There are no gimmes in the NHL's 82-game schedule, but to call tonight's Columbus Blue Jackets loss in Edmonton anything other than a nightmare scenario would be underselling it.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| OILERS | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
The first period was a bit of a snoozer for both teams, as the two teams combined for just six shots. David Savard got Columbus on the board in the second period, but a late goal for Kyle Brodziak tied it up.
David Savard, power forward. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/Ug7UuJYYZf
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 22, 2019
Zack Kassian scored in the second to give the Oilers a 2-1 lead, and the Blue Jackets couldn't put together a response. Connor McDavid added an insurance goal late, then Ryan Nugent-Hopkins put the Blue Jackets to bed quickly thereafter.
The Oilers – who have been one of the league's worst teams this year – have now made the Blue Jackets look hapless twice in the last three weeks.
John Tortorella: "I just don't think we understand the level that we have to play at right now."
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 22, 2019
Yikes. #CBJ
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh and Montreal both won their games tonight, and the Blue Jackets now (temporarily, at least) find themselves in ninth place, and with more urgency than ever to right the ship.
What They Said
The Jackets struggled to find the back of the net again tonight and have now been held to one goal or fewer in six games this month.
“Finishing and creating offense is a problem for us right now so we have to figure out what’s going on here and I wish I had answers for you guys, I don’t really know what to say.”– Blue Jackets center Matt Duchene
Injury Update
Ryan Murray's return is still anybody's guess, but he did start some light skating earlier this week.
Next Up
Columbus will finish up the road trip in Vancouver on Sunday before a Metropolitan matchup with the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
