Tidd Talk

            This week in hockey was everything but boring. Tortorella canned, Ovechkin creeps closer to the record, and the Columbus Blue Jackets look to build off of a crucial divisional win.

Flyers Hit New Low

Breaking on Thursday morning, the Philadelphia Flyers have parted ways with Head Coach John Tortorella after 3 seasons. This came shortly after Tortorella had some comments showing a lot of frustration toward his team: “When you’re in this type of situation and you’re losing all the time, and there’s nothing at the end of the tunnel for you, there’s certainly going to be some frustration. But this falls on me. I’m not really interested in learning how to coach in this type of season, where we’re at right now. But I have to do a better job. So this falls on me, getting the team prepared to play the proper way until we get to the end.” Tortorella’s tenure was disappointing, to say the least. Posting a total record of 97-107-33 in 237 games, the Flyers failed to make the playoffs in the two full seasons under Tortorella and are well on their way to missing again. The Flyers named Brad Shaw as the interim coach as they look to finish the season as strong as possible            

I have to wonder what is next for Tortorella. It seems like he was almost checked out of the season and was not in the right place to finish it the right way. I have always been a fan of him since his time in Columbus, but he is not for everyone. Torts needs Torts players. If he does not have a group of guys willing to respond to his style of coaching, then the whole system falls apart. We saw it happen in Columbus, and we see it happen here. I still believe in Tortorella, but I have to wonder if maybe, at this point in his career, a front-office position could be better for him. I could see him as a general manager in the league sooner than I could see him coaching. I think a position where he can go out and get his own guys might not be a bad idea. While he runs a tight ship, having him out of the locker room and in the office could make for an interesting change of scenery with all that he has endured the past 5 years.

Ovechkin and the Record

The question is no longer IF Ovi will break the record, but WHEN. He is currently six goals away after scoring his 36^th goal of the season and 889^th of his career against Winnipeg. It is quite obvious that Ovechkin is on a mission to break this record this season. As to when he will break the record, that is all that is left to determine. With 10 games remaining in the season for the Capitals, if Ovi scored at the same rate he has been (.643 goals per game), then he should break the record in the final game against the Penguins. Oh, how sweet that would be. Ovechkin vs. Crosby with the record hanging in the ballots.

With that being said, do I think that is when I think he will break it? No. I believe he will do it earlier, as I could see him going on a heater down the stretch here, especially if the Capitals manage to win six before the last meeting against the Penguins (empty net merchant). I believe Ovi will break the record on April 13^th in Washington against my very own Columbus Blue Jackets. It would be a full-circle moment as Ovi scored his first goal against the Jackets at home in 2005.

While this is when I think he will break it, this is not when I want him to break it. As a big Ovechkin fan and hockey lifer, I would love to see this moment in person. In my perfect world, Ovechkin breaks the record in Columbus and I am in attendance making it the greatest moment I will ever get to experience. Every game I have seen him play in, he has scored. So to my gamblers, Ovechkin goal on 4/12 is a lock.

Jackets with their Backs Against the Wall

The Columbus Blue Jackets look to get back on track after a skid that not only saw them struggle to score goals but lose 8 of their last 10 since the big outdoor game win against Detroit on March 1^st. Averaging an abysmal 1.6 goals a game in that span as well, the Jackets finally have something to build off of again after their 4-3 SO win against the Islanders. The game did not start ideally for the Jackets and looked as if the slump was never going to snap as shots at the end of the second heavily favored the Islanders before the Jackets jumped on them in the third outshooting them 17-4 and forcing overtime and eventually a shootout where Adam Fantilli would have the winner with some help from Elvis Merzlikins in net.

While most people have begun to write off the Jackets, I think this is the turning point. They are by no means out of the wildcard race, as they have a slew of winnable games down the stretch. Beginning tonight with the Vancouver Canucks in Columbus, who find themselves in a similar scenario as the CBJ. I believe getting Monahan back and feeling what it is like to be in control of a game and win again will do wonders for this club down the stretch. Sometimes, all you need to do is remember the feeling. This team has been one of the best offensive teams in the NHL and one of the best teams at home all season. Their problem has been defense and consistent goaltending, but that has not served as a dagger just yet. The CBJ are still very much alive as they have three key matches against the Ottawa Senators coming up, and if they can manage to win 2 of 3, I think they will make the playoffs.

The good news is no other club around them has pulled away. Detroit is on a stinker, Montreal is only 2 points ahead, and the Rangers and Islanders sit tied at 74 a piece just outside the last wildcard spot. The path to the playoffs, while not easy, is doable. The path likely looks like winning 2 of 3 against the Senators, winning the games they should win against teams like Nashville, Buffalo, Philadelphia, and even Vancouver, sneaking one out on Colorado or Toronto, splitting against Washington, and beating the Islanders in game 82. I can see this team finishing 9-3 in the last 12 if they manage to build off of the momentum gained against the Islanders on Monday. Some may call me optimistic, some may call me insane, get used to both here at Tidd Talk.