Now that my fellow fans was intense playoff hockey!!
With the way this series has gone we all needed that didn't we?!
Not sure about the rest of ya but that is all anybody is talking about today at my work. I've got non-hockey fan friends calling me and saying "dude... I listened to the entire game on the radio and that was one of the craziest and best sporting experiences I have ever had".... "if every hockey game was like that I'd be the world's biggest hockey fan".. that was just from the radio mind you.
My co-worker who was at the game with me had a family member from Cleveland call him, mind you once again a non-hockey fan, and say "what in the hell is goin on in there??"... they just couldn't believe how crazy that atmosphere was and that came through from the TV broadcast.
Yeah it sucks we lost, but I really believe that game did more for hockey in this market than probably every other game this season combined....heck from the past 5 seasons combined. I really get the sense that the casual fans who tuned in were like "holy sh**!.... that was awesome!!"... and will be back for more.
This franchise just took a couple of gigantic steps this season... not just in terms of on ice play but in winning over a lot new fans and regaining the trust of existing ones in the process.
Of course with winning comes higher expectations which believe me I'll be exploring on this blog many times over the summer.
Bottom line is they need to build off it and make sure there is no regression.
Okay so on to the final stoplight game review of the historic 2008-2009 Blue Jackets season.
STOPLIGHT GAME REVIEW
GREEN
* 3-1 game over right? 5-3 game over right? Not for this resilient bunch who gave everything they had to try to prolong this series... As a fan I couldn't be prouder than to see the way this team competed and battled under difficult circumstances.
* The crowd... ohhhh the wonderful wonderful crowd! You guys/gals absolutely blew the roof off that house!
* Absolutely loved the playoff intensity.. everybody standing in the 3rd period... that's what it's all about baby!
* I wanted to give props to a fan named Tyler who drove in some 7 hours for the games from Iowa and to Dan from Missouri who was an original season ticket holder who moved away 5 years ago but made a promise to come back for the playoffs when they made it.
* Once again I loved both Klesla and Voracek... I just can't get over how much these two raised their games in the 2nd season. Klesla with 23+ min and a beautiful assist to Nasher but it was his touch defensive play that really impressed me. Voracek had great jump and was really strong on the puck.... he also had a team high 6 shots... Really it's a shame he only ended up with an assist for the 4 games as he played really well.
* Derek Dorsett.. I don't think he has to worry about a job next season. This dude made an impact every time he was on the ice.. he had a team high 6 hits in just 10 minutes of play and was just nasty to play against.
* Nasher had a real strong first 40 but kind of faded in the last 20... still a strong game.. was great to see him get that first playoff goal... I would like to see him get a little chippier against guys like Zetterberg but damn did he ever lay out Stuart in the Wings zone... POW..! what a hit that ultimately led to a goal.
* The Jackets were much more physical last night.. for whatever reason guys finally decided to match the Wings physically and to do so meant guys who normally don't hit like Modin and Huselius actually taking the body and being strong on the puck...
* The R Bar and entire arena district were just absolutely jumping before the game. The "beer garden" and live band have been fantastic... and how about the dude in the white posing as a hockey player?
* No octopi on the ice! A story I hadn't seen covered is that indeed a Wing fan in section 113 tried to toss one but was swarmed by 4 Jackets fans (neither of which knew each other)... the dead tissue never had a chance. Wayto protect our ice Tim S. and company! .... and Tim sign me up for one of those Eel patrol shirts!
* Congrats to Russ for his first ever goal... I gotta admit though I thought for sure he was gonna pass!
* What else can you say about Umberger? This dude just understands what it takes to be successful in the playoffs. He led all Jackets with 3 playoff goals.... The great part about RJ is that he is just now hitting his prime.
* Two for two on the powerplay? Did I seriously just write that? Was great to see the PP contribute to this game.
* Congrats to Juice on his first ever playoff goal.. only took him 20 games but he finally got it. Juice was much better last night but really needs to work on stepping up his competitive level in the playoffs... his skill game will get him by in the regular season but he's got to get stronger on that puck in the post season.
* I give the Wings full credit. They were certainly the better team and deserved to win this series.
* Timmy.. a Columbus fan... taking off his Jackets jersey and giving it to the owner of the Anchor Bar (Von) who made his first visit to Columbus to watch the Wings/Jackets playoff game.
YELLOW
* Not sure what it is but those pucks seem to be magnified to anything in red. It just seems like when ever there is a contested puck or bounce a Wing always came out with it.
* What was with all those broken and dropped sticks in the first period?
* I hate to write anything bad about Mase since without him we aren't even in the playoffs but I thought once again he was average... Nobody will ever admit it but I think he's exhausted and his game to me just hasn't been quite the same since the death threat. I hope he takes a good month off to recharge as the one thing this squad must avoid next year is the dreaded "sophomore slump". Howson must get him a capable backup this offseason.
* Still way to many of those "pinned in" sequences for the Jackets where the Wings just played keep away... they weren't as often as the first 3 games but still very apparent.
RED
* It sure would have been nice to pull one out.
* "The call". The problem I have is not with the call itself... technically it was a penalty... the problem that I have is that when you decide to put the whistle away for an entire period you can't just break it back out and claim "obvious call" with a minute to play and expect everyone to be cool and the gang with it.... Not with all the crap that was let go... Not when the play was not going to result in an advantage for the offending team.. Not when the guys in orange stripes weren't even gonna call it. Heck even the Wings fans I talked to said it shouldn't have been called.... nothing we can do about it now but what a missed opportunity to let the guys on the ice decide that game.
* I personally didn't throw anything on the ice but I'm also not going to be a hypocrite and say I've always made the best decisions "in the moment" either. I'm not really sure how I feel about it to be honest.. I know it's not the right thing to do but at the same time I understood it.
