Bethany's Hockey Rants

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Oh those Preds.

by Bethany on 09/28/08 at 10:55 AM ET
Comments (3)

The Nashville Predators beat the Columbus Blue Jackets last night. The final score of 3-1 Preds doesn’t do a lot of justice to what actually happened in the game. The Jackets dressed one of their top six forwards, RJ Umberger, and we didn’t dress any of our top four defensemen. Two of the three Predators goals were scored on the power play. It was a tough night for the Jackets as Tootoo seemed to get under the skin of everyone. He did his job extremely well last night. He never dropped the gloves, on order from Barry Trotz, who said:

``It was a physical game and obviously they’ve been targeting Jordin the last two nights,’’ Trotz said. ``I basically put the no-fighting (restriction) on Jordin. There’s no sense fighting some guy that will not be in the league.’’

He was talking about Jon “Nasty” Mirasty. I’m sure there are a couple of regulars who wouldn’t have mind to throw down with him, Boll if his arm wasn’t still on the mend and Tollefson who already had one fight under his belt. However, October 17th will be here soon enough, and Tootoo will be against a lineup of Jackets who won’t mind dropping the gloves.

Okay, let’s talk about the good things that happened in this game.

Freddy Norrena was outstanding, he faced 15 shots in the first period and allowed one power play goal, and then the Preds scored two in the third.

The second period. Wow, I couldn’t believe the stat I saw, 19-0. The Jackets threw NINETEEN shots on the Preds goaltenders (Ellis was pulled halfway through and Rinne came in), and the Preds weren’t able to get one shot on goal. For a team full of pretty much nobody’s, that is impressive.

It’s hard to judge a game when you’re only able to listen to it and check stats after.

Derek Dorsett scored the only Blue Jackets goals.

Grant Clitsome and Aaron Rome lead the Jackets in minutes played, 24:23 and 23:38 respectively. That was another stat that really stood out. Those are two young guys one of which has no NHL experience the other has played 18 regular season games and 1 playoff game in the NHL, he also has a Stanley Cup ring.

The next game is Monday at home versus the Blackhawks, Raffi Torres and Michael Peca are expected to play. According to Puck-Rakers there will be cuts either today or tomorrow.

**Nikolai Zherdev scored a shorthanded goal yesterday in the Rangers loss to the New Jersey Devils.

Filed in: Columbus Blue Jackets, , , Nashville Predators, | Bethanys Hockey Rants | Permalink
Tags: Columbus+Blue+Jackets, Jon+Mirasty, Jordin+Tootoo, Nashville+Predators, Nikolai+Zherdev,

Comments

No worries about losing last night, even though it was the Preds. First, it’s exhibition season. The games don’t count. Second, Umberger was the only top-six forward to suit up.

Hitch was just mixing it up with Trotz, Tootoo & co. Sending a message to the Preds that we’re going to treat them with all sorts of TLC. It was a tone-setter....to whet the appetite for the regular season.

Bring ‘em on. This is gonna be good.

Posted by Tom from Columbus on 09/28/08 at 11:16 AM ET

“Puck Daddy chats with blogger Paul Kukla about the new Korner"…

“...KK dramatically expanded its editorial scope by growing its roster of bloggers...Bethany Porter, one of the first and most prominent Columbus Blue Jackets bloggers”.

Congrats once again Bethany!!!

Posted by Rick from Hebron, Ohio on 09/29/08 at 10:38 AM ET