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Dispatch

NHL
Blue Jackets seek consistency
Success depends on keeping it simple, doing the little things
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Michael Arace
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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Inconsistency is a subject that has cropped up on a consistent basis for the Blue Jackets, who followed a thumping victory in St. Louis with a 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night in Nationwide Arena.
What is the key? Are they close to finding a groove?
"We?ve just going to try and keep in mind that when we?re successful, we do the little things right," captain Adam Foote said.
"Sometimes at home, we complicate the game. Everyone tries to do too much. It?s human nature. Especially when we?re down a goal ? we push the envelope too much instead of just trying to grind it out. I keep reminding guys, we?re successful when we play together."
The Blue Jackets are 5-8-1. As of yesterday, they had the same number of points as St. Louis and Chicago, their fellow dregs of the Central Division. Tonight, they play the Blackhawks in the United Center and there?s the obvious danger of slipping into last place in the division, and next-to-last (just ahead of Phoenix) in the conference.
The road game in Chicago doesn?t daunt them.
"Thursday in St. Louis, it was us against the world, and we didn?t care how we got the two points ? we were going to get them," right winger Anson Carter said. "At home, we feel the need to paint pretty pictures sometimes."
That?s one of the problems cited by a number of Blue Jackets. Traditionally a strong team within their friendly confines, they?re 3-4-1 in Nationwide Arena, alternating wins and losses, with what should be the strongest team that has been assembled here.
"Right now, we?re not playing the same at home," coach Gerard Gallant said. "We don?t have to force things or try to do cute things."
The Blue Jackets played a sterling first period, which was scoreless, Friday night. Then, the Oilers scored a couple of easy goals early in the second period. The Blue Jackets stopped going to the net, looked for the perfect play from the outside and exacerbated their difficulties.
"I feel we?re right there, close," Foote said, "but we?re two different teams ? when we?re down a goal, and when we?re up a goal. We?ve got to play our systems; there?s enough chances, enough time in a game, enough power plays to come back."
Rick Nash said, "We?re getting out-worked at home."
Their loyal fans are becoming restless. There was a smattering of boos as soon as the Oilers scored their second goal.
"We have some of the best fans in the league, and once we use them to our advantage, we?ll be a lot better off," Nash said. "We can hear (the boos). If I were up there in the stands, there are times I?d be booing, too. We owe them a better game."
Gallant has a slightly different view. He has been here for the duration and has a deep fondness and admiration for the faithful. He can feel their frustration, but his hope is that the fans will channel more positive energy when the Jackets hit a rough spot in the middle of a game.
"The fans are honest here," Gallant said. "They?ve put up for five years, and I understand that. But it?s easy to get down on people when they?re not going good. What I?m asking is they help the players out instead of booing the first bad play. If the result, or non-result, is there at the end of the game, I completely understand the booing."
They booed at the end of the game Friday night. The Jackets went back to practice yesterday, then flew to Chicago, looking to reclaim the weekend. With a victory, they?ll have four out of six points in a span of four days.
marace@dispatch.com