Blue Power

[hoxltc]

I don't get it

It's been a combination of giving up to many quality chances and not clearing the puck when we have a chance. Oh well it's a long season, but it would have been nice to keep the winning streak going a little longer.

[hoxltc]

Blue Jackets on losing streak

Columbus Loses Third Straight


(Daniel Winnik celebates his second goal of the game)

DENVER (AP) – Daniel Winnik scored a pair of second period goals and Craig Anderson stopped 11 Columbus shots as the Avalanche held on for a 3-2 win at the Pepsi Center. The loss was the third straight for the Blue Jackets who only managed 13 shots on goal.

“I was hoping being on the road would get us out of the funk we're in, but it didn't happen,” said Columbus head coach Scott Arniel. “Our defense was a non-factor tonight, Steve (Mason) did a great job keeping us in the game. He didn't get much help out there that's for sure.”

The Avalanche scored first on left winger Matt Duchene's seventh tally of the season in the opening period. Duchene, camped in front of the net, picked up Adam Foote's initial shot that Mason was unable to cover at the 12:06 mark. Columbus tie the game 47 seconds later when, with the teams skating 4-on-4, Sammy Pahlsson tapped in a rebound off assists from Bryan Hoxsey and Kristian Huselius.

The second period was all Colorado as they out-shot the visitors 10-2. Winnik put his team ahead for good just over halfway in, denting the net off a give-and-go with Peter Mueller. Kevin Porter and David Jones then set up Winnik's second goal with 1:30 left in the second.

“We didn't play well, namely that second period. We had no energy and they came out and took it to us,” said Blue Jacket captain Rick Nash. “The last three games we have been playing tentatively, we need to find that fire again and start playing harder.”

Nash picked up his 200^th NHL assist on Fedor Tyutin's third period goal that cut the lead to 3-2 with seven minutes remaining.

Blue Jackets vs Avalanche
Oct 30, 2010 1 2 3 F CLB (5-5-0) 1 0 1 2 COL (3-7-1) 1 2 0 3 Three Stars Daniel Winnik - Colorado 2 goals Kyle Quincey - Colorado 1 assist Matt Duchene - Colorado 1 goal	Team Stats Comparison CLB COL Shots on Goal 13 31 Hits 6 10 Faceoffs Won-Lost 22/22 22/22 Penalty Minutes 14 10 Power Plays Converted 0 0 Power Play Opportunities 2 5 Time on Attack 6:34 5:13
Scoring Summary FIRST PERIOD COL Duchene 7 (Foote) 12:06 CLB Pahlsson 2 (Hoxsey, Huselius) 12:53 SECOND PERIOD COL Winnik 2 (Mueller, Quincey) 12:46 COL Winnik 3 (Porter, Jones) 18:30 THIRD PERIOD CLB Tyutin 2 (Nash, Vermette) 13:19
Blue Jackets - Goalies GOALIES SHOTS SAVES SV % GAA Steve Mason (L,4-5) 31 28 90% 2.54
Avalanche - Goalies GOALIES SHOTS SAVES SV % GAA C. Anderson (W,3-7) 13 11 85% 3.84

[hoxltc]

Standings and League Leaders

I think I'll post an update like this at the start of each month of my BAP.

NHL Standings - Updated: Nov 1, 2010
Central	W	L	OTL	PTS	HOME	ROAD	GF	GA
Detriot	6	1	2	12	4-1-1	2-0-1	28	21
St. Louis	6	3	0	12	4-1-0	2-2-0	30	27
Nashville	5	3	2	10	3-2-1	2-1-1	28	28
Columbus	5	5	0	10	3-3-0	2-2-0	20	24
Chicago	4	6	3	8	3-3-1	1-3-2	27	31

Washington is the leagues top team to this point with a 7-2-2 record, with Dallas just behind at 7-3-0.

NHL Scoring Leaders (Thru Oct. 31)

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh 6-12-18
Marian Gaborik, NY Rangers 6-11-17
Matt Moulson, NY Islanders 8-9-17
Mike Cammalleri, Montreal 10-6-16
Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey 6-10-16

As far as rookies go, I (Bryan Hoxsey) have 5 points, Chicago's Bryan Bickell leads with 8 points.

