was a thing of beauty, will have pictures up over the next day

Really not the prettiest of wins for the Jackets but you know, they've played lights out a lot of games this year and have come up empty handed so I'll take the 2 points and move forward. Hopefully this is just the kind of kick in the pants the Jackets needed to get themsevles going at home although they must know if they play like they did last night against the good teams in the league, those games won't translate to points.

The Jackets now sit with 73 points, tied with Phoenix and Chicago, 5 points out of the nearest playoff spot. The problem is that both Phoneix & Chicago have played one less game and the team they are chasing, Vancouver, has played 2 less games.

The Jackets next game is Friday so since we can't watch the Jackets its time to start rooting for Phoenix, Vancouver, Calgary, Nashville, Chicago and Colorado (a given right? BTW did you see both Foote and Forsberg are injured - karma!) to loose and no 3 point games damn it!!

-LTL

Lightning strikes Doug MacLean again - deal to buy Tampa reportedly dead

Just read this here:

The deal Absolute Hockey Enterprises was hoping to put together to buy the Lightning from Palace Sports & Entertainment apparently is dead. Palace Sports nixed the purchase agreement when Absolute Hockey did not come up with a required $5-million payment. Now the investment group has splintered as Coral Springs real estate developer Jeff Sherrin is suing Hollywood producer Oren Koules for allegedly failing on Nov. 13 to make a capital contribution of $4.16-million. Sherrin is asking $50-million in damages. The suit was filed in the 13th judicial circuit in Hillsborough County. The other known members of the investment group are Mark Burg, Koules’ business partner, former Blue Jackets president Doug MacLean and Tampa attorney Steve Burton.

Tampa fans should consider this a blessing in disguise as anybody who opens their eyes can attest to that the Blue Jackets organization is and has been MUCH better without the loud spoken former GM and President involved.

-LTL