There’s a saying “charity begins at home.” The Blue Jackets are looking to prove that there is nothing good about that statement because they don’t want to be giving anything away at home – especially points.
The 4-11-0 Jackets return home after a three game California road trip to face off against 6-4-5 Vancouver Canucks that come to Columbus after an overtime loss to New Jersey on Sunday. And while the Jackets come back to Nationwide with four of six points from their west coast swing, they are still looking for their first point of the season earned on home ice.
“I want the team to start the correct way,” head coach John Tortorella said after today’s morning skate. “Last home game here (a 3-2 loss to Winnipeg) we weren’t ready to go.”
The importance of winning on home ice is something Tortorella wasn’t commenting on early in his tenure with the Jackets, but it’s in the forefront now – particularly as the team made strides towards playing to their identity while on the road.
“It’s going to be a hard game,” said defenseman Fedor Tyutin. “We expect to have a good start and get back on track at home, it’s obvious we need to put on a good winning streak at home.”
Part of getting that home win is continuing to invest in the work the team did during their travel. This is Tyutin’s 12th year in the NHL, and with that experience comes the knowledge that the team has to keep working at their chemistry even though they are back at home with family.
One of the newest Jackets, forward Gregory Campbell agrees. Campbell is another 12-year NHL veteran who also carries the experience of winning a Stanley Cup with Boston and says the bubble of being on the road coupled with the challenge of facing “three really good teams” can galvanize a club.
“It’s often talked about, there’s something to be said for being away really solely focusing on hockey,” Campbell said. “I think we grew as a hockey club out there and realized we are a good team.
“Certainly you can build off momentum, but having said that it’s not like we can come back here and let our guard down and think that if we don’t put in the work that the results are going to be the same. We’ve had trouble at home this year, to be a good team in this league you have to really be good at home.”
And to be good at home means the Jackets will have to find a way to control the Canuck’s Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Tortorella knows the two intimately from his time as their head coach in Vancouver.
“I don’t you stop Danny and Henrik you just try to control them and contain them the best you can,” Tortorella said. “They don’t get enough credit as far as them playing in the (hard) areas. I experienced it, and it’s not because they’re twins, they just know where one another are, it’s tough to defend. They’re gonna be a big part of this game – they’re a big part of our game plan.”
And tonight promises to have two teams clawing for a win for two very different reasons. Vancouver’s last win was Nov 2 and they’ve lost their last three. Columbus, while 4-4-0 under Tortorella, is still trying to find a way to climb out of the hole an 0-8-0 start can dig.
But the climb has started, for wins and towards building a team identity through consistency.
“We have to bring (our identity) home,” Tortorella said. “As you continue to build who you are, consistency is when you become what your game is as a team.”
QUICKLY:
- Tortorella on Bobrovsky who starts in net tonight: “He’s a really good goalie – the most important thing is Bob needs to realize he’s a really good goalie.”
- Tortorella’s respect of the goaltending process continues – says he hasn’t heard a word from Bobrovksy but believes that the Vezina winner is getting is mojo back.
- Campbell was optimistic about the new-look fourth line we’ve seen in recent games that has Alexander Wennberg centering Campbell and Jared Boll: “I think weve been doing our job and getting chances. We have to continue that because I think we can be pretty valuable for the team, as a big hard line to play against that really creates a lot of energy for the guys but is a responsible line as well.”
- Continued praise from Tortorella today on the leadership group that he “leans on” including Scott Hartnell who Tortorella called a “throwback,” Brandon Dubinsky, and Nick Foligno.
- Tonight is military appreciation night for the Blue Jackets. Thank those who serve.
LINEUP
Jenner – Johansen – Foligno
Hartnell – Dubinsky – Saad
Calvert – Karlsson – Atkinson
Boll — Wennberg – Campbell
Johnson – Savard
Tyutin – Murray
Goloubef – Connauton
Bobrovsky
Scratches: Bourque, Prout
Injured: Clarkson
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