That's back-to-back stinkers.
On Friday, the Blue Jackets' game was "not even close" to the level needed, according to John Tortorella. They were better in certain phases of the game on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but not nearly good enough.
They're in a 2-0 hole early, score a big goal to get back in it and then promptly give up another. Let's digest this one with five thoughts:
THE START
Yikes.
The Blue Jackets were all over the place, fumbling pucks and running into a force field in the neutral zone. Pittsburgh, playing its third game in four nights and dressing an unproven backup goaltender in Tristan Jarry, was the better team – especially at the start.
RIley Sheahan got it started with a deflection that fooled Bobrovsky, and then Brian Dumoulin took a drop pass from Evgeni Malkin and spanked one through the Blue Jackets' defensive zone coverage to make it 2-0. That meant, among other things, the Blue Jackets would need to score at least three goals to win. Tough task.
BAD NIGHT FOR BOB
Listen, there was plenty of struggle to be passed around. But this wasn't Sergei Bobrovsky's best night. Two days after losing to a team he usually dominates (he's 9-2-1 lifetime against the Flyers, his former team), he was in character against a team he struggles against.
The Penguins have his number, whether it's the regular season or playoffs. They erased multiple deficits (including multiple-goal deficits) in the first two meetings this season at PPG Paints Arena to win, and this time, scored five goals on 18 shots to put the game far out of reach.
INJURY ISSUES
Dean Kukan figured to get more ice time tonight with Markus Nutivaara (upper body) out of the lineup, but he played only 3:10 before leaving with an upper body injury himself. He was hit along the boards in the Blue Jackets' zone in the first period and did not return. So, the Blue Jackets are down two regular defensemen, one of them has asked to be traded by next Monday's deadline, and Ryan Murray is likely to play Tuesday in New Jersey.
Nick Foligno got tangled up with Conor Sheary in the neutral zone, was in considerable pain leaving the ice but did return briefly in the third period. He eventually departed with what the team called a lower body injury.
LACKING CHANCES
For as many shots as they produced, there was a glaring shortage of quality chances. It's stark contrast between the Blue Jackets' offense (volume) vs. Pittsburgh's (dangerous efficiency); the Penguins make the most of their shots by developing layers of traffic, deflections, angles/bounces, you name it. There aren't many "normal" shots when you play the Penguins and we saw that tonight.
SUPPORTING CAST
Sidney Crosby was frustrated tonight. Evgeni Malkin didn't do much. Phil Kessel was on the perimeter most of the game. And somehow the Penguins hung five on the Blue Jackets and won the game going away.
That's a missed opportunity for the Blue Jackets; how many times have they played the Penguins and been torched by Malkin and Kessel? Tonight was one of those games you need to win when the opponent – likely tired, playing its third game in four nights – doesn't have all of its weapons firing.
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