The Blue Jackets lost 4-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday despite a late third-period push.
After a scoreless first period, each team got on the board in the middle frame, with Carolina countering Cole Sillinger's 10th goal of the year with three tallies of their own. Carolina's third goal, scored by Brady Skjei on a breakaway as he exited the penalty box at 16:30, would prove to be the game-winner.
The Blue Jackets have now lost four of their last six games and sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with a 19-30-10 record.
Here are three things from Thursday's game.
Yegor Chinakhov Benched
Chinakhov did not play the final 3:30 of the second period and the entirety of the third period after committing the turnover that led directly to Skjei's goal.
Fresh out the slammer pic.twitter.com/aY2Vpn2KuW
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) March 1, 2024
When asked why Chinakhov was benched, Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent gave a simple answer after the game.
"Turnovers," Vincent said.
It appears Vincent is sending a message that if a player commits a costly turnover, they won't play, even if they are one of the team's best goal-scorers and the team needs a goal in the third period.
Chinakhov, who has posted career-highs in both goals (15) and assists (13) this season while playing 15:24 TOI/game, played just 9:03 last night, his second-lowest TOI mark of 2023-24.
Alex Nylander Shines
Through three games in Columbus since being acquired from Pittsburgh via trade, Nylander has fit in nicely on the third line centered by Cole Sillinger and flanked by Kent Johnson for two games and Alexandre Texier on Thursday. He recorded his first points as a Blue Jacket on Thursday, posting a goal and an assist in his first NHL multipoint game since Mar. 11, 2020.
"He's an unbelievable player," Nylander said when talking about Sillinger. "We've been talking a lot off the ice and I think that has helped us on the ice. We've been playing three games now and I think we're getting better and better every game."
Alex Nylander makes the cannon boom for the first time!
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 1, 2024
Congratulate #92 on his first goal as a Blue Jacket! @FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/Jz0aUtrcSO
Tricky Daniil Tarasov
Tarasov stopped 28 of the 31 shots he faced on Thursday. It was a tricky start to judge because he made some incredible saves that kept the team in the game, but probably should have been able to save Carolina's first two goals. According to moneypuck.com, he posted -0.19 goals saved above expected.
My goodness.
— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) March 1, 2024
A flurry of chances for Carolina in the first 90 seconds of the third, but somehow Tarasov keeps them all out.
Impressive work, including a little help from both the post and Erik Gudbranson. pic.twitter.com/DdPyIJVshr
In his last three starts, Tarasov has been excellent, posting a .928SV%, 40 points higher than his season save percentage of .888.
Next Up
The Blue Jackets will play Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks on Saturday in Chicago at 8 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Ohio.
