The Oilers are playing out a season that looks very familiar to seasons of the past for the Jackets. Under achieving players, players called out by the coach, NHL scheduling that is a punch in the gut and to put a cherry on top of this sundae a devastating injury right when you don’t need it. Jackets’ fans have read this story before but this time, fortunately for the CBJ, it is a story that the other team has to read.
The Jackets have been reading a more pleasant book lately being that they have earned points in 8 of their last 9 games and come in against the Oilers mostly healthy minus Rusty Klesla. The Jackets are doing it without the joy of an effective power play. Dead last in the NHL with a conversion rate of 11.8%. Detroit is 32.4%, at this point the Jackets would take half of that. This non-special special teams will catch up to the Jackets at some point but right now they are earning points the hard way by being better at even strength. The NHL tracks a stat that is the 5 on 5 Goals For/Against Ratio (is there anything they don’t have a stat on?). The Jackets have a 1.23 ratio, meaning they score 1.23 goals for every 1 goal scored by the opposition. Meaning if the CBJ scores 5 goals 5 on 5, the opposition would score 3. Ken Hitchcock might look into seeing if there is a loop hole in the penalty rule where he could deny the penalty and keep everything even strength.
BRASS RING
2 games into the Brassard Top Line Experiment has resulted in 1 goal, 1 assist and a +4 rating. Don’t look for there to be a change any time soon and oh by the way Rick Nash has 2 goals, 1 assist and a +4 rating. Brass is the best answer the Jackets have for the top line center position and it’s not even a close 2nd. I know Hitch is trying not to burn out the youngsters with massive amounts of ice time but you sometime have to do some things that you don’t want to do. This is one of them. Brass makes things go with his creativity, speed and passing ability. Nash has to think that Christmas has come early!
GETTING RED FROM THE BLUE LINE
The red mopped one, Mike Commodore, was to come and bring a physical presence but don’t look for any points out of him. Last year in 67 games, he had 11 assists. In 18 games this year he already has 9 assists. As no one would ever mistake Commodore’s shot as a howitzer, he does get it to the net and creates opportunities for the forwards rushing the net. Could he be the QB on the power play? He is a right handed shot but let’s don’t get crazy but anything is worth a shot at this point.
NO FSN – NO PROBLEM, SORT OF
I will be doing a live blog and try to keep you up to date on what is going on. There will be video links, instant surveys, I will also let you know things you won’t hear from the radio or even what you see if you have centre ice package, and you are also able to fire off questions on the spot if you want to know something that is going on. Got a lot of great feedback from the last one I did and that game was on FSN. It should be fun!
PLAYERS OUT AND ABOUT
Here are some opportunities to meet and see some of the players coming up.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 19 – Jakub Voracek Autograph Signing: Rookie forward Jakub Voracek will be meeting fans and signing autographs as part of the grand opening of the new Giant Eagle store located at 1394 Ety Shops Way in Lancaster on Wednesday, November 19, from 6 to 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 19 – Book Jackets Reading with Andrew Murray: Forward Andrew Murray will be reading to children at the Dublin Library located at 75 N. High St. on Wednesday, November 19 from 7 to 8 p.m. as part of the Blue Jackets Book Jackets Program presented by Univar in partnership with the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
MONDAY, NOV. 24 – Marc Methot Autograph Signing: Defenseman Marc Methot will be meeting fans and signing autographs at The FOX Sports Ohio Blue Line Store at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing on Monday, November 24, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
SMITTY’S STRATEGIES
1.
Kick Them When Their Down – The Oilers are scrambling right now and the Jackets need to take advantage. Fernando Pisani went down last night after going feet first into the boards and is out with a broken ankle. Dustin Penner was a healthy scratch last night after coach Craig MacTavish chucked Penner under the bus. "He's not competitive enough or fit enough to help us, so why put him back in?" MacTavish might not have a choice tonight with Pisani going down.
2.
Road Weary – The NHL didn’t do the Oilers any favors at the beginning of this season by sticking them on the road on what has to seem like an eternity for the Oilers. This will be the 14th game out of 19 games on the road this season. This is also the 2nd game of a back to back as they got worked over by the Red Wings last night 4-0. Jumping on them early and being physical will take away their will to compete.
3.
Score First – This is a no brainer at this point as the Jackets haven’t won a game yet where the other team scores first. 0-5-3 is enough of a sample to know that this has to be the first thing on the board for Hitch when he talking to his troops before the game.
4.
Pazzy be Pazzy – Another performance like Pascal Leclaire had against Buffalo would be just what the doctor ordered. He was outstanding and seemed to be sharper than he has been in a while. Nothing like a little competition to sharpen the skills. He should be fresh and ready to take on a heavy load if need be. When Pazzy is on, he can frustrate the best of offenses.
5.
Crank It Up – This one is on game operations and the fans. Nationwide Arena needs to become more of a home ice advantage. The last game there against the Coyotes was a morgue. The building being half empty doesn’t help and means the fans that are there need to be twice as loud. Game Ops could help out by energizing the building with better tunes and turning it up. Tom Reed, from the Dispatch, reported on his blog, “there is a movement afoot among several players who want the game-night music in the arena to be louder. One player was commenting about the weekend games in Buffalo and Minnesota and how the increased volume level helped add life to the building.” I never thought I would say this about Nationwide Arena but right now it is a lifeless building on game day. That has to change and the fans can certainly help out on this. You want the team to be a playoff team, the fans need to be playoff type fans.
See you tonight!
Fire The Cannon!
Eric Smith
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Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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