The Columbus Blue Jackets opened game one of the John Tortorella era like they closed the final seven of Todd Richards’ tenure: with a loss. The Jackets scored a few goals, the Minnesota Wild were better and scored more. 0-8-0 is awful, and there’s probably no coming back. At least not this year.
Good: Wennberg and Atkinson
Alexander Wennberg had a chance on the new-look first powerplay, and didn’t seem out of place. But it was Wennberg at even strength that generated the first Columbus goal of the game. Cam Atkinson’s fight for puck control and Cody Goloubef’s good passing met the willing stick of Wennberg. The goal wasn’t the prettiest ever for Devan Dubnyk. I’m sure Wennberg didn’t care.
Atkinson picked up another point on the de facto second powerplay unit. Ryan Murray funnelled a puck toward the net, and Atkinson turned a tip-shot into a tip-pass right to Brandon Dubinsky and a gaping net for the 2-2 tie.
Bad Again: Bobrovsky
Baby steps? Coming into the game, Sergei Bobrovsky had an .835 SV% in all situations. Ugly’s a kind description, and ESPN’s John Buccigross gives it some color.
Bobrovsky has just been brutal this year for Columbus. Fighting every twitch of his muscles. Pucks going through him like Vegas chili.
— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) October 23, 2015
Bob finished tonight’s contest with an .870 SV%. As awful as that is (and it’s awful), it drags his season number up a bit! Teams don’t win with sub-.900 SV%, and the losses will continue until Bobrovsky comes closer to historical form.
Worrying: New Wrinkles
Ryan Johansen got the short end of the new coach, finishing the game with only 13:30. The last time the team’s leading scorer played under 14 minutes? Late in the 2013-14 season against Chicago.
The changes came hardest in the 3rd period, with Brandon Dubinsky slotting up to skate with Foligno and Saad. The most noteworthy demotion was the empty net situation, when the Blue Jackets were trying to get the equalizer in the final moments. Johansen was benched, never used as one of the final six skaters.
There’s a lot to be said for overall defensive responsibility. I covered the Johansen 14-15 Season Review: he wasn’t a defensive asset. That’s a clear problem. But when the Jackets need a goal? Sitting a first line scoring option seems daft. If the goal is to win? Skill needs to be out in desperate situations. Worry about the lessons after the losing streak ends, after you’ve finally had a chance to implement systems. This decision only adds to an eight game nightmare, rather than saving fans (and players) from the darkness.
Tortorella reflected after the game, “Moral victories aren’t going to help us right now.”
I agree.
Tweet of the Game
#CBJ, at 0-8-0, off to the worst start since the 1943-44 New York Rangers.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) October 23, 2015
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