Heading into tonight's tilt against the visiting New York Islanders, Columbus hopes to halt the 5 game skid with a win. Has the loss less than 48 hours ago to the NY Rangers served as a wake-up call for this club? "We'll find out tonight", said Columbus head coach Todd Richards. "I'll answer that question tonight after the game, whether it was a wake-up call or not."
"As I said, yesterday I think the alarm went off for them, based on how we practiced. The question for me is, did they hit the snooze alarm or did they did they really wake up. That's going to be the big thing."
With all 23 players on the ice for the morning skate, the changes to the line up are Dalton Prout in and David Savard out. Both RJ Umberger and Ryan Murray, questionable yesterday, are going to be in the lineup. Having Murray in the lineup is good, as Todd Richards has stated that he's been their best defenseman. "He does everything well. I don't think there's one area of his game that's lacking. Obviously, he's going to improve as he gets older and gets more experience. Right now, there's lots to like about Ryan."
In order for the Blue Jackets to turn their fortunes around, they must play a complete 60 minute game. 1st and 3rd periods have been good for them. It's what lies between that seems to do them in. "For whatever reason, what we've done in the first, whatever we've done in the past, we seem to forget", said Richards. "It seems to be breakdown after breakdown. And once those slides start, it's tough to stop."
Mark Letestu see's the recent slide as something that needs to end pronto. "I certainly hope it didn't take this long for a wake-up call. When coach (Richards) takes the podium after a game (loss to NYR) and says the things he does, talking about our effort being embarrassing. If there's any pride in here, that's a wake-up call. That's a challenge for us to be better."
The first meeting between these two clubs on October 5th was a spirited affair. Lestesu sees it being a physical game, again. "I hope so", he said. "I think that's something that our game has been lacking. Something that we're really capable of, when we're on top of game, our games are played physical. I anticipate our guys to be really fired up for tonight."
Columbus faces a 6-7-3 Islanders team that is without Matt Moulson, yet has the addition of Thomas Vanek. The Blue Jackets need a win tonight, especially when it's a divisional opponent. The puck drops at 7pm.
