Bethany's Hockey Rants

The new blog is up and running. Go ahead and change over your links if you don't mind and be sure to check https://bethanyshockeyrants.com from now on :)

Well the Columbus Blue Jackets may have lost tonight and had a lot of turn overs but I saw a lot of things that I liked. I liked the fact that Adam Foote had a short handed goal. I liked the fact that Freddy made a lot of big saves...even though he was trying to poke check on that first one and it didn't go over too hot. I did get mad at my boys and turn it off for the last 8 minutes. I did like the fact that Nikolai Zherdev had an assist on all of the goals by us...but like Michael pointed out...he was out on the ice for all of the Wild's goals.
I dislike the Wild's game as much as the next person which doesn't really make sense because I'm a huge fan of the Devils...but the way the Devils do it is exciting because Marty always makes the big saves and they're pretty entertaining and quite frankly...Backstrom isn't that entertaining. However Backstrom won the game tonight. Brent Burns who is my favorite Minnesota Wild player had a goal and was third star of the game.
I will write more about the game tomorrow...but, I just wanted to toss a quick post up...and say what's with all the shorties tonight?! Blue Jackets had one, Tampa had one, Anaheim had one, New Jersey had one, Ottawa had one, Montreal had one, Boston has one, and finally Chicago has one...and the night is not even over!! Anyway goodnight everyone...and twin this is for you...Go Yotes!!

Coach Ken Hitchcock will stick with the same lines from last night...11 forwards and 7 defenseman and Fredrik Norrena will be getting the start and according to Michael I am giddy as a school girl...and I AM!!!!!!!!!! In case you missed it the lines for last night are...

Forwards:

Nash ~ Fedorov ~ Vyborny
Chimera ~ Novotny ~ Zherdev
Modin ~ Malhotra ~ Brule
~ Fritsche ~ Boll

Defenseman:
Klesla ~ Hainsey
Foote ~ Hejda
Russell ~ Tollefsen

As I pointed out to Kirsten...Norrena is 2-0 vs the Wild.

Yea, you read that correctly. We shut out the former Stanley Cup champions in our home opener. It was amazing you couldn't have asked for a better game. Ilya Bryzgalov was in net for the Ducks and Pascal Leclaire was in net for the Jackets. Leclaire proved to me he can be a good goalie...now he just needs to keep it up. Nash scored twice and got two assists on the night. Feds had a goal and an assist as did Ron Hainsey. The former Stanley Cup Champs couldn't get their first shot on goal until 16 minutes into the game. We dominated the play and the Jackets earned this win. Shots on goal were 37 (CBJ) to 28 (ANA). It was an impressive win and we got to hear the cannon go off a total of 6 times. It was pretty sweet to say the least. While some people could say the Ducks are tired and not playing their best hockey...well I am going to have to agree with what Randy Carlyle said:

Asked if his team was tired after playing four games on two continents and in three arenas in less than a week, Ducks coach Randy Carlyle refused to take the easy way out.

"Those are excuses," he said. "That's the way it goes. We didn't have the energy that was necessary to compete at the level they played at."

Wait...we're talking about the Jackets right? The Columbus Blue Jackets? WOW. I guess the season is underway and well we play again tonight...vs Minnesota. My Prediction for the game tonight...Jackets 3 Wild 2. Keep up the great work. Check out quotes from the boys here. It's going to be a good season.

Also, be sure to look out for my new site which will hopefully be up by Monday :)

I'm so thrilled...this was the longest off season ever...at least in my head. Hockey starts in about 38 minutes...and I'm at work but never fear...I will be home and not miss the first puck drop in North America :)

We have a final roster... and I'm sorry that this is going to be short and sweet however...Foote, Modin, and Peca were placed on Injured Reserve today. Also, Kris Beech was put on waivers to be sent down to the minors. Also, Sheldon Brookbank was claimed off waivers by the New Jersey Devils...LAME!! UGH!!!!!! Wasn't he the best in the AHL last year?? UGH!!! I need a hug.

Congrats to Jared Boll and Kris Russell who have made it into the big show. According to Aaron Portzline they will be in the line-up Friday night for opening night. I am excited beyond belief for these guys. While, I haven't been able to make it up for any of the camps or watch any of the pre-season games I have heard nothing but amazing things about them. While neither of them is a top line center (Russell is defense and Boll is a winger) I feel their contributions will be just what we need. Portzline also has the opening night line ups...well what he thinks they're going to be. And here we have it:

"That experiment failed. I didn't feel comfortable playing center, and, at times, didn't know what to do with the puck." He went on to say that he wouldn't want to play center again, that he much prefers the right wing."

"I don't mind. I admit my mistakes and when I don't play well. After all, criticism is what news and fans are there for."

On the Forecheck has his Predators preview up. Be sure to check it out here. Also, regular (everyday) posting will start tomorrow. Also, look for me to switch to my own site shortly. :)

Dear Pascal Leclaire,
I have been a Jackets fan for sometime now...and have been to many games, however, I have never seen you play...hell I've never even seen you sit on the bench and look pretty. I have seen you hobble around on crutches in the locker room however...and I felt sorry for you. See here's the thing I don't like you. You have never proven yourself to me or anyone else. You are a band-aid. You don't deserve to be the number one goal tender. Freddy Norrena does. He deserves to open on Friday night. So help me if we lose on Friday. You will be forever on my bad list...a list you're pretty close to being on.
XOXO,
A Blue Jackets Fan that is tired of losing.

Thanks to Shmee for pointing this out to me...