[bthomp05]

Re: Standings and League Leaders

5 points, not bad.

[hoxltc]

5 points

It's not been a bad start. My BAP player is playing ok, but it's guys like Nash who I'm worried about, not much production out of my first line. Mason has been soild in net, so hopefully we can improve on that record over the next few games.

[Jonesey]

Re: Blue Power

The Central is a tough division.. Good luck with your guy though, I wish I had 5 points in the NHL!

[hoxltc]

Losing streak reaches four

Losing Streak Reaches Four In Columbus


(Travis Moen's third period goal gives Columbus
it's fourth consecutive defeat)

COLUMBUS (AP) – Montreal's Travis Moen scored nearly nine minutes into the third period to break a 2-2 tie and give the visiting Canadiens a 3-2 victory over the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The loss brings Columbus' losing streak to four games.

Moen's tally was his fourth of the season and came off a tip from a shot from the point by defensmen Roman Hamrlik.

“It was just a simple shot and Moen turned it into a great goal,” said Hamrlik. “We fought back after being down early in the second period and that is what good teams do. There is no question we have struggled so far this season, but I think this was a huge road win for us as far confidence goes.”

Montreal took a 1-0 lead on Maxim Lapierre's deflection at the 16:54 mark, but Sammy Pahlsson tied the contest a minute later as he stole the puck at the blue line, move to the slot and beat Montreal goalie Carey Price into the top right corner.

“It was a hard defensive period on both sides,” said Pahlsson of the opening 20 minutes. “I took a chance on getting to clearing attempt and luckily it worked out.”

The Blue Jackets grabbed a 2-1 advantage early in the second when Nikita Filatov scored off a rebound, but the visitors knotted the score midway through the period on Brian Gionta's break-a-way goal.

“We let another one get away,” said Columbus captain Rick Nash. “The last four games, it has been a couple little lapses, but it all adds up to four losses. We'll get it turned around, but we can't wait for the other team to help us out. We have to start making our own breaks.”

Canadiens vs Blue Jackets
Nov 2, 2010 1 2 3 F MTL (5-6-1) 1 1 1 3 CLB (5-6-0) 1 1 0 2 Three Stars Travis Moen - Montreal 1 goal (GW) Roman Hamrlik - Montreal 2 assists Nikita Filatov - Columbus 1 goal	Team Stats Comparison MTL CLB Shots on Goal 22 23 Hits 22 13 Faceoffs Won-Lost 12/23 23/12 Penalty Minutes 2 2 Power Plays Converted 0 0 Power Play Opportunities 1 1 Time on Attack 6:13 6:31
Scoring Summary FIRST PERIOD MTL Lapierre (2) (Hamrlik, Halpern) 16:54 CLB Pahlsson (3) (unassisted) 17:58 SECOND PERIOD CLB Filatov (2) (Hejda) 1:50 MTL Gionta (1) (Markov) 10:30 THIRD PERIOD MTL Moen (4) (Picard, Hamrlik) 8:46
Canadiens - Goalies GOALIES SHOTS SAVES SV % GAA Price 23 21 91% 3.05
Blue Jackets - Goalies GOALIES SHOTS SAVES SV % GAA Mason 22 19 86% 2.55

[bthomp05]

Re: Losing streak reaches four

Ouch, 4 games. You need to stop the bleeding.

[HeroWorship]

Re: Losing streak reaches four

Struggling to start the season for the Blue Jackets, but losing to the Habs and allowing Travis Moen to score the game winner is a bad sign of things to come.

[hoxltc]

Re: Losing streak reaches four

Struggling to start the season for the Blue Jackets, but losing to the Habs and allowing Travis Moen to score the game winner is a bad sign of things to come.

The last four games have made me want to throw my controller through the wall. I'd almost rather get blown out then continue to lose one-goal games.

[hoxltc]

Going from bad to worse

Blue Jackets, Arniel Looking For Answers

Columbus drops fifth straight at Atlanta




(Sammy Pahlsson (26) battles for the puck
in the Blue Jackets 3-2 loss to Atlanta)

ATLANTA (AP) – It wasn't pretty when Columbus head coach Scott Arniel stepped in front of reporters following his team's 3-2 loss against Atlanta.

