Fast start or slow start. It doesn't matter. It really matters how you perform in between.
For a Columbus Blue Jacket club searching for consistency, their performance against the Hurricanes was anything but. It is another night where they will have to go back to the drawing board trying to find a way to win.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| HURRICANES | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
At the very least it was an encouraging start for the Blue Jackets. It was started off with a Cam Atkinson goal that was started by pretty plays from Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic. Boone Jenner would follow up shortly after using his energy style to seemingly will the goal into the net. A video review would take a goal off the board for the Canes temporarily but Sebastian Aho eventually got them on the board.
Kevin Stenlund would add to the lead in the first period hitting the puck out of mid-air and immediately giving a season-best highlight for the Blue Jackets. Before the end of the period, Jordan Staal of the Hurricanes turned it into a one-goal deficit.
If the first period was all Blue Jackets then the second period was all Hurricanes. They potted three goals in the frame they came courtesy of Brock McGinn, Teuvo Teravainen, and Nino Niederreiter. The Blue Jackets had plenty of opportunities but most were unable to get in close against James Reimer during the frame. Meanwhile, the Canes were able to walk right into goaltender Joonas Korpisalo.
The third period brought upon a goalie change for the Blue Jackets. They would pull Korpisalo and give Elvis Merzlikins a chance to clean up the final stanza. It wouldn't be much better as Brock McGinn would add to the lead and Vincent Trocheck would complete the evening with a power-play goal.
The Blue Jackets were toothless after the first period and they let the Hurricanes walk all over them. They are a team that needs consistency and can't find it no matter how hard they try.
Injury Update
Defenseman Zach Werenski went back on the injured reserve after re-aggravating an injury and it is unclear when he will return.
Next Up
The Blue Jackets will play host to the Nashville Predators on Thursday, February 18 at 7 PM at Nationwide Arena.
