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BLUE JACKETS DROP GAME 2, 4-1. HEAD BACK TO COLUMBUS DOWN 2 GAMES TO NONE. Columbus finds themselves in a bit of a pickle heading back from dropping the first two games in Winnipeg while only managing to score 1 goal in those two contests has to be leaving Coach Low and the rest of the team scratching their heads and frustrated. The Jets are a juggernaut, having won the President’s Trophy, but the Blue Jackets have to find a way to get more goals and put more pressure on the Winnipeg defense to try and get back into the series. The Blue Jackets haven’t been terrible but it seems the second period has been their downfall, at least last night, as they gave up 3 goals including 2 in 13 seconds late in the frame. That resulted in the team going into intermission down 4-1 instead of 2-1, which would have been a huge mental boost for the team. Now they must find a way to dust themselves off, wash away the first two games and get back in the series in a pivotal game 3 tomorrow night back at home. Players need to have short memories in the playoffs and the coaches will roll over in their sleep formulating a game plan that they feel can get them a win and back in the series. Coach Low knows that feeling from his playing days and has to find a way to get a few more goals past Allan Bester and rally back from the 2-0 deficit they now find themselves in going back to friendly confines at Bee Hive Arena. “You know, Sid, we were really hoping for a split here in Winnipeg which would have given us some confidence that we could push the Jets. But now we have to find a way to forget the last 2 games and focus on Game 3. I remember when I was playing and I think it was maybe 1982 or 1983 and Johnny Muckler, one of our assistants and just a great guy always told us no matter what happens today, tomorrow is a new day and we can only move forward so we need to have a short memory. That’s what I told the guys after the game tonight. We just need to focus on our game preparation, mindset and knowing we are going to home to what will be a capacity crowd that will blow the roof off the building. We need to be ready and play our best game of the series and go from there.” Coach Low is confident that they can rebound and make it a series yet. Mike Richter, who has played his guts out this year and in the two games so far, knows the task at hand and is confident the guys will rally tomorrow night and play their best game. “We have played pretty well in the series so far. We just haven’t been able to get much past their goalie but it isn’t for a lack of effort and heart. These guys want it bad and will do whatever it takes to win for Low tide. They will run through a brick wall for him so I would expect our best tomorrow night.” I think that’s all they can do at this point and see what happens. It’s one period and one game at time for the Blue Jackets now. They will give their best and see if that can give them a win and gets them back in to series. If that happens, we could be in for a longer series than most anticipated from outside of Ohio.
Sid Dithers |