The Columbus Blue Jackets dominated large portions of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks yet still lost 4-1. Strong goaltending from Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford made a big difference but more than anything, the Blue Jackets pulled up lame in the third period letting the Blackhawks pull away.
What is ailing the Blue Jackets and can it be fixed?
Here are your three things:
A Complete Game Still Hasn't Come
Having two good periods is all well and good but if you can't close it out, what does it matter? In front of 17,000 plus the Blue Jackets should have had a good third period in their back pocket. They can't be tired yet, can they? The lines aren't necessarily stagnant, but they aren't creating like they should be.
Where do you go from here?
You're going to win most games just due to the fact you have more depth than other teams. The lack of depth scoring though should concern you. The offense couldn't be more hot and cold. Winning the Corsi battle is all well and good, but a ten-minute span where you don't even get 40% of the shot share can kill you. The Blue Jackets are seeing that. They need to be more complete, and they haven't shown it yet.
A Good Goaltender Can Bite You In the Butt
Maybe on any other goaltender on any other night, the Blue Jackets would have a bigger lead, but Corey Crawford came out to play. Crawford had to face a lot of scoring chances on the night and still came out on top.
The Blackhawks overall aren't the team of old. They can be beaten. But on a night like tonight where Crawford shows up to play, it is going to be tough.
It is about trusting the process and making sure you're putting the puck on net. For the most part, the Blue Jackets have been able to do what they want when they get on the ice. You're going to have this every once in a while. The Blue Jackets have done it multiple times over with Sergei Bobrovsky; sometimes the shoe is in on the other foot.
When Should You Worry About Bob?
Speaking of Bobrovsky, what is really going on with him? It doesn't seem like he has it this season. For whatever reason, he just keeps looking less and less like himself. Having less than .900 save percentage just isn't a good look, it also isn't Bobrovsky in the past. If it continues, where do you go from here?
Korpisalo has been good, but the Blue Jackets need to find someone they can lean on night in and night out. With each passing game, Bobrovsky looks more and more shaky.
Questions still surround this team.
