Back-to-backs can be a blessing and a curse. Twenty-four hours is scarcely enough time to recover after a rough and tumble game -- much like the Blue Jackets' last evening. But, it also gives teams less time to dwell -- maybe grow a bit of a big head -- on the previous evenings accomplishments.
The Columbus Blue Jackets, especially Fedor Tyutin, may be aching after last night's 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. And, any feelings of vindication that might have arisen from the 'W,' which brought them within four points of eighth place in the Western Conference, must be short-lived. Tonight the Jackets host the San Jose Sharks for the fourth and final meeting of the season between the two clubs.
The Sharks and Jackets opened the season in Stockholm, Sweden, splitting a two-game series. The Jackets went on the shutout the Sharks 3-0 in San Jose back on Nov. 20, back when the Blue Jackets were vying for the Central Division lead. Oh how long ago that West Coast sweep seems.
The Sharks have been mired in relative mediocrity for most of the season. A perennial President's Trophy contender, San Jose appears to now be making its run, winning four straight and eight of their last 10. The Sharks now only one point behind the Pacific Division-leading Dallas Stars. Goaltender Antii Niemi is riding consecutive shutouts of Eastern Conference powers Boston and Washington and rookie center Logan Couture has all but guaranteed a spot on the Calder Trophy ballot.
Coulture's 24 goals lead all first-year players, and equals that of Blue Jackets' captain and leading points man Rick Nash. Couture's currently in the midst of a six-game scoring streak and has goals in five of those games. He's scoring big goals, too -- game-winners. By the way, he's only seventh in the Sharks' team scoring standings. Talk about depth up front.
The Blue Jackets have won three straight after a 7-4 loss to Chicago immediately following the All-Star break. Steve Mason was terrific in net again last night, and the Union Blue appear have their top lines clicking. (Now if they could only do it on the same night.)
Last night's win was one of the most complete performances the team has put together, despite laying a goose egg on the power play for the fourth straight game. Players were driving to the net, defensemen (even Jan Hejda) were skating the puck out of trouble, players were
actually sticking up for each other, and the Nash-Brassard-Voracek was clicking the way head coach Scott Arniel has longed for all season.
But the Blue Jackets have to put last night's performance in the rearview mirror. Despite the sting of wins they've put together, they still have four teams to leap-frog into the playoff mix. They're also only a point out of 14th place.
Loose Pucks
--UPDATE: Fox Sports Ohio play-by-play announcer Jeff Rimmer has confirmed that Mason will get the start in net tonight for the seventh straight game, his fourth game in six nights. Obviously, Mason is playing with confidence. Just look at the way he has been coming out and attacking shooters. Coach Scott Arniel wants to capitalize on that confidence and ride the hot 'tender. But, Mason has been hampered with fatigue issues for much of his career and all Mathieu Garon did last time against the Sharks was turn away 35 shots in a shutout performance.
-- Pittsburgh forward/agitator/Team Iceland alumni Matt Cooke has been handed a four-game suspension for his blatant charge/board/check-from-behind on Tyutin. That's a shameful decision from The League. How about some sort of uniformity with these rulings, especially given the guy's history, you know, like trying to blow up Alex Ovechkin's knee just two days earlier? But no injury, no biggie for Colin Cambell and co. Of course ask Cooke, and he's the victim for blatantly leaving his feet to nail a guy in the number straight into the boards. The nerve of defenseman these day's thinking they've got the right to the puck?
-- You have to love the heart from Derick Brassard for coming to Tyutin's defense and dropping the gloves with Cooke immediately after that gutless play. The kid plays with fire but that said, he certainly shouldn't be the one dropping the gloves. I seem to remember a similar incident back in '08-'09 when Brassard decided to get into a fight in defense of (coincidentally) Tyutin after he absorbed a vicious but clean hit from Stars forward James Neal. The end result? Brassard dislocated his shoulder and missed the rest of the season. Good thing he went down fast...
-- Question of the day: In lieu of today's Toronto-Anaheim deal for Francois Beauchemin, what do you think Hejda would/will fetch in the trade market?
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