He refused to answer any questions, he just made a statement and quickly left the interview room after watching the Blue Jackets drop their fifth straight contest.

“I'm disappointed, angry and disgusted,” Arniel began, his team now 5-7-0. “We are all professionals, we get paid to coach and play this game we all dreamed about playing since we could lace up skates. What I saw out there tonight on the ice was unacceptable. We showed no heart, no trust in each other, no fire. It's going to be a long year if we think that effort was good enough to get to the top.”

Arniel gave backup Mathieu Garon the start in goal in hopes of snapping the prolonged losing streak, but Garon's give-a-way six minutes into the opening period to Thrasher youngster Bryan Little made it 1-0. Atlanta (6-6-1) had a goal taken away minutes later on a goal scored on a deflection by Rich Peverley, but his stick was ruled to above the crossbar.

Rookie defensmen Bryan Hoxsey tied the score late in the first period on a rebound tally, then Sammy Pahlsson gave the visitors a 2-1 advantage with his fourth goal of the season at the 16:12 mark.

“They had all the momentum after their Sammy's goal, but we were able to get the crowd back in to it quickly,” said Thrasher Ben Eager, who scored just 48 seconds later to make it 2-2. “We did a great job of limiting their chances from that point on. You could see them put their heads down and when you get a team to do that your in the drivers seat.”

Nik Antropov sealed the win for the hosts by scoring his fifth goal of the season off assists from Niclas Bergfors and Zach Bogosian just under five minutes into the third.

Atlanta played a physical game as they out-hit the Blue Jackets 19-9, held a slim margin in shots on goal of 25-23, while each team was 0-for-2 on the man advantage.

MY GAME: Scored my second goal of the year, but when you lose it doesn't matter. Had a +1, took 5 shots in 25:58 on the ice.

Blue Jackets vs Thrashers
Nov 4, 2010 1 2 3 F CLB (5-7-0) 1 1 0 2 ATL (6-6-1) 1 1 1 3 Three Stars Nik Antropov - Atlanta 1 goal (GW) Ben Eager - Atlanta 1 goal Bryan Little - Atlanta 1 goal	Team Stats Comparison CLB ATL Shots on Goal 23 25 Hits 9 19 Faceoffs Won-Lost 19/17 17/19 Penalty Minutes 11 11 Power Plays Converted 0 0 Power Play Opportunities 2 2 Time on Attack 6:36 5:19
Scoring Summary FIRST PERIOD ATL Little (2) (unassisted) 6:09 CLB Hoxsey (2) (Hejda, Voracek) 16:43 SECOND PERIOD CLB Pahlsson (4) (Voracek, Huselius) 16:12 ATL Eager (3) (Slater, Hainsey) 17:00 THIRD PERIOD ATL Antropov (5) (Bergfors, Bogosian) 4:49
Blue Jackets - Goalies GOALIES SHOTS SAVES SV % GAA Garon 25 22 88% 2.00
Thrashers - Goalies GOALIES SHOTS SAVES SV % GAA C. Mason 23 21 91% 2.88

[hoxltc]

Heart searching time

Columbus Holds Player Only Meeting

Blue Jackets, Nash look to change fortunes



COLUMBUS – After opening the 2010-11 season with five wins in their first seven games, the Blue Jackets have fallen into a tailspin that has resulted in five consecutive defeats.

Obviously the streak hasn't sat well with fans, players or coaches, especially head coach Scott Arniel, whose post game statement following the latest loss to Atlanta was one of frustration.

Prior to practice this morning, Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash called together a players only meeting in hopes of clearing the air on some issues that have arose during the past five games.

“We as a whole needed to get back on the same page,” Nash said following a spirited workout in preparation for there game verses Minnesota. “We have no one to blame but ourselves for the last five games. It was a positive meeting, guys let each other know how they felt. It was calm, there wasn't any finger pointing and there shouldn't have been, we all need to play better.”

Arniel said the team had one of their better practices of the year. He feels his club has all the talent to be contenders, but said things are going to have to change if that is to happen.

“We need to wear our hearts on our sleeves,” said Arniel. “This team has a great makeup of veterans and young players who want to learn and win. We have gotten away from the things that got us those first five wins, toughness and a willingness to give up the body for the team. I see us coming out against Minnesota with a complete effort.”

