GDT: Game #1: Calgary at Columbus 10/4 7:00PM "Opening Night"

[major major]

Not sure it would matter who they played with Wisniewski. All 3 of the goals he is responsible for were individual mistakes that he made. Mostly just standing there watching the Calgary player do whatever he wanted.

I just reviewed the game and it doesn't look like Wiz made mistakes on the goals other than the Monahan goal. But, yes, I agree we'd be better off if he were used as an offensive specialist. I don't get Coach Richards usages sometimes.

The biggest thing is that Bob has to be better or we're toast.

 

[Sore Loser]

I just reviewed the game and it doesn't look like Wiz made mistakes on the goals other than the Monahan goal. But, yes, I agree we'd be better off if he were used as an offensive specialist. I don't get Coach Richards usages sometimes.

The biggest thing is that Bob has to be better or we're toast.

On the Hudler goal, there's no way you can tell me he couldn't have closed that gap and gotten at least some sort of a piece of that shot. He was spectating.

And it isn't just about the goals - it's about the blown breakouts creating long shifts, the turnover for a breakaway that could have resulted in another goal, and the fact that he gets outworked every time he's in the defensive zone.

It's unacceptable, for a guy making as much money as he does, to be a passenger on this team. We won't have much success if that doesn't change.

 

[mt-svk]

Sad that we lose, I didnt see I will see i today from the torrent.

 

[JACKETfan]

Wow.
I really really didn't expect all this negativity on the Board.
Yes, Bob and Wiz could have been better. But it was our first game and home opener. Rust and distractions got the better of us. Always prefer opening on the road.

Re: Richard's line changes...
All coaches change them up in the modern era. They are game situational and take match-ups into account.

JJ's penalty was questionable but he has to be more wiley about it and play the puck, instead of making a leverage move.

 

[Matt]

No doubt about it, most of the players really sucked tonight. Play like this on the Island and they will end up an 0 and 2 start

 

[pete goegan]

All of the above (except the fire everyone crap).

Three goals a night will win a lot of games. Four against won't. I thought Bob was just OK, he didn't get much help from his defensemen. The power play actually looked competent and the Gaborik/Johnson goal was a thing of beauty! I'll have to write this one off as just a weak opener, with the hope that tonight shows us more of what we hope to see throughout the season.

Oh, and last night reminded me of old Cleveland Stadium - really rocking when full, but much more comfortable when not so full. Twenty minutes for a corndog? Well, I could have been cranky because I had to return home to get my forgotten parking pass, then was refused permission by a cop to turn into my lot and had to pay in another, slightly more distant lot. A win would have rinsed that fit of pique away, a loss just leaves me whiny.

On to The Island!

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Standouts were Gabby (good) and Wiz (bad), but close seconds were Calvert (good) and Murray (bad).

Murray looked not-ready-for-prime-time. He wasn't lost but was ineffective (not just due to being paired with Wiz). That said, he's a kid in his first regular season game, so I'll allow for some wait-and-see.

Others players who graded out plus play: Comeau, Johansen, Johnson, Dubinsky.

Others who graded out negative play: Bobrovsky, Umberger (he needs a role), Prout (close to an in-between).

I thought in general the defensive play was poor. Everyone was backing up, not just Wiz. Don't know if that's scheme or panic. Offensive zone play was stronger.

Overall the most disappointing thing was "too much same old Jackets" (give up early goal, give up two goals close together, too out of control in front of their own net), but on the positive side, there was enough "good new Jackets" to make it exciting and interesting. Need to flip-flop the ratio moving forward.

 

[HellasLEAF]

so Jenner lasted 2 shifts on your top line.

interesting..

I"m surprised.

 

[EspenK]

so Jenner lasted 2 shifts on your top line.

interesting..

I"m surprised.

According to the paper it was 3. My mistake.He had 50% more chances than I thought to develop chemistry with his linemates.

 

[HellasLEAF]

lol, why. did he not play well?

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

lol, why. did he not play well?

He was passive early. The team was lackadaisical and uninspired. Richards tried stuff. Sometimes it worked. And I thought Boone played a bit better as the game went on.

 

[eljefe72]

Who is the current no. 1 draft prospect? I want to come up with a clever, rhyming phrase to encourage the Jackets to tank the rest of the season.

 

[Derby]

I hate to pile it on, but I agree Wiz was bad. I missed Tyutin. His settling influence is overlooked IMO. Hope he's back soon.

