The Columbus Blue Jackets set records in 2021-22.
Unfortunately, one of those records was for giving up the most goals (297) in their franchise history.
Losing in yesterday's season-opener to the Carolina Hurricanes, a favorite to challenge for the Stanley Cup in 2022-23, is not a reason for concern. Nor is the small sample size of one game, especially when considering that they lost Patrik Laine to injury and were playing with the organization's number two (or three?) goalie.
Still, one can't help but be discouraged by the self-inflicted mistakes that led directly to goals for the Hurricanes. The margin for error in the NHL is already razor-thin, and giving away goals is a surefire way to be on the wrong side of the ledger after most games. Here's a sampling of what went wrong:
On the first goal, center Jack Roslovic was in a perfect position to gain possession of the puck and start the transition from defending to attacking. Unfortunately, while skating behind the net, he must have thought he had defensive support behind him from Vladislav Gavrikov. Watching live, I thought it was possible that Seth Jarvis tricked him by calling for the puck, but the below audio doesn't pick it up.
Seth Jarvis takes the puck to the net and beats Tarasov in tight to tie it up at 1!#LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/vJ4Zwc2jtA
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 13, 2022
Regardless, the Blue Jackets went from full possession of the puck to full giveaway in a dangerous part of the ice. From there, Jarvis stuffed it into the back of the net.
On the third goal, the Blue Jackets once again had full possession of the puck in the defensive zone. Martin Necas hounded Jakub Voracek, a borderline play that Voracek thought should have been a hooking penalty, then hung around the dangerous area of the ice. Seconds later, he's rewarded, and scores a big goal.
Marty Necas have a night! pic.twitter.com/y3q2tCH6ue
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) October 13, 2022
So far, I've keyed on two goals and put the primary blame on two forwards, but that doesn't tell the whole story. Per my eyes and supported by NaturalStatTrick, the shot differentials were ugly. In his first game with the club, Erik Gudbranson held just a 21.43% shot share, being on the ice for just 12 shots-for and 44 shots-against at 5v5. He fought the puck all night and looked a step- behind defensively. Somehow, he was second in 5v5 ice time on the club, trailing only Zach Werenski. Jake Bean (35.56%), Andrew Peeke (36.59%), and Vladislav Gavrikov (37.78%) also struggled from a shot-share perspective.
Anecdotally speaking, the club was generally sloppy with defensive zone puck plays. Often, they would turn an everyday controlled breakout into a fiasco. The one that comes to mind most easily was a play where Gudbranson had the puck in the defensive zone, skated directly in front of his crease, then tried to reverse a puck to Gaudreau, instead shooting it into the corner. It beat the alternative of a turnover, but it was the kind of play that left you shaking your head. Some of this can be easily attributed to new systems, new faces, and the first game of the season.
But to be blunt, I'm not sure how much leash this group deserves. A year after surrendering the most goals in franchise history, they seemed to pick up right where they left off.
