It was the continuation of a storm surge at Nationwide Arena.
On Tuesday night the Columbus Blue Jackets hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning in the teams' first matchup since the 2020 playoffs in the Toronto bubble.
While both teams look different, and the Lightning entered the game on a three-game losing streak, they're still potent and as robust a contender as there is in the league as Jon Cooper's club goes for the Stanley Cup three-peat.
As if any reminder was needed, the Blue Jackets found that out.
Already shorthanded due to players dealing with injuries and illness (both COVID and non-COVID), the Blue Jackets knew they had another tough opponent ahead of them as they concluded the brief three-game homestand.
In what was Jakub Voracek's 999th game, Joonas Korpisalo (29 saves on 36 shots) made his first start since Nov. 27 opposing Andrei Vasilevskiy (20 of 22) as the Lightning took this one 7-2.
Back To Basics
After the way things went in the 7-4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on New Year's Day, it was quite evident where things need to improve.
Brad Larsen took the blame for his team not being as prepared as they could have been in practices. As a result, the team went back to basics on Monday, as they look to be more competitive with player-on-player and puck battles.
So would things be different tonight? Eh.
Ondrej Palat scored twice in the opening period as part of a three-point night. His second goal of the first period occurred upon exiting the penalty box when the Blue Jackets failed to convert on their only first period chance.
Corey Perry—remember him?—scored on the second power play chance of the game for the Lightning to put Tampa Bay ahead 3-0.
This meant the Blue Jackets have been outscored 10-0 since the start of Saturday's second period to this point.
Some stats through 20 minutes with help from @NatStatTrick
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) January 5, 2022
Shots on goal: 14-7 TB
Shot attempts (5x5): 22-14 TB
xG (5x5): 0.62-0.39 TB#CBJ
Basically, this is just another tough lesson for a young team against a very good team.
Kukan Cookin' Wild 2nd
The Blue Jackets lead the NHL with five wins when trailing after two periods. Dean Kukan tried to reverse the fortune after scoring his first goal of the season 37 seconds into period two.
Kukan! pic.twitter.com/SsXRv71pc3 #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 5, 2022
Adam Boqvist and Gus Nyquist assisted.
Kukan was in for Zach Werenski who went on COVID protocol on Tuesday. However, the Lightning answered right back 59 seconds later to make it 4-1 on Brayden Point's goal. Point also had two assists.
#CBJ Dean Kukan celebrates his return to the lineup with his first goal of the season, his first since Feb. 2, 2021 (26 games) and the third of his career.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) January 5, 2022
A long rebound came his direction. He sent it back through Vasilevskiy before the goalie could locate it.
Kukan hasn't seen much action, only playing in his third game of the season after dealing with a wrist injury. Nyquist had a two-point night, scoring a goal to cut the deficit to two on his seventh of the season. Vladislav Gavrikov and