 

[candyman82]

Who is the current no. 1 draft prospect? I want to come up with a clever, rhyming phrase to encourage the Jackets to tank the rest of the season.

Play bad for Ekblad?

Fall apart for Reinhart?

 

[Dr. Fire]

My thoughts on the game last night.

Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers.

The first thing that came to my mind for some reason after the game was how the Jackets looked like a Scott Arniel coached team. Total chaos.

What really pisses me off, is that we lose to a team that is a consensus #30 team in the NHL, with a no name goalie. But, I figure they are going to be a team like the old Jackets, hard to play against with a chip on their shoulders.

The only guy that stood out to me in a positive way was Dubi. Other than the defense, which was a train wreck, the guy that stood out most in a negative way, was Cam. He might not have been the worst on the ice, but that was noticeably the worst game that I have seen him play.

To be fair, I thought Boone, and Joey had a very rough start, but settled down and looked better as the game went on.

They better fix this and get back to what made them successful last season, or this will be a tough year.

It's these kinds of games that make the casual fan look elsewhere for their entertainment.

 

[NotWendell]

Speaking of the Hudler goal, I thought Bob's angle looked off a bit. If that's true, our goalie coach can help him fix that.

 

[Jaxs]

I could pile on too about last nights performance, but I will give it a couple of games. Rust, nerves, poor decisions, trying to make cute or pretty plays is what last night was about.

The Isles will have their two man forecheck going tonight, so our d better make good quick decisions all night. If the Jackets don't do the same as in getting the forecheck going, it will be another L.

 

[cbjfaninmo]

Overall the most disappointing thing was "too much same old Jackets" (give up early goal, give up two goals close together, too out of control in front of their own net), but on the positive side, there was enough "good new Jackets" to make it exciting and interesting. Need to flip-flop the ratio moving forward.

Summed up nicely.

 

[SuperGenius]

Wow.
I really really didn't expect all this negativity on the Board.

I'm never surprised at how quickly some resort to cliff jumping.

It's one game, some good some bad. All the L really means is that they can now only win 81 games. I didn't expect the '27 Yankees this year, so I have no real panic about a single loss any more than I would plan the parade if they had won.

 

[AlienLanes82]

My notes from the game:

The Jackets best players were: 1. Gaborik, 2. MacKenzie, 3. Nikitin.

The defense is awful. This is going to be a long year at the bottom.
Prout > Savard > Murray > Wisniewski
Jesus, Wisniewski is a dreadful defender.

Both teams were jittery and need a lot of work to gel. Passing was poor, lots of missed assignments, lots of turnovers. Both teams look destined for the cellar.

 

[Jussi]

Bobrovsky was an embarrassment to the department.

 

[SuperGenius]

It's these kinds of games that make the casual fan look elsewhere for their entertainment.

really disagree with this. Sure, they lost, but it was an entertaining game nonetheless. The only thing it lacked for the casual fan besides a win was a fight. There was some sloppy hockey out there, but in general, the team didn't quit and despite playing an average to poor game, they were in it until the penalty. Heck, the penalty gave the casual fan something to gripe about more than the CBJ's actual play. As I left the arena I didn't notice anyone who was particularly down or negative about it. People were laughing, *****ing about the penalty, etc, but no real sense of anger or time being wasted. Had it been a listless 3-0 game like the Devils game a few years ago, I'd be right with you...but it wasn't.

Both teams were jittery and need a lot of work to gel. Passing was poor, lots of missed assignments, lots of turnovers. Both teams look destined for the cellar.

You just described about 2/3 of the NHL in games 1 and 2.

 

[AlienLanes82]

You just described about 2/3 of the NHL in games 1 and 2.

Hope you're right! Haven't watched anyone else yet!

 

[Seedtype]

Bobrovsky was an embarrassment to the department.

I know you're somewhat joking, but last night definitely wasn't on Bob. He was giving up some rebounds though, but he had these problems at the beginning of last season as well, he'll settle in... he just works too hard to remain bad.

 

[Doug19]

I will say this, which is an amazing thing to be able to say, I actually thought this team was going to come back to tie and win it last night. When that final buzzer sounded, I was genuinely surprised that they were unable to make a come back. This team has my full faith, it is expected there would probably be a lot of rust considering all of the forwards were just kind of thrown out there with no chemistry and asked to perform.