Ohio Jones
Game on...
CD - Columbus
Fresh off a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers, the Columbus Blue Jackets have wrapped up the first half of their 2005-06 HFNHL season in style riding a 10-game winning streak. But the first half is a tale of two teams: the league's hottest squad couldn't seem to win to save their lives at the start of the season.
It wasn't as bad as all that, of course - the Jackets proved surprisingly difficult to beat from the outset, so that to this day (and despite their current win streak) they are tied for the most 1-point games (ties or OT losses) with 10. But without question, the team that took to the ice in the first 31 games was a disappointment.
In fact, the last team to beat the Jackets was these self-same Rangers, who blanked the Jackets 3-0 on Game Day 56. Columbus then held a .500 record, demonstrating an alarming lack of consistency - they'd have a good game or two, followed by dreadful showings, including the loss to the Rangers, as well as losses to Nashville, Edmonton, Buffalo and Calgary. But their greatest struggles were at the hands of the league's top teams, with Boston, Washington, Detroit, and Chicago all leading the season series.
The one team Emerson's Jackets have had their way with thus far is the freefalling St. Louis Blues, who have earned just two ties in 4 games against the Jackets. Something to watch, as the Jackets' face the Blues again on the final day of the regular season. A win there would provide good momentum heading into the post-season. The team's recent success actually dates back to Game Day 46, where a shuffled Jackets lineup earned the tie against St. Louis. In the 16 games since that one, the Jackets have set a blistering pace, with only two losses in that stretch.
Critics point out that the Jackets have not faced top competition during that run, and that early losses to top teams might be more suggestive of the team's overall ability, but fans can't complain with recent results after the disappointing start.
The brightest light on the team so far would be the inspired play of Slava Kozlov, whose arrival from Toronto early in the season has given the Jackets two top offensive lines, with both Kozlov and Modano among the top centres in the game, producing at over a point per game. The steady play of rookie blueliner Joni Pitkanen has also been impressive: he is currently tied for the team lead in +/-. Special teams have also been exciting to watch, with the Jackets' powerplay 1st in the league, and their penalty killers 7th.
The team has struggled defensively 5-on-5, however, much to the bafflement of observers. Their performance in that area has improved over the course of this latest stretch of games, but the new lines have yet to face a truly potent offence against which to test their mettle.
With the faltering of expected powerhouses Anaheim and St. Louis, and the recent trade by Detroit of their starter, Olaf Kolzig, the Jackets have surged up the standings all the way to second in the Western Coference, 2 points behind the surprising Chicago Blackhawks for both the Division and Conference lead.
Is is all smoke and mirrors? Will the Jackets falter? Well, fans can't expect the winning streak to go on indefinitely, but the team feels confident that barring significant injury troubles, they will continue to play at a high level through the second half, and will challenge seriously for the conference title.
Whatever happens, it should be an entertaining second half for Jackets fans.
Milo Minderbinder
Columbus Discoverer
Fresh off a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers, the Columbus Blue Jackets have wrapped up the first half of their 2005-06 HFNHL season in style riding a 10-game winning streak. But the first half is a tale of two teams: the league's hottest squad couldn't seem to win to save their lives at the start of the season.
It wasn't as bad as all that, of course - the Jackets proved surprisingly difficult to beat from the outset, so that to this day (and despite their current win streak) they are tied for the most 1-point games (ties or OT losses) with 10. But without question, the team that took to the ice in the first 31 games was a disappointment.
In fact, the last team to beat the Jackets was these self-same Rangers, who blanked the Jackets 3-0 on Game Day 56. Columbus then held a .500 record, demonstrating an alarming lack of consistency - they'd have a good game or two, followed by dreadful showings, including the loss to the Rangers, as well as losses to Nashville, Edmonton, Buffalo and Calgary. But their greatest struggles were at the hands of the league's top teams, with Boston, Washington, Detroit, and Chicago all leading the season series.
The one team Emerson's Jackets have had their way with thus far is the freefalling St. Louis Blues, who have earned just two ties in 4 games against the Jackets. Something to watch, as the Jackets' face the Blues again on the final day of the regular season. A win there would provide good momentum heading into the post-season. The team's recent success actually dates back to Game Day 46, where a shuffled Jackets lineup earned the tie against St. Louis. In the 16 games since that one, the Jackets have set a blistering pace, with only two losses in that stretch.
Critics point out that the Jackets have not faced top competition during that run, and that early losses to top teams might be more suggestive of the team's overall ability, but fans can't complain with recent results after the disappointing start.
The brightest light on the team so far would be the inspired play of Slava Kozlov, whose arrival from Toronto early in the season has given the Jackets two top offensive lines, with both Kozlov and Modano among the top centres in the game, producing at over a point per game. The steady play of rookie blueliner Joni Pitkanen has also been impressive: he is currently tied for the team lead in +/-. Special teams have also been exciting to watch, with the Jackets' powerplay 1st in the league, and their penalty killers 7th.
The team has struggled defensively 5-on-5, however, much to the bafflement of observers. Their performance in that area has improved over the course of this latest stretch of games, but the new lines have yet to face a truly potent offence against which to test their mettle.
With the faltering of expected powerhouses Anaheim and St. Louis, and the recent trade by Detroit of their starter, Olaf Kolzig, the Jackets have surged up the standings all the way to second in the Western Coference, 2 points behind the surprising Chicago Blackhawks for both the Division and Conference lead.
Is is all smoke and mirrors? Will the Jackets falter? Well, fans can't expect the winning streak to go on indefinitely, but the team feels confident that barring significant injury troubles, they will continue to play at a high level through the second half, and will challenge seriously for the conference title.
Whatever happens, it should be an entertaining second half for Jackets fans.
Milo Minderbinder
Columbus Discoverer
