"At least the Blue Jackets didn't keep their fans up all night this time only to blow another third-period lead.
No, the outcome was delivered so quickly, so decisively, writers for Jay Leno could have penciled in Blue Jacket gags in time for his monologue. There was rich material to be mined from this odious performance.
The Los Angeles Kings scored four times in the first 16 minutes last night on the way to a 6-0 victory in Staples Center.
"That was more than tough, it was embarrassing," forward R.J. Umberger said. "We didn't play smart. If we get beat, we get beat. But we were our own worst enemies out there."
Goaltender Steve Mason's recent run of fine play ended as he allowed the first four goals, his glove hand failing him badly. Two days after playing brilliantly in a 2-1 loss at San Jose, he was shaky from the outset and pulled in favor of Mathieu Garon.
His teammates, who offered precious little support on Saturday, were no better on a night captain Rick Nash was lost to an unspecified first-period injury.
The Jackets made ill-advised pinches on defense, lost board battles, gave the Kings acres of open ice and continued a parade to the penalty box. They were outshot 26-5 through two periods and 35-11 overall, avoiding the franchise record for fewest shot by one.
If that weren't bad enough, they watched former Jacket Fredrik Modin -- dealt to the Kings last week for a seventh-round conditional pick add a goal and an assist."
