What a Weekend for the Joker! - November 26, 2007
Bob McElligott - Broadcaster
Monday, November 26, 2007
What a weekend for the Joker!
Joakim Lindstrom came back to life this weekend. He scored two goals and had two assists against Manitoba on Friday, then added a goal and two assists the next night, in Toronto. I told him after Saturday's game that he should have a good shot at the player of the week honors. The American Hockey League agreed, and bestowed that honor on him Monday afternoon.
It was a nice return for a guy that never left. Lindstrom put up a point in 11 straight games, from October 12 through November 2. He looked like he was finally ready to be the best player on this team and get more than a quick look from the Blue Jackets. Then he went cold for a three game stretch before recording two assists in the November 16 loss to Toronto. More alarming than the points going down suddenly, was the number of shots he was getting on net. In five games he had only 11 shots. Almost unheard of for a guy that has the shooting ability he does. Of course, along the way he lost his best linemate, Derick Brassard. The time had come to show the Blue Jackets that he could step up and carry the load. Show them that he could make the adjustment to losing a top play-maker on his line and still be a stand out.
Over the last two games he's proven that. It's helped that he's been put on a line with Alexandre Picard and Derek MacKenzie. Ross Yates was obviously trying to re-create that magic from last year, when Lindstrom played with Zenon Konopka and Curtis Glencross. This line is very similar in the fact that Lindstrom shoots and the other two guys do the dirty work to produce points. It's worked well in the last three games as he's put up 7 points on 15 shots.
Now is his time. After several years in the organization, Joakim Lindstrom needs to shed the tag of being a player that has to have another top-skilled player on his line in order to be effective. The Blue Jackets will have eyes on him (and the rest of the team) throughout the next couple of games. What happens from here is up to him. If last weekend is any indication, he's ready to shine!