No rest for the Blue Jackets...no, really, no rest.
The CBJ's plane out of Raleigh encountered generator issues in the air en route to Chicago late Thursday, which forced a return to North Carolina for a night's stay in advance of faceoff tonight against the Blackhawks.
So, the Jackets literally got no rest, or not as much as they anticipated, instead arriving day of game for the first of three straight games against the three best teams in hockey.
Other than themselves, that is.
Washington has 110 points, four more than the Jackets, with Chicago at 105 and Pittsburgh at 103 in the race for the Presidents Cup. Pittsburgh plays at the New York Rangers tonight and the Caps are at the Coyotes.
The CBJ got good Joonas Korpisalo Thursday against the Hurricanes, but the offense – like the Blue Jackets charter later that night – had generator issues.
Offensive generator issues, that is.
The CBJ scored only on Jack Johnson’s second-period slapper, which Korpi made stand up until a bad bounce led to the tying goal late in regulation.
Carolina won it in overtime, setting a franchise record with a point in a 12th straight game.
Tonight, and probably Sunday at 6 against Washington at Nationwide, as well as Tuesday at Pittsburgh, the Blue Jackets will go with Sergei Bobrovsky in net.
Better pitch a shutout, Bob, unless you plan on scoring some yourself.
Final Four picks: I'll take South Carolina over Gonzaga (with my heart, not my head) and Oregon over North Carolina (because there's something wrong with a school under massive NCAA investigation for academic fraud getting to play for a national championship).
And if it really is South Carolina and Oregon playing Monday night for all the marbles, TNT will pre-empt the game to show a re-run of Law and Order SVU.
And get higher ratings than that game would accumulate.
Tonight on The Zone: Cavaliers (you remember them) play host to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Monday on Spielman & Hooley: No. 36 returns and we will talk with Indians play-by-play voice Tom Hamilton at 6:20 and 8:20 a.m. on the day the Tribe begins the season at Texas.
Remember, 1057 The Zone is your home for Indians baseball all summer.
And fall.
That, you can count on.