Welp.
The Blue Jackets started slowly, got back into the game and took the lead, but couldn't hold it as the Bruins tied it up late in the third period. A goal from Charlie Coyle in overtime (his second of the game) sealed Columbus's fate, as the Blue Jackets ended up on the wrong side of a 3-2 decision.
Here are three things from a dejecting Game 1 in Boston.
Play Until There's a Whistle
Now, make no mistake. The Blue Jackets had the game locked up, and were unable to manage their lead, which is what put them into an overtime situation in the first place.
However, a single sequence in overtime proved to be their undoing. On a Bruins rush, Zach Werenski, who didn't, uh, have a great game, gestured at the referee instead of playing defense because he thought the play was offsides.
Letting up for just one second can mean the difference between a win and a loss in overtime. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/BDB8qKgtk5
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) April 26, 2019
It wasn't, and now the Blue Jackets are staring at a 1-0 series deficit in a game that they should have escaped with.
Starting Slowly
Some rust out of the gate was expected. For the first 30 minutes of the game, the Bruins dictated play and, quite honestly, should have had more than a one-goal advantage.
If it weren't for the heroics of Sergei Bobrovsky, the game would have been over quickly. Bob made great saves all night to keep the Blue Jackets in it, and he deserved a win tonight.
As the game progressed, the Blue Jackets appeared to shake off most of their cobwebs. Game 2 on Saturday will be a great opportunity to get a better start and establish their game before Boston establishes theirs.
Tough, But Not Enough
After going down early, the Blue Jackets could have caved to the Bruins' onslaught and allowed Boston to run away with this one, but they didn't.
Goals courtesy of Brandon Dubinsky and Pierre-Luc Dubois 13 seconds apart in the third period gave the Blue Jackets a 2-1 lead. Both were deflections that made their way by Rask.
But they couldn't close it out. A cross-ice pass found Coyle's stick, and he snuck a wrister by Bobrovsky to tie it up late in the third period.
Then in overtime, Werenski had his moment and lost his man, and that was the game.
The Blue Jackets showed some toughness, but they have to show more and close the game out next time.
