Food Poisoning Stinks

So if you have noticed my inactivity recently, it is due to a recent bout of food poisoning. I am somewhat on the mend, but wasn't well enough to attend tonight's Blue Jackets victory. That is OK, I still have enough to discuss as far as them.

Though I probably was more sick Saturday, I dealt with it and covered the Blue Jackets game against Nashville for the small time newspaper I write for. The Blue Jackets got their first win after losing 12 in a row to the Predators with a 2-1 shootout win. At the time, it put the team just one point behind the eighth place team in the Western Conference, with 37 games to play however. That is an eternity. Even though normally 37 games is normally all we need in past season to clinch NOT going to the playoffs.

What struck me odd was the response to a question I asked coach Ken Hitchock in his postgame press conference. I asked how much did the team need a win against Vancouver on Tuesday to go on the road with a perfect homestand. I of course expected him to say the normal cliche every win is big and we would love to go on the roadtrip on a winning note. Instead, he said something that could have be a turn point if they were to lose to Vancouver.

"It is critical (to win against the Canucks),"Hitchcock said. "You don't want to say it is your season because your just over half way but the teams above us are moving (up in the standings)... And treat every game as kind of sudden death at home right now before we get going on the road."

Sudden death? It is your season? All for a game in the middle of January? Let me try to translate this to Blue Jackets fans who are accustom to playing for next year in January. It is much like the Ohio State football coach saying in September that they have to win every game in September to have a chance at the National Championship... Wait, that is how the system is set up. Well for those who follow Buckeye basketball. It would be like Thad Matta saying in December that they have to win a non-conference game to get a crack at the NCAA Tournament. Obviously since college basketball is very subjective, he would never say that.

Think about what would have happened if Columbus didn't beat Vancouver on Tuesday night. They're not that far out of a playoff spot, but doesn't kill momentum having your coach say that you need to win this game and if we don't, that is the season? Of did coach know what he was doing? He knew his team would respond by throwing that bait for us in the media to catch. I have a feeling it could be the latter. Hitchock is a very calculating coach who obsesses over small things.

More good news for the Blue Jackets who are now in the midst of a three game win streak... Modin is coming back according to the Columbus Dispatch. Reports are pointing to a Thursday return. So for the team to be as close to perfectly healthy as possible, now is the time for the team to make a run on the road. Especially taking on Dallas twice and Colorado once. What an opportunity to go on the road to prove your are a revamped team.