The Columbus Blue Jackets fell to the Florida Panthers, 4-2. The Panthers scored early and set the tone despite the Blue Jackets' best efforts in the third period. Bobrovsky was the difference for the Panthers as he made saves when they mattered most at crunch time.
Here are your three things:
Missing Chances
The Blue Jackets may have lost 4-2 but the game could have easily been a shootout. A lot of saves from Panthers' goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (still odd to type) kept them afloat. Nick Foligno and Max Domi had primo chances in front and they couldn't finish them.
There is snakebitten and then there is whatever is going on in Columbus. For a period of time during the season the team was getting outshot on a nightly basis, tonight wasn't one of those nights. This wasn't a complete shooting gallery for the Blue Jackets but they had their chances and they couldn't finish.
Luck is a fickle beast.
Korpisalo's Flashy Saves
Joonas Korpisalo absolutely stood on his head for a vast majority of the night keeping the team in the game. His flash saves that he had on multiple occasions weren't just highlights, they were astounding with their difficulty levels. Don't be surprised if they end up on SportsCenter tonight.
JNAS KORPISALO, WHAT!? pic.twitter.com/XMUtEG0nb5
— NHL (@NHL) March 10, 2021
Korpisalo is on X-Games mode. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/XPCX0Q10Vk
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 10, 2021
Oddly, the first goal that he gave up on the night was a complete softy that went five-hole on him. There can't be complaints about his play when he bailed them out on so many occasions. This is just another in a long line of instances where the bounces went against the Blue Jackets in the worst possible time.
Who Is Going To Step Up?
More often than not the Blue Jackets are looking around to one another to try and find answers. They have alternate captains and a captain in place but not one player is stepping up on a nightly basis setting an example of excellence.
That could be an issue with the coaching not putting players in the right position. Alternatively, this also is a team that has a culture that they try to live up to and they aren't even close.
There is plenty of blame to go around right now. The coaching deserves some of it. The front office deserves some of it. The players at this point can share part of it as well.
The ship is rudderless right now and it needs someone to desperately step up.
