UNHITCHED

Odd firing here in Columbus as the Bluejackets nerdy GM Scott Howson told Ken Hitchcock to stay home the rest of the season.

The BJs have struggled since opening with a strong 12-6-2 mark over their first 20 games.

They endured a disastrous December (2-9-5) and were treading water lately with a 4-4 record over their last 8 games when the blade of the guilitine came down on Hitch.

So why now?

Here are a few probabilities:

- Since the firing comes right after getting drilled in Denver by the Avs young pups I have to think the regression of Columbus' youthful players Mason, Brassard, Voracek, even Nash, had something to do with it - not to mention the decision by the talented but soft Filatov to run back to Russia.

-- They open a six game homestand against the Stars tomorrow. Can you say "public relations move"? Good luck selling hope, again.

-- The Olympic break will afford interm coach Claude Noel a mini training camp (Hitch will be helping coach Canada at that time)

-- Maybe the fact they are 4-14 in games decided by three or more goals had an impact too. But then again the Stars have a 3-10 mark in blowouts, so...

-- And of course they are 14th out of 15 teams in the conference right now. That gets coaches in trouble with their GMs and their GMs with their Presidents and their Presidents with their owner. Especially in orginizations that allow the tail to wag the dog.

Anyway, I feel bad for Hitch. He seemed to be building something promising in the Buckeye State but a sophmore belly flop from his goalie seemed to undermine the good and halt the progress.

He'll be alright, it's not like he hasn't been through this before - in Dallas and in Philly - and firing the coach seems more like a houskeeping chore or a habit now days. Just consider that nine of the fifteen Western Conference clubs have now changed their bench boss in the past two seasons. Swiffer Wet Mops are less disposable.