One major drawback to this shortened and compacted season; the games come at you fast, and real life makes it difficult to keep up with updating, even on a weekly basis. So what I'm going to do here is look at the season in quarters. Just like in school, I'll call them "grading periods"; with a team this full of youth, that's strangely fitting. As such, that means I will be looking only at the games through Edmonton's visit this past Sunday.
In looking at this first grading period there are a few ways to break the games down. Going game by game would probably take more time than any single game deserves at this point, so it will be more of a general overview followed by "grade cards".
The Openers
The season got underway for the Blue Jackets in Nashville on January 19, with Sergei Bobrovsky getting the call in net. The game seemed to start out much in the vein of 2011-12, with he Preds getting on the board just 39 seconds in. But after the early hiccup, the Jackets settled down and settled in. Bobrovsky not only made a number of sharp saves, but showed a rebound control that had been missing with CBJ goalies in recent years. Late in the period newcomer Nick Foligno scored an equalizer for his first goal with the Blue Jackets. However, this was quickly given back less than two minutes later as Ryan Ellis scored on a Preds power play due mostly to defensive congestion and confusion in front of Bobrovsky. About halfway through the second the Jackets tied it again as Artem Anisimov, acquired in the Rick Nash trade from the Rangers, scored. The remainder of the contest was pretty much back and forth and closely played; and after 65 minutes the tie was not broken. Game 1 then featured Skills Competition 1. In the shootout the Jackets got a goal from Anisimov, but David Legwand tied it up on the last chance for Nashville. The shootout went to a sixth round where Derick Brassard scored for the Jackets, and Bobrovsky stopped Craig Smith for the win.
Two nights later the boys in Union Blue took home ice for the first time this season against the archrival Detroit Red Wings. This was a Wings club that was known to be a different look than fans were used to, with the retirements of Nik Lidstrom and Tomas Holmstrom. Add newcomer Jordin Tootoo and subtract Jiri Hudler, and you see a Detroit team that is less dependent on raw talent and dependent on hard work and physicality. After a scoreless first, the Wings put the first two markers of the game on the board in a little over 14 minutes to start the second. The Jackets quickly got one back before the intermission as Cam Atkinson got his first goal of the year. After adding two power play goals in the first 10 minutes of the third the Jackets had their first lead of the season. But with a little over 6 minutes left Pavel Datsyuk put a wrister past Bobrovsky, and the tie held up, sending the CBJ to their second shootout in as many games. And this time the result was not as favorable as only one player scored in four rounds; Detroit's Damien Brunner.
Coming out of the opening "weekend" the Jackets were 1-0-1, and there was a good deal of optimism as they were solid performances against divisional foes.
First trip west
The less said about these games, the better. Excuses were made about travel and tiredness. Blame that went to Steve Mason for a shaky start in his first effort, on January 23 in Phoenix, was not affixed for a similar performance by Bobrovsky the next night in Denver. The skaters were flat and uninspired, looking entirely too much like the edition we were "treated" to in 2011-12.
And here allow me to interject a bit of the "WTF?!?!" I've been feeling when it comes to this team's goalie situation. Now, it's understandable that Mason has built up a fair bit of ill-will with the fans here given his struggles since his rookie year. But many have been completely unfair to him. Goals that he gives up that are declared "weak" are the result of "poor defense" when Bobrovsky is in net (in fairness, they both have given up weak ones, and both have suffered from lax D, in about equal amounts). I am asked at least once a week about what I think of this trade or that which involves sending Mason to Toronto or Philly or Vancouver for a forward. People, what part of "compacted season" and "more back-to-back games than we're used to" EVER speaks to getting rid of a goalie without getting one in return? And Curtis McElhinney, as well as he has played in Springfield, is really not someone I'd want in a position to have to start every third or fourth game in the NHL. Also, with Mason having improved markedly this year, it's good to know that we have two solid 1A and 1B goalies for a season like this one. If a move is made, is should wait for the off-season. But, honestly, of the two keepers, Mason has shown more upside this year, so he's not the one I'd be looking to move, if I were to move either. But I know some will dismiss that opinion with my known biases, as well.
