Columbus Blue Jackets Defensive Woes On Full Display In Humiliating Loss To The Buffalo Sabres

By Dan Dukart on December 8, 2022 at 1:45 pm
The Buffalo Sabres celebrate a goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets
Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
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Humilation.

When the first period came to a merciful end in last night's debacle against the Buffalo Sabres, the Columbus Blue Jackets were losing 6-0. Here is a breakdown of the breakdowns from JUST the first period. 

In Joonas Korpisalo's defense, he only gave up one truly bad goal (in the first period), as the second and third goals were at least partially defensible. But the first goal of the game, which one could argue set the tone for the remainder of the game, was an outright stinker.  

On Thompson's first goal, he skates right down the middle of the ice in transition. Alex Tuch slides a nice backhand pass to the center, and Vladislav Gavrikov, who started the play in the neutral zone too far to the outside of the ice, is late to recover to the middle.  

Here, Erik Gudbranson fumbles the puck behind his goal, turning the puck over. Gus Nyquist, who had appropriately stretched as a breakout option, was now (by no fault of his own) out of position as the puck went right to his check. Trying to help his teammate out, Cole Sillinger attempts to block the shot but instead screens Korpisalo. 

Head coach Brad Larsen was rightfully fuming after the 4-0 goal, where both Gavrikov and Eric Robinson made mistakes. Gavrikov was outmuscled by Tuch, then failed to break up a centering pass. Robinson, who's responsibility is the trailing forward (Thompson, who else), gets caught puck-watching and goes to help Gavrikov. By that point, it's too late, and the puck is in the back of the net.

Seconds later, the Sabres almost connect for another goal, this time exposing the Blue Jackets in transition, as Jake Christiansen and Andrew Peeke gave up the center of the ice, allowing Victor Olofsson a prime scoring chance. 

Here, TNT broadcaster Darren Pang notes "the opportunities they're getting, grade A chances on the rush". JJ Peterka and Cozens execute a simple give-and-go in the neutral zone, and miscommunication between Gudbranson and Sillinger allows Peterka yet another quality scoring chance. 

I almost want to give the Blue Jackets a pass for this 100 MPH rocketship of a shot on a power play, but they don't deserve the benefit of the doubt. Nyquist loses a board battle. Jack Roslovic is unable to get his stick on a seam pass across the top of the offensive zone. Puck in the net. 

On a 5-on-3, it's hard to blame the killers. So instead, let's talk about Sean Kuraly's 18 PIMs and Roslovic's brutal hooking penalty that led to the situation. If you want to get nitpicky, Andrew Peeke should probably realize after Thompson has a hat trick in 10 mins of play that he's the guy. Instead, he keys on noted non-shooter Jeff Skinner, who is obviously going to pass from the point to Thompson. But again, 5-on-3. 

There's plenty of blame to go around. Goalies need to play better. Defensively, the large gaps and extreme width in which they played allowed the Sabres to basically go wherever they wanted and at their pace. The lack of communication in transition. Taking unnecessary penalties. Injuries. Coaching. The list goes on.   

The Blue Jackets are an injured hockey team. They're a bad team, though the jury is still out on just how bad. But after last night, perhaps the jury is done deliberating. What we saw in the first period wasn't a bad night from a bad team, it was somehow much worse. 

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Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) and Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) fight during the second period at Nationwide Arena.