With the Blue Jackets having a "one and done" phenomenon with this team goes multiple directions. So I will look at it in 3 different ways; scoring, wins and loses and playoffs.
Scoring has been a point of discussion in the paper, radio and TV of late. This hasn't always been the case this season as it looked like the Blue Jackets could almost score at will in the beginning of the season. In the last 4 games the Union Blue has scored only 1 goal in each. In the last 10 games they have scored 1 goal 7 times and only once did they score more than 2.
You have to look no further than on the power play as the once league leading power play unit has now gone 0 for in their last 16 and slid to 7th in the league. What used to look like a well oiled machine and especially after the addition of Anton Stralman, now struggles to get much organized or quality scoring chances out of the man advantage.
The other piece of the non-scoring puzzle is the lack of goal scoring from Rick Nash of late. In the last 23 games, Nash has only 6 goals and never more than 1 in any of those contests. In comparison, in the first 18 games, the captain had 13 goals. Blame cannot be laid directly at the feet of Nash as he is doing everything he can and at times is trying to do too much. Teams are no longer scared of the player opposite Nash on the line and that has been Kristian Huselius in most of them. They now at times have 3 players swarm Nash giving him no options but to dump the puck or he turns it over trying again to do too much. Without a legit threat on the other side, Nash will have to try and do it on his own which will, most likely, give the Jackets and Nash similar results as they have got in the last 23 games.
The lack of scoring parlays into the discussion of wins and loses. The Jackets broke their 9 game losing streak by defeating the Detroit Red Wings, yes of course, one to nothing in over time on December 28th. Some felt, including me, that that game might be a launching point to get the train back on the tracks. Steve Mason was spectacular in recording the shut out and the Mason of last year looked to be back. The team played a complete game from the drop of the puck to the Fredrik Modin over time winner. Their was no quit and physical play was to be found all over the ice. The kind of game that warms the cackles of Head Coach Ken Hitchcock's heart. A defensively sound game with very few mistakes in their own end.
The next night, Columbus was in Long Island to take on the Islanders who at the time averaged giving up 3 goals a game and the 28th ranked penalty kill. This was a perfect recipe to get the offense going and string together 2 wins. Instead the offensive struggles continued and seem to run deeper than anticipated. Mason was again very good except for the goal by the Islanders as Mason had a great look and it got through his glove. Mason later said it was an equipment malfunction with his glove that caused the goal but 1 goal shouldn't be the difference between a win and lose against the Islanders and it was. The Blue Jackets almost didn't come out with a point as it took a great individual effort by R.J. Umberger to get the Jackets on the board late in the 3rd period. Though the losing streak ended with the Red Wings win at home, with the lose in New York the road loses continue to mount as they have now lost 12 consecutive on the road and have a 6-12-4 record outside of Nationwide Arena. Road records usually determine whether a team is playoff bound and unless miracles start happening, there is no way this team will get close to .500 on the road which is usually the record needed to get to the playoffs.
Yes, Jim Mora, I'm talking playoffs. Coming into this season, most experts felt that this team was built to be in the playoffs for several years to come with a roster that didn't lose many players from last year's playoff run. All looked according to plan early in the season as Columbus was out to a 12-6-2 record which was the best start in franchise history. Since then the Jackets are 3-12-5 and the chances to go to the playoffs are slim to none and slim is leaving town. So what has happened?
Most have talked about the obvious. Mason has been underachieving and no where close to his performance from last year except for a few exceptions. Now saying that, the last 2 games he has looked a lot better. He'll have to be lights out the 2nd half of the season to give the Jackets any chance.
The other obvious is Derick Brassard who got a long term contract extension in the off season as GM Scott Howson and the organization felt they had seen enough to lock up the young center to be Nash's sidekick for several years on the same line. Brassard has been no where close and at this point is on the 4th line with his confidence completely shot. At this point the organization should be less worried about this season's performance and the chances of permanent damage that could be done to this very young and very skilled player. Does Gilbert Brule ring a bell? He didn't find his game until he was traded and got a fresh start. The Blue Jackets don't want that to happen again.
The less obvious player that's not even here but might be having the most impact is Michael Peca. Has almost nothing to do with what he did on the ice but more about what he did in the locker room. Rumors of Hitchcock losing the room have been bantered about and that might be true but it may be more of something lost in translation. Hitch is a devil for details and can overwhelm young players with a mountain of information. What the team needs is a guy to stand up and translate and give the cliff notes version of the Hitch novel. The players at times seem to have paralysis by analysis as they are still continuing to try and digest volumes of information from Hitch. Peca was that player last year the helped keep it simple for the young players and also could grab the room when it was going the wrong way. That person hasn't been there this year but no doubt that management underestimated the void Peca would leave but now know. So much so that they trade away long time Blue Jacket Jason Chimera for Chris Clark and Milan Jurcina. Clark is the key as he was the captain of the Capitals and has long been known as a leader. This move may be more about next year as this year but it certainly will help get some veteran leadership back into the locker room.
Now I really hope that this team wins tonight against the Predators and have a string of 3 games where they gathered 5 out of a possible 6 points and launch them into the New Year with momentum and some hope. To have hope of this it can't be 1 goal and done, 1 win and done or this organization will have it's self tagged with 1 playoff and done.
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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