* 6 straight regulation losses to end the season...
* We now join Atlanta with the dubious distinction as the only two NHL teams never to have won a playoff game.
* Just when I thought game ops was getting it's act together they throw out that rediculous Bon Jovi sing-a-long segment... I'll actually apologize to the Wings fans who made the trip for having to sit through that crap.
3 BRIGHT LIGHTS ON THE NIGHT
* Team fights til the end
* That truly was a FANtastic finale!
* 86 games sure is better than 82!
I think this team finally adjusted to the pace and price that it takes to pay to be competitive in the playoffs. It started in the 3rd period of the 3rd game and carried over to last night's game.
That is the learning curve that everyone talks about and it can't be substituted.. players must go through it to understand it. Next year when they make the playoffs again I think we are going to see a much different squad from the get go.
That said there is still plenty of work to do to for Howson and co. this offseason to this roster to help take the next steps. I'll cover every step along the way on this blog.
I gotta admit I'm a little depressed today knowing it's all over. Always next year right? Right around the corner though is Steve Mason winning the Calder and then time to focus on the draft which I believe we'll be picking 16th overall (that kinda sounds weird eh?).
For now though it was a helluva ride Jackets fans. Not many folks expected us to make the playoffs this season yet here we are. I'll have a recap about the entire series in the next day or two.
We salute you Jackets!!
-LTL
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11 comments:
LTL - thanks for the wrap up, it has been fun reading along this season.
Just two quick ones:
"The Call" - I think it needs to rank right up there in sports lore with "The Coin Toss" (26 Nov 1198 for those that missed it). I have to disagree with it "technically being a penalty, they were going for a line change, the puck was sliding down the middle (courtesy of Holmstrom (?) who had played the puck with a high stick and then poked it forward. While, technically, there were more than five on the ice, none of them were in position to play the puck. As opposed to the play in the first where a Wing tossed the puck out of their zone and through the feet of a number of Wings on a line change. That was closer to an infraction than what the Jackets were called for.
Throwing things on the ice - two real comments here:
1) If you are going to toss something on, make sure it makes it - other cranky fans don't want to get hit with your swill (saw a guy in 108 get pegged with a can near the end of the throwing).
2) If you are *aiming* for a zebra - hit 'em. I am sure some of those throwing things have mothers with better aim.
My ears were still ringing this morning and glad I did not have to work - my vocal chords got a rest.
Go Jackets!
I'd love to see a reply because I too agree that a Red Wings player played the puck in their own zone with a high stick, which of course went uncalled. Can anyone confirm that? Not that it matters but just curious....
I saw it happen about 30 feet in front of me....
Talk about going out in a blaze of glory! That was one of the most exciting games I've seen this season; a real nail biter. The boys sure did deserve a win with all of the determination they showed last night. It was nice to see them really turn things up a notch. Can't wait to see what the Jackets have in store for everyone next season.
It was so great to be at rockin' Nationwide last night. I still feel like I got kicked in the gut with that call - I agree it was too many men, but as Hitch said, it was clear it was Hudson Bay rules at that point. I guarantee the refs saw it and were going to let it go, but the linesman got caught up in the moment and called it.
LTL, it's been great reading the blog this year. Keep up the good work. I don't post very much but enjoy reading it every day. I just moved here last August, and it has been great becoming a Jacket fanatic along with some of the long-time diehards. I may not have been here since the Day 1 PSL holders, but hey, I can say the Jackets are one-for-one in playoff appearances since I moved here...
Thanks for the comments Loach.
Believe me that I'll be keeping this blog going through the offseason. Just take a look at last offseason's posts for examples :)
Other than trying to get Nash re-signed I think it's going to be a pretty quiet offseason for the Jackets... but should he not re-sign things could get very interesting.
I'll have a post up about Nash's comments by tomorrow morning.
-LTL
Jackets seemed like they were out of gas this whole series except last night. Need to pick up a physical defensemen in the draft, a Pronger type player.Need someone with a bit a mean streak. They got pushed around by the wings all 4 games. Might be a dumb question but where was Boll the last 3 games? Was he hurt?
Thanks for your time this season, LTL. If it wasn't for this blog, I wouldn't know half of what's going on with the CBJ!
Just a couple of thoughts to add:
Can you imagine what a wild scene the plaza will be if we're winning? Wow!
It just seems like the Wings are always in perfect position. No matter which way the puck bounces off Mase, there's a Wing there to redirect or collect it. Best positional hockey I've seen. Our guys should spend the summer reviewing Red Wings video. There's a lesson in there.
Rollo,
Boll was not hurt, he was a healthy scratch after game one. Hitch decided to mix it up a little for game 2 and put Dorsett in and well the rest is history. Dorsett played too well in that same roll to justify scratching him and Boll didn't look all that great in game one with I believe at least one bad penalty. Boll's game is evolving and he had a down year this year compared to last season, but his skill level improved. He now needs to bring back his reckless style and keep improving his skill and he will only get better and add some of that firey depth that they sometimes lacked on this seasons team.
LTL, thanks again for the blog this has been a great season and I am glad I stumbled across this last April, definately helps some of my days go by quicker. Sad I will be leaving the city with this ship is really just starting to set sail, but I will be back for more and I will do my best to be back for the playoffs again next year. Nothing in all of the sport events I have ever been to has ever come close to the experience of that night. I felt sick after the call, but couldn't leave the arena until almost everyone else was gone just to soak it in for a few more moments. Thanks Jackets for the great season and lets get Nasher signed for the future.
Soultrain..
Bummer your leaving dude! I think we talked about that Tuesday but I had forgotten about that.
We'll miss ya but that is what Center Ice is for right?!
That game 4 was an amazing night I'll never forget.
-LTL
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