So, the first trip west, two games in Phoenix and Denver, ended up with the Jackets falling 5-1 to the Coyotes (Fedor Tyutin, with the first goal of the game at 5:30 of the first) with Mason in goal, and falling 4-0 to the Avalanche, making Semyon Varlamov look like Vladislav Tretiak in the process. They returned home 1-2-1, and suddenly aware that the team still had a long way to go.
Closing out January
After the disastrous western trip the Jackets came home to face the Chicago Blackhawks. This game was played on the night was to have been the night of the All-Star Skills competition, something of a reminder of what the lockout cost us fans in Columbus. As in Phoenix 3 nights earlier the Jackets put up the first goal of the night, staking Mason to an early lead once again. The 'Hawks then put up the next 3 goals, though there was a questionable wave-off of Derick Brassard equalizer for "goaltender interference" by Foligno (when the contact was initiated by Chicago goalie Corey Crawford when Foligno was outside of the crease). Anisimov got his second of the season late in the third, but the Jackets couldn't find the tying marker (unless you count the one they should have had from the second period), and the good guys lost a close one with one of the best teams in the league. Mason looked strong in net, and the play of the locals was stronger, though still not a 60-minute effort.
Two nights later the Jackets welcomed Dallas to town for the season debut of Stars' holdout Jamie Benn. Bobrovsky was on the case in net, and looked solid, though he did give up a couple of meaty rebounds that he was lucky to not find stuffed back past him. Dallas did score early in the second to take a 1-0 lead, but with a little more than 2 minutes left in the second Derek Dorsett equalized. Early in the third the tie was broken by Vinny Prospal and the Jackets held on for a 2-1 win in their strongest game since the home opener. The Jackets were now 2-3-1 after 6 games, and were looking to be on the right track again.
Fog in Columbus on the night of the 28th meant that after the Dallas game the Blue Jackets would not be able to get out to Minnesota for their game the next night and they would have to fly in the morning, losing their pre-game skate to travel. The wear of this break in routine was evident in the first period and the Wild got out to a 2-0 lead before the break. After the intermission the team seemed to have gotten their legs under themselves once again, even if they were still shaky throughout. Goals by Letestu in the second and Jack Johnson in the third brought the game level. But after a failed attack in the Wild end, the home team ran a beautiful counter up ice that was poorly defended and Pierre-Marc Bouchard snapped it over the shoulder of Mason. As disappointing as that was, it could have gotten worse. About a minute later Tyutin hooked a breaking Bouchard, who was awarded a penalty shot. Mason was up to the challenge, keeping it a one goal game, but the Jackets could not equalize.
Six game homestand begins
The Jackets returned home on the 31st to face the Blues in the first of a season-long and franchise-record-tying six-game homestand. Once again Bobrovsky started the game, but after 3 goals on 11 shots in the first 13:22 he was relieved by Mason. And the much-maligned 1B goalie won a good deal of respect, stopping all 13 shots he faced over the remainder of the contest; the Blues picking up an empty-net effort late. Derick Brassard got his first of the season with 3:09 left to stave off the shutout.
Mason was rewarded for his solid performance in the mop-up role against St. Louis by getting the start against the Red Wings two nights later. This was a risky proposition as Mason has had some of his worst starts historically against the Wings. But on this night Mason was up to the task. Johann Franzen scored about halfway into the first for the Wings, but before the frame closed the Jackets leveled the game on a blistering slap shot by James Wisniewski. It was Wiz's second goal of the season. Artem Anisimov owned the second period, tallying his 3rd and 4th of the season and staking the good guys to a 3-1 lead after the period. Mark Letestu added a short-handed goal late push it out to 4-1 before Brunner got a final goal with 27 seconds left for the Wings. But that only mattered on the score sheet, as the Jackets took the 4-2 win.
February 5, three nights later, saw the Jackets coming off their first two-night break of the season as they "welcomed" Jeff Carter back to Columbus with the LA Kings. Mason got back-to-back starts for the first time this season, and he was given a 1-0 a little over 13 minutes in as Derek MacKenzie got his first of the season. After the intermission the Jackets were victimized by poor defense on a first minute goal by Anze Kopitar and then love taps on Carter as he sat in front of Mason, then backhanded one off the goalie and in. A little over a minute later Derick Brassard tied it up again, but it was not to be that night. Slava Voynov sent a strong shot from the point past Mason late in the second and Mike Richards added the insurance about halfway through the third. The Jackets only took 10 shots over the last two periods as the team looked flat after a strong first.
