What's going on here?
This deserves an explanation: one that John Tortorella didn't offer post-game, after the Blue Jackets blew a 4-1 lead in the third period and fell to the Panthers in overtime.
One player was noticeably absent from the ice late in the third period and overtime: Patrik Laine. He already had a power play goal and an assist to his credit. Nick Foligno was the first forward over the boards in overtime (following Boone Jenner's face-off win), and Max Domi made the bad read that led to the Panthers' game-winning goal.
Yes, Laine was on the ice for the Panthers' second and third goals, but were they squarely on his shoulders? Tortorella seems to be imparting another lesson here for the franchise's new superstar. On Feb. 28 against Nashville, Jenner made an egregious turnover that directly led to a Nashville goal. He didn't miss a shift.
1-1 Cousins ties it up for #Preds#CBJ pic.twitter.com/4YQXAyoHLs
— Alison (@AlisonL) February 28, 2021
Can you justify nailing your best offensive player to the bench for the final 6:53 of regulation, as well as all of overtime? If so, you would think it's something that the head coach should be ready to address after the game. However, Tortorella wasn't going there.
"At that point in time, that's just the way it worked out," said Tortorella regarding the shortening of the bench late in the game.
Laine was not pleased, and it wasn't hard to feel his frustration through a Zoom press conference.
"I thought I was playing good, but I guess I thought wrong," said Laine, whose goal and assist tonight broke a seven-game points drought.
In 3-on-3 overtime, the teams that win more than lose utilize their skilled players. So, to not see Laine at all on the ice during overtime is more than head-scratching.
Tortorella has said that the Blue Jackets don't practice 3-on-3, so that makes you think: maybe Tortorella hasn't seen Laine play in overtime.
Forget the last 6:53 of the third period for a moment, although that is certainly enough ground for discussion. Tortorella decided that there was no room for Laine out there at 3-on-3, or late in regulation of what quickly became a 4-4 game. Apparently, though, there was room for Foligno. And Jenner. The captain didn't make a turnover that led to the Blue Jackets losing this time, but that did happen quite recently.
Bjorkstrand's Three-Point Night
Despite the loss, Oliver Bjorkstrand turned in a three-point night with two goals and the assist on Domi's goal that made it 4-1. His first goal of the night was easy for a player with Bjorkstrand's offensive ability, thanks to a great pass from Domi. He roofed it and beat Sergei Bobrovsky with ease, giving the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead.
Beautiful feed. Nifty finish. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/6qOwIuia1f
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 12, 2021
For Bjorkstrand's second goal, Riley Nash found the Danish winger all alone in front of the net, and his one-timer also beat Bobrovsky to make it a 2-0 game.
TWO FOR THE DANISH DYNAMO. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/xNLDWM9tMV
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 12, 2021
Stay Positive...Maybe?
"We actually played a very good game leading up to that...we would have liked to win that one, but we'll take that point, and get ready for the next one," said Domi postgame. His goal tonight was his first in his last ten games, and he also notched an assist on Bjorkstrand's first goal.
It's tough to stay positive after losing a 4-1 lead in the third period, but Domi and the rest of the Blue Jackets have to try. You can't get too high on the wins or too low on the losses, but when the losses continue to pile up, it gets difficult.
"At the end of the day, we did some good things tonight. We'll try to take the positives out of that."