Nash also talked about his personal play through the losing streak and says it will be doing the little things better that will get things turned around.

“I'm not playing the way a captain should play,” admitted Nash. “I have no excuses, I'm just not getting it done on the ice (just 2 goals in 12 games) or off the ice as a leader. As a team the key for us is going to be not being satisfied with just being mediocre or just making the playoffs. It's going to take an extra effort on every players part, sucking it up when things don't go our way and doing something to make it go our way. It's time to get this thing turned around.”

(Source: bluejackets.com)

[bthomp05]

Re: Heart searching time

Yikes. Good call on the player meeting front...

[HeroWorship]

Re: Heart searching time

Jesus, you need a win. Big time.

[hoxltc]

Finally a win

Columbus Ends Losing Streak With Shootout Win


(Rick Nash and Derick Brassard celebrate Jakub
Voracek's second period goal)

COLUMBUS (AP) – The crowd at Nationwide Arena held their collective breath as Minnesota's Mikko Koivu skated towards Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason.

The shootout had already seen Mason make spectacular stops on Martin Havlat and Pierre-Marc Bouchard, as well as a Rick Nash tally for the home team. Koivu's shot trickled just wide, thus sending the faithful into a frenzy and snapping the Blue Jackets five-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory.

“Granted it is just one game, but it was one we badly needed,” said Mason, who made 23 saves in regulation and overtime and earned the first star of the game. “After getting together yesterday as a team, we came out and played very well. The defense was solid in front of me and Rick gave us a huge boost by putting us up on top to begin the shootout. We did all the little things tonight, it was a team win.”

After an even first period, Columbus took a 1-0 lead just 48 seconds into the second as Jakub Voracek, who has struggled this season, put home a power play tally off a scramble in front of Wild goalie Josh Harding.

“It's been a while hasn't it,” chuckled Voracek when asked about his first goal since last season. “The defensemen did a great job all night of just getting the puck on net. Harding had it for a second, but as he fell the puck squirted loose and jumped right on my stick.”

The lead was short lived however as a Blue Jacket give-a-way led to Andrew Brunette's fourth goal of the year just four minutes later to tie things at 1-1.

“Tonight was different. We did what we said we needed to stop doing and that's putting our heads down when we face adversity,” said Nash of recent games in which his club has lost leads. “Instead we seemed to play even more focused and more physical. Mason came up with some great saves, especially in the shootout. His play was the main reason we won this game.”

The Blue Jackets had numerous quality chances in the third period and overtime, but Harding was able to keep the puck out of the net, until the shootout. The hosts held the advantage in other key statistics besides the scoreboard, 18-12 in hits, 32-24 in shots on goal, and they won 29 of 45 faceoffs.

“It was a complete turn around from the other night in Atlanta, we played with a lot of heart and we got that monkey off our backs,” said Columbus head coach Scott Arniel. “The veterans stepped up their game and the rookies played solid as well. We can celebrate tonight, but then we need to get ready for St. Louis in a couple of days and they have won five straight. I'll sleep a little better tonight that's for sure.”

MY GAME: Had a -1 rating, 4 shots and a season high 4 hits in 38:36 of ice time. Misplayed the puck that led to the Wild's only goal, but we won so I guess the guys won't be too upset.

Wild vs Blue Jackets
Nov 6, 2010 1 2 3 SO F MIN (7-5-1) 0 1 0 0/0 1 CLB (6-7-0) 0 1 0 0/1 2 Three Stars Steve Mason - Columbus 23 saves Josh Harding - Minnesota 31 saves Jakub Voracek - Columbus 1 goal	Team Stats Comparison MIN CLB Shots on Goal 24 32 Hits 12 18 Faceoffs Won-Lost 16/29 29/16 Penalty Minutes 6 2 Power Plays Converted 0 1 Power Play Opportunities 0 2 Time on Attack 4:22 8:36
Scoring Summary SECOND PERIOD CLB Voracek (1) (unassisted) :42 (PP) MIN Brunette (4) (Havlat, Zanon) 4:45
Wild - Goalies GOALIES SHOTS SAVES SV % GAA Harding 32 31 97% 3.18
Blue Jackets - Goalies GOALIES SHOTS SAVES SV % GAA Mason 24 23 96% 2.76