Ohio Jones
Game on...
CD - Columbus, OH
Nationwide Arena - The Columbus Blue Jackets are reeling after yet another losing streak, the longest of their season, has left them in 12th in the West. Granted, they're still just three points out of a playoff berth in the close Western Conference, but this is a team that was as high as fifth earlier in the season, and was expected to challenge for the Central Division title: they are are currently 4th with almost all of their divisional games already behind them thanks to a quirk in the schedule.
The team pulled briefly out of its tailspin with two convincing wins over the Isles and Colorado, before stumbling again last night to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the hated Sabres (a rivalry going back 5 years to the Jackets' first-and-only appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals). It was a close, hard-fought contest, but Columbus came out on the losing end of a 2-1 decision at home to the current Eastern Conference leaders.
Enough, it appears, is enough.
"It's just unacceptable - to management, to ownership, and to our fans," Jackets GM Doug Emerson declared following last night's loss, promising that there would be movement. "It's the attitude in the room - despite playing for the best coach in the world, with guys in the room who are supposed to be leaders, these guys just aren't hungry enough. There's a culture to losing, and despite every expectation, this team has settled into it. Everyone in that room has received important minutes, Mike (Head Coach Babcock) has tried dozens of combinations, but these guys just aren't scoring, and some nights they aren't even skating. Our goalies have been good, but not good enough when they get no goal support, like (last night). It's enough."
The team is at the cap, which will make it difficult to find dance partners, but Emerson is determined. He vowed that no player should feel safe.
"'We've had a couple of guys playing well most nights, but at this point, anyone could be moved in order to shake this up and change the culture in that room."
Stay tuned - more to come!
Nationwide Arena - The Columbus Blue Jackets are reeling after yet another losing streak, the longest of their season, has left them in 12th in the West. Granted, they're still just three points out of a playoff berth in the close Western Conference, but this is a team that was as high as fifth earlier in the season, and was expected to challenge for the Central Division title: they are are currently 4th with almost all of their divisional games already behind them thanks to a quirk in the schedule.
The team pulled briefly out of its tailspin with two convincing wins over the Isles and Colorado, before stumbling again last night to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the hated Sabres (a rivalry going back 5 years to the Jackets' first-and-only appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals). It was a close, hard-fought contest, but Columbus came out on the losing end of a 2-1 decision at home to the current Eastern Conference leaders.
Enough, it appears, is enough.
"It's just unacceptable - to management, to ownership, and to our fans," Jackets GM Doug Emerson declared following last night's loss, promising that there would be movement. "It's the attitude in the room - despite playing for the best coach in the world, with guys in the room who are supposed to be leaders, these guys just aren't hungry enough. There's a culture to losing, and despite every expectation, this team has settled into it. Everyone in that room has received important minutes, Mike (Head Coach Babcock) has tried dozens of combinations, but these guys just aren't scoring, and some nights they aren't even skating. Our goalies have been good, but not good enough when they get no goal support, like (last night). It's enough."
The team is at the cap, which will make it difficult to find dance partners, but Emerson is determined. He vowed that no player should feel safe.
"'We've had a couple of guys playing well most nights, but at this point, anyone could be moved in order to shake this up and change the culture in that room."
Stay tuned - more to come!
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