Just six months ago, the Columbus Blue Jackets were still beaming about a 41-win season, their first playoff appearance, and an extension with Rick Nash.Steve Mason was the reigning Calder Trophy winner and a Vezina finalist, while other youngsters like Derick Brassard, Nikita Filatov and Jakub Voracek were primed to make an impact this season.
Instead of building towards a second straight postseason appearance, Columbus is licking its wounds after its latest loss, 6-0 last night in Los Angeles.The Kings scored four times in the opening period to erase any doubt quickly.
“That was more than tough, it was embarrassing.We didn’t play smart,” said winger R.J. Umberger.“If we get beat, we get beat.But we were our own worst enemies out there.”
Which has happened more than a few times this season.Last night was the Jackets’ fifth straight defeat.They will wake up stuck in 14th place in the Western Conference.With 61 points, they are closer to the Islanders and Maple Leafs than the Red Wings and Blackhawks, which is whom they thought they’d be next to in the standings this season.
“You can’t lose hope,” interim head coach Claude Noel advised last night.“If people want to judge us on this game…We gave up four goals in the first period.I still like our group.”
But it remains a group that has fallen miles short of expectations.Mason allowed four goals on 12 Kings shots, raising his GAA to 3.15 and decreasing his save percentage to .895.The southpaw is just 16-21-7 in his sophomore campaign.
Those in front of Mason have done him few favors: Jan Hejda and Fedor Tyutin are a -12, Mike Commodore -10.Tough guy Derrick Dorsett somehow leads Columbus in plus/minus at +3.
Up front, Nash (28G-29A-67 pts), free agent signing Antoine Vermette (20-29-49), and Kristian Huselius (17-30-47) have produced.Voracek, though, has just nine goals…but at least he’s still in this country – with Filatov back in his native Russia.
Add it all up and there isn’t a more disappointing team in the NHL than Columbus.There is way too much talent on this team for the Jackets to be cuddling up to Edmonton in the standings.
Stars 4 – Capitals 3 SO
Alex Ovechkin beat Marty Turco twice, including another gorgeous individual effort coming down the left wing, but the Dallas goaltender survived in the end.Forty-nine saves in total, four in the shootout, for Turco.The Stars end the Capitals’ 13-game home winning streak.
IN OTHER NEWS
Colorado right wing Chris Stewart, Tampa Bay center Steven Stamkos and Florida defenseman Brian McCabe were named the Three Stars of last week on Monday.Stewart registered five goals and four assists over four games.Stamkos found the net five times (in three games) to run his point-scoring streak to 16 games.McCabe led all blue-liners with eight points (G, 7 A) over three contests.
The Ottawa Senators signed defenseman Brian Lee to a two-year contract Monday.It is worth $875,000 annually.Lee has split this season between the big club and Binghamton in the AHL.In 18 games with the Sens, Lee has two goals and an assist.
No comments:
Post a Comment