Bethany's Hockey Rants

Previous entry: Game Day!

Uhm, well…okay.

by Bethany on 04/17/09 at 11:04 PM ET
Comments (7)

Ah, I have been chompin at the bit to get on here and blog about the Blue Jackets first playoff game, and now a day later I finally get to.

I suppose the game has two different parts to it. The first half where the Blue Jackets played the way they were supposed to and the second half when they shut it down for the night and made some mistakes (I’m looking at you Manny and your butt Hejda) and a tied playoff hockey game was soon a 3-1 game, which then became a 4-1 hockey game.

Umberger is back to his playoff form, he was the best player for the Blue Jackets...the worst? I’m going to have to give that to Antoine Vermette...he took stupid penalties, and just seemed to not “flow” with the game.

Hitchcock has promised changes. He will deliver changes.

Lidstrom was on Nash every second of the night, and well, Nash was held scoreless.

The Jackets got chances but weren’t able to score, shocker, on the power play. Osgood was pretty good last night too.

I want to talk a little about the fan experience. It was the first playoff game that I’ve watched and actually had MY team playing. I mean sure, I tend to go for the Devils every year (my Brodeur love is great), but actually having your team out there on the ice is a completely different experience.

I was an emotional wreck, the first period I screamed, held onto a pillow and walked the floor, and at some points looked away, it got scary.

Then the first goal for Detroit went in. I went to grab a drink and as I was walking in the kitchen, Umberger scored. I dropped everything and started jumping up and down.

RJ Umberger was the first Columbus Blue Jacket to score a playoff goal and so far, it’s the only one.

Then, the game fell apart and so did I, it’s hard enough watching the playoffs, but watching your team go down like that sucks and makes it even harder to start doing homework after the game.

All in all, my first playoff game where I am emotionally attached was....well, it was pretty awful, but I loved it (now if we could just win).

And what would the playoffs be without a little drama?

Hitchcock and Williams are calling the Red Wings cheaters in the dots and apparently tomorrow night we’re going to cheat also.

I believe it...but the Jackets let up in the second half of the game. If they kept the pressure on, we would have had a shot at that game even though the Wings turned up the heat. And give them credit, they played well the last half of the game.

Oh well, it’s time to move on and start thinking about game two. Which Jacket fans are going up tomorrow? Depending on when I get off work, depends on when/if I go.

Make sure you wear your blue, and cheer the boys on.

And here’s a message for the CBJ. You had your game where you adjusted to playoff hockey. That’s all you get. Hop in the game, and play as well as you did the first half of the game. Don’t let up, don’t give in. You CAN do this.

Filed in: Columbus Blue Jackets, | Bethanys Hockey Rants | Permalink
Tags: Columbus+Blue+Jackets, Detroit+Red+Wings,

Comments

I gotta admit that when I was watching the last two period of this game I did think to myself, “Damn, Bethany’s gonna be pissed.” It made me chuckle to think how long I’ve read this site to care enough.

Sad but true, I suppose…

I told my wife to be on a drive the other day, “It really feels weird to be worried about the Blue Jackets.” But they’ve really built themselves into a kinda scary team. And besides the miracle of Mason (tm) that the team has enjoyed, I attribute that success to two major acquisitions:

Huselius and Vermette.

True, Vermette was a dog last game, rack that up to newbie not knowing the system points. Thing is, he’s a monster at faceoffs, and he can play center or wing. Run the numbers since he’s been in Ken’s system. I’ll wait. Realize he’s the second coming of Rod Brind’Amour. Consider yourselves lucky.

I’ve been a fan of Huselius since he was a rookie in Calgary. Like Vermette his coach just was too stupid to appreciate him. Amazing hands, good down low. Paired on a scoring line this guy will produce.

In this match-up, let’s just assume Nash doesn’t exist. For that matter neither does Zetterberg.

Luckily the Blue Jackets haven’t learned our Kryptonite. And I for one won’t mention it here. Put it out of your mind.

Good luck to all!

Posted by Hippy Dave from San Francisco by way of Detroit on 04/18/09 at 02:27 AM ET

I was an emotional wreck, the first period I screamed, held onto a pillow and walked the floor, and at some points looked away, it got scary.

Welcome to the playoffs.

Posted by halomasterd4n on 04/18/09 at 06:16 AM ET

I’ve been a fan of Huselius since he was a rookie in Calgary.

Florida?

And welcome to playoff hockey fandom, it’s the best and worst time of the year. Just wait till your team is good for a few seasons in a row and you start to have expectations. Then you’ll be at least twice as stressed come playoff time.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 04/18/09 at 06:50 AM ET

I was an emotional wreck, the first period I screamed, held onto a pillow and walked the floor, and at some points looked away, it got scary.

Then the first goal for Detroit went in. I went to grab a drink and as I was walking in the kitchen, Umberger scored. I dropped everything and started jumping up and down.

RJ Umberger was the first Columbus Blue Jacket to score a playoff goal and so far, it’s the only one.

Then, the game fell apart and so did I, it’s hard enough watching the playoffs, but watching your team go down like that sucks and makes it even harder to start doing homework after the game.

All in all, my first playoff game where I am emotionally attached was....well, it was pretty awful, but I loved it (now if we could just win).

And what would the playoffs be without a little drama?

I hate to tell you this, Bethany - but it never gets any easier. Never. Your team is going to be pretty good for a while, so whatever happens this season you will have many more times to attempt to quench the stress with drinking (I have heard it can work, although I don’t myself), or with eating hot fudge from a jar you keep in the fridge for playoff emergencies (which does actually help).

Enjoy the ride, regardless of length - I think it will be one of many for you guys, and I hope the ownership is really able to use this appearance to their advantage next season and solidify the Jackets’ status in Columbus. I’m looking forward to seeing the atmosphere in Columbus for game 3.

(And if you think the emotions from a first game are tough, wait until you win a game - since I really don’t see a sweep - and you find yourself bouncing around the entire next day or two. Right up until the next game when you think you might puke.)

Welcome to the playoffs!

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/18/09 at 07:22 AM ET

Sad but true, I suppose…

There’s nothing sad about it. I’ve chosen other teams to cheer for based on the fact that I like the bloggers who cover them. It’s why I largely avoid some sites when those teams are opponents, because I don’t want to think about how disappointed the other fans are. And in some cases, because morons come on to gloat, and that ticks me off. Be respectful and act like a grownup or just be quiet.

I’m hoping Detroit wins the second game, because game three scares me a lot. It would be something for Columbus to get their first playoff win at home. If they get it on the road it just wouldn’t be the same.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/18/09 at 07:30 AM ET

Erp good catch Nathan, and good luck Bethany, though I am sworn to be your mortal enemy for the next.... oh… 3 games…

Posted by Hippy Dave from San Francisco by way of Detroit on 04/18/09 at 01:30 PM ET

Ha, thanks for welcoming me to the playoffs guys! I don’t expect it to get easier, I’m an emotional fan anyway, and after two losses, even though I am pissed, I still love the fact that we are IN.

Posted by Bethany on 04/18/09 at 10:44 PM ET