Two nights later the Calgary Flames came to town and Bobrovsky started once again. The Jackets came out of the gate charging hard and they had the run of play. But the Flames put the first goal on the board, quickly answered by Matt Calvert's first of the season. Less than five minutes later the Jackets took the lead on Letestu's fourth of the season. Calgary tied it halfway through the second, and took a 3-2 lead on a power play goal about halfway through the third. With 9 minutes to go, Vinny Prospal scored his 3rd of the year and made it a 3-3 game. And it stayed tied until Alex Tanguay scored a little over a minute into overtime. It was a a disappointing result for a game where the Jackets seemed to dominate.
The first quarter closed out with the front end of back-to-back games. The Oilers came to Columbus to do battle, and the Jackets faithful got their first look at the guy many wanted the team to take in the draft, until fate intervened at the lottery and Edmonton got the number one pick; Nail Yakupov. In the end, he was kept off the scoresheet. Instead, it was traditional Jackets killers; Ales Hemsky, Magnus Paajarvi, and Sam Gagner who put the goals up for the Oilers, while the Jackets were limited to RJ Umberger's first of the year. Bobrovsky was victimized on 2 of 13 shots faced, while the Jackets only solved Dubnyk once on 40 shots. That disparity on the scoresheet tells the tale of the game. The Jackets had the run of play, but could not get anything by the Edmonton keeper while Bobrovsky looked ordinary, at best. The first quarter ended with the team sporting a 3-7-2 record, with 8 points, and sitting in 29th in the league.
Assessments:
Forwards:
The only real bright spots here have been Anisimov and Atkinson, and Cam has been out since the game at Phoenix. There have been signs of good things from Prospal, Dubinsky, Letestu and Foligno, while Dorsett, Boll, Brassard and MacKenzie have been about what they've been expected to be. Outside of his faceoff prowess Ryan Johansen had been disappointing, resulting in a trip back to Springfield. Umberger has been very disappointing for a top 6 forward, looking uninspired even in the best of times on the ice. As a collective group their first quarter grade is a C-. There needs to be a lot of improvement up front going forward. Getting Atkinson back from injury will help, but the team cannot rely on just that for their improvement.
Defense:
On the nights when the Blue Jackets have looked good, the defense has looked pretty solid. On the nights when they have lost by more than 1 goal, the defense has looked rotten. They have been inconsistent, and injuries had hit the unit hard enough that Tim Erixon was brought up from the minors and was able to work his way into the starting six. John Moore has looked solid most nights, and Tyutin and Nikitin continue to be a strong, reliable pairing most nights. Compared to the forwards, they are less of a disappointment as a unit, though still not as good as they need to be. And some of that may be due to injuries not allowing the unit to come together as would be preferred. Their collective grade will be a B-, though it's close to being lower.
Goal:
Both goalies have had one bad night this season. In fact, it can be argued that Bobrovsky has had two, between Colorado and the St. Louis game he was yanked from. But in all honesty, without either of these guys in the net, this season would be a lot worse than it has been. They have kept them in games and have covered a number of lapses. Mason isn't quite back to the form of his rookie season, but he's closer to that than he is to last season's form, and that great to see, given how much work he has been reported to have put in during the offseason and lockout. As a pair they grade at a B+; needing to improve on some of the rebounds that they give up and being a little sharper on their high gloves. But keeping the games close, rather than letting them become 3+ goal laughers, really does help. And if the offense can improve, the team will be winning more of these close games than they are currently.
Through 12 games:
Leading Scorers: Fedor Tyutin (1 goal, 8 assists, 9 points, 12 games played), Mark Letestu (4 G, 2 A, 6 P, 10 GP), Derick Brassard (2 G, 4 A, 6 P, 12 GP)
Goalies:
Sergei Bobrovsky: 2-3-2, 2.98 GAA, .896 Svs%, 7 GP
Steve Mason: 1-4-0, 3.00 GAA, .900 Svs%, 6 GP
