Columbus Blue Jackets Open the Season’s Second Half Against the New York Rangers
Here we are, everybody! The official beginning of the second half to the campaign, and what better team to kick it of with, as well as try to put an end to a three game skid, than the Broadway blueshirts, as the New York Rangers will strut their stuff into Nationwide Arena in the final game on home ice for the Columbus Blue Jackets before the All Star break.
As we know all too well, the Blue Jackets are having a bit of a rough go. They’ve played in three consecutive games in which they’ve allowed at least three goals in one period of play, thus why the Jackets are on a three game losing streak. The most recent of these games, however, still is a bit painful to talk or even think about. A 2-0 lead with less than half of the third period play, and three power play goals from the Montreal Canadiens make it a 3-2 Habs win.
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Puck Prose
The Blue Jackets still are having trouble playing critical defense in front of
and still having trouble keeping the puck in the zone. And, whenever the puck
is
in the zone, Columbus isn’t taking shots. Which, yes I understand the concept of “quality over quantity,” but still, a quantity of shots will put pressure on the goalie and the more flustered he feels, the more likely he’ll make a mistake.
The Rangers were in action last night in Boston, and could not find a way to beat Tuukka Rask, as they were blanked 3-0. The Blueshirts have been hot as of late, and have only lost five games since the start of December. One of the reasons the Blue Jackets only gained a point in the standings after their hot month.
It’ll be yet another star-goalie battle, since Cam Talbot played last night for the Rangers, that means Henrik Lundqvist will most likely get the nod for New York tonight, which is odd. The Blue Jackets usually are a team others see fit (no matter how good or bad the CBJ are) to put their backup in, but it seems the Rangers want to throw everything at the Jackets.
And good. Let them.
I know the Penguins are fun to play and even more fun to beat, but the Blue Jackets are in a fierce need of a fierce rival. And, with the familiarity of the Jackets and Blueshirts, they have all the makings of being each others’ biggest rival. Its now up to the fans to treat it as such.
So, I beg of you, treat it as such.
Puck drops at seven.