Ohio Jones
Game on...
From Game Day 51 to Game Day 114, the Blue Jackets played 31 consecutive games scoring at least a point. During that span they lost just four times - twice in overtime (versus MIN and PHI) and twice in the shootout (versus OTT and, unsurprisingly, DET), recording a whopping 58 out of 62 points.
It all came to an end today when the new-look Edmonton Oilers handed the Jackets their first regulation loss in what feels like forever: a 6-4 trouncing that saw the visiting Oilers chase Tomas Vokoun with 4 goals on 15 shots and strut out to a 5-0 lead before taking their foot off the gas and coasting into a 6-4 victory. Devan Dubnyk stopped 20 of 22 shots in relief.
New Oilers Alex Edler and Franz Neilsen factored into the victory, while new Blue Jacket Barrett Jackman was victimized on the second pairing with a -3 rating.
Jackets Captain Kimmo Timonen made a statement following the loss.
"Fans and the media were starting to talk like victory was inevitable. Everybody loves winning, the players included, and this has been a great string. But we play the games, we know how tough the teams are and how much it takes to pull out the win. Even when you play that hard, even when you do everything right, a bounce here or a bounce there can still mean the difference between between a win and a loss. Losing is part of playing - there are no easy games out here. Now we just have to focus on the next game, getting back in the 'W' column.
"And catching Detroit. Let's not forget that despite all these wins, we're still sitting fourth in the West. The Wings have been playing every bit as well as we have for the past two months - better, based on the standings. We had our chances at them early in the season and we blew it - now we have to run the table the rest of the way and hope that they stumble a bit, just like we did tonight.
"The bounces didn't go our way, but we know we have a good thing going here, so we're going to keep playing just as hard, and look to get right back on track in our quest for the Cup."
It all came to an end today when the new-look Edmonton Oilers handed the Jackets their first regulation loss in what feels like forever: a 6-4 trouncing that saw the visiting Oilers chase Tomas Vokoun with 4 goals on 15 shots and strut out to a 5-0 lead before taking their foot off the gas and coasting into a 6-4 victory. Devan Dubnyk stopped 20 of 22 shots in relief.
New Oilers Alex Edler and Franz Neilsen factored into the victory, while new Blue Jacket Barrett Jackman was victimized on the second pairing with a -3 rating.
Jackets Captain Kimmo Timonen made a statement following the loss.
"Fans and the media were starting to talk like victory was inevitable. Everybody loves winning, the players included, and this has been a great string. But we play the games, we know how tough the teams are and how much it takes to pull out the win. Even when you play that hard, even when you do everything right, a bounce here or a bounce there can still mean the difference between between a win and a loss. Losing is part of playing - there are no easy games out here. Now we just have to focus on the next game, getting back in the 'W' column.
"And catching Detroit. Let's not forget that despite all these wins, we're still sitting fourth in the West. The Wings have been playing every bit as well as we have for the past two months - better, based on the standings. We had our chances at them early in the season and we blew it - now we have to run the table the rest of the way and hope that they stumble a bit, just like we did tonight.
"The bounces didn't go our way, but we know we have a good thing going here, so we're going to keep playing just as hard, and look to get right back on track in our quest for the Cup."
(read: luck and sim oddities). It was bound to happen eventually, and I'm frankly relieved now that it has - I can just focus on playoff positioning and not worry about a silly record.
