(Editor's note: Since I couldn't watch the game due to work, Dannie was good enough to fill in for a guest post. Thanks again! - Matt)

It started off innocent enough and not unlike many nights for the Blue Jackets. After one period, the Jackets headed to the visitor's locker room in the Pepsi Center down by a score of 1-0. Despite leaving the period trailing, it was not for lack of trying; they unloaded eleven shots on Avs goaltender Peter Budaj, but none made it through. Even through the first part of the second period, despite allowing a goal when Rusty Klesla joined Marc Methot in the box to make it 2-0 Colorado, the Blue Jackets seemed poised and continued to take shots on Budaj. At the exact midpoint of the game, former Jacket prospect David Liffiton unleashed a shot from the point that snuck through traffic to whiz past Steve Mason and quickly end any attempt to wrangle the game for Columbus.

 Just 44 seconds later, Paul Stastny went stick-side on Mason to sneak one through and effectively end the goaltender's night, as Arniel pulled him in favor of Mathieu Garon. Garon settled things down for the remainder of the game, but the damage had been done. He allowed one goal, early in the third, when a careless defensive move by Anton Stralman allowed a Cody McLeod shot to careen off his skate and into a vulnerably open net. A minute and a half later, the Jackets were able to score a power play goal off Derick Brassard's stick. Brassard was relentless even on a bad night, and combined with his linemates to have 14 shots on goal. If not for Budaj's solid play turning away 33 of their 34 shots, they might have kept the game in their hands. The offensive attempts were there, but it was their defensive weakness that hurt them, looking overwhelmed and almost lost at times. It was yet another game of the Jackets being unable to control a game, but with less fortunate results than the last week.