Author Archive for Jeff Benson
Is Claude a Keeper?
You can say what you want about the Jackets recent stretch. It’s too little too late. It’s not really a fair assessment of what the team is like. They are only playing well because they are playing loose now that they’ve bottomed out completely. But watching these last games of the season, it can’t be [...]
Antoine and Jake Showing Up for the Jackets
No, the Blue Jackets didn’t win last night in New Jersey. They got beaten handily, in just about every facet of the game. They weren’t as good on the powerplay, they weren’t as physical, they weren’t as good on offense or defense or in goal: just another typical game from your 2009-2010 Blue Jackets. The [...]
Jackets Conquer Chelios
At this stage of the Blue Jackets season, it takes something like a 48 year old defensemen getting called up to play for the opposing team to make things interesting – and he was a factor in helping score both of the Jackets goals last night. The first goal he was trying to block an [...]
Jackets for Sale
With the trade deadline looming, there is one question on every hockey fan’s mind: Where will Raffi Torres go? Sadly, the Blue Jackets are sellers at the deadline of yet another disappointing season and are shopping Torres along with impending UFAs Fredrick Modin and Milan Jurcina (per the Columbus Dispatch). Modin is a vet with [...]
Thoughts on the Olympics and Rick Nash
One of the fun parts about cheering on your country’s hockey team in the Olympics is the chance to become a simple fan again. You cheer for each player of your team, each shift, each play. Aside from the game you’re watching, there is nothing else to think about. No contracts, no trade rumors, upcoming [...]
Reign of Noel
It has now been three games with Claude Noel behind the bench for the Jackets, and so far it’s been three straight wins. Dallas, Buffalo, and league leaders San Jose have all fallen to the Noel-led Jackets who have their eyes on a fourth home win against Vancouver tonight. While it has only been three [...]
Hitchcock Fired, But That Doesn’t Fix the Defense
The Blue Jackets have finally fired coach Ken Hitchcock. At this point, the firing was inevitable and I think while there is certainly a feeling of sadness and disappointment within the organization and fan base, it was obviously not working anymore. While I was clamoring for his firing much earlier in the year, I can [...]
Weak Effort Against the Kings
After I ripped the Jackets and predicted a loss to Nashville in my last blog, the Jackets surprised me by coming away with a win. It was great to see a decent performance by Steve Mason, and it was nice to see the home fans have something to cheer about (though it wasn’t so nice [...]
Look for Jackets’ Struggles to Continue vs. Preds
Not the most optimistic title, I know. The Predators have lost three straight games, but unlike Jacket losses (which are frequently not even competitive), all the recent Preds losses have been pretty tight games. They will certainly be playing hard for a win against the Jackets as they try to break their losing streak. Columbus [...]
Torres and the Jackets Beat the Blues
A little over a minute into last night’s home game versus the Blues, Paul Kariya scored a powerplay goal. It seemed the like start of another typical Blue Jackets 2009-10 game. You know, giving up 3-4 first period goals, making a goalie switch, scoring couple goals later when the game is already out of reach, [...]
Blue Jackets Look to Continue…Their Win Streak?
After going through one of the worst losing streaks in recent memory, the Jackets somehow find themselves on a three game winning streak. The start of the turnaround came with a win against the lowly Edmonton Oilers and their backup, backup goalie Devin Dubnyk. It was a nice gift to long-suffering Jackets fans, but I [...]
Jackets Win Battle of the Basement/Thoughts on Hitch
The Jackets won last night over their roommate in the Western Conference cellar, the Edmonton Oilers. As a fan, it was nice to see a win but it wasn’t convincing in the least. The “Fire Hitch” movement continues to grow, and a win over a terrible team won’t do much to stop it. Even in [...]
Columbus Loses Heartbreaker at Home
The Blue Jackets entered the 3rd period of tonight’s game against the Avalanche protecting a 2-1 lead in front of a lively home crowd. Steve Mason had been playing excellent, making key saves to help the Jackets stave off a very tough, constant attack from the Avalanche forwards. Craig Anderson was also in top form, [...]
Jackets Deal Chimera to Caps for Clark and Jurcina
After losing 15 their last 17 games, the Blue Jackets have finally made a roster move. The Columbus Dispatch today reported that the Blue Jackets have traded left Jason Chimera to the Washington Capitals for defensemen Milan Jurcina and right wing Chris Clark. I love this trade. One thing that has been sorely lacking on [...]
Another Home Loss for the Jackets
Less than two minutes into tonight’s game versus Phoenix, a Blue Jackets turnover in their own zone lead to a quick Coyotes goal by Keith Yandle. I couldn’t help thinking “Here we go again…” and I have a feeling a lot of Jackets fans thought the same thing. After giving up an early goal in [...]
Jackets in Need of Win (Again)
December 9th, Steve Mason and the Blue Jackets shut out the Florida Panthers 3-0. For a moment, it was as if last season’s Blue Jackets were back. They played solid two-way hockey, got great goaltending, and even got a goal from Derick Brassard (yes, there was a time when he was a scoring threat). Unfortunately, [...]
Panic Time in Columbus?
Even though the Jackets lost in an eleven round shootout Tuesday at Chicago, it was hard not to come away from that game with a positive feeling. In that game, against the top team in their division, the Jackets seemed to have fixed all the problems that had been ailing them. They got solid goaltending, solid defense, and [...]
A Much Needed Win for the Jackets
After a string of painful losses, the Blue Jackets got a much needed win against TJ Oshie and the hated St. Louis Blues last night. The win certainly came as a relief to both players and fans, who had been growing increasingly frustrated with the poor play and mounting losses as of late. Even though [...]
Jackets Collapse Against the Rangers, Look to Rebound Tonight in Montreal
Living in New Jersey, I’ve had the chance to watch a lot of Rangers games, and the one thing that struck me going into last night’s game was just how similar they are to the Blue Jackets. Both teams rely heavily on one superstar (Rick Nash, Marion Gaborik) and the chemistry he has with his [...]
A Statement in Dallas on Thursday, A Divison Battle Saturday
Was it coincidence that the first game after the controversial departure of Nikita Filatov to Russia turned out to be a showcase for the very Ken Hitchcock system that young Niki couldn’t handle? I think not. For all the fans angry with Hitch for driving away our future superstar (myself included), this was his way [...]
