Without a high-energy style of play, the Blue Jackets have a hard time hanging around.
That's when they're at their best: forechecking, creating turnovers and chances, and relentlessly pursuing the puck. It was their calling card a year ago but has been lost in this weird season, leading coach John Tortorella to try a new combination.
In a limited sample size, the Blue Jackets have received quality minutes from Brandon Dubinsky, Boone Jenner and Josh Anderson. On the surface, the alliance makes sense: Dubinsky has played with emotion and looked rejuvenated since returning to the lineup last week. Jenner is playing his best hockey of the season over the last month, and Anderson's 16 goals lead the team.
They're looking for energy, as mentioned in the lead sentence. They need it. Hopefully, they get it from this line, which will remain together tonight when the Washington Capitals visit Nationwide Arena.
"A big aspect of our (individual) games is getting on the forecheck and creating turnovers," Dubinsky said. "We've got to continue to do that (and) get more pucks to the net, more action to the net."
When the pucks aren't going in the way you'd expect, it can be difficult to keep focus and not get frustrated, Dubinsky said. But that's what the Blue Jackets need to do: trust the game plan and approach that was so successful for them a year ago.
"Sometimes you get in your own way a little bit," Dubinsky said. "You've got to try and be as consistent as you can...it's doing all the other things, all the things that seem like little things and believing in the process that it'll come.
"It's a fine line between winning and losing in this league. We can't take any moral victories right now. We've got to find a way to get points...the division is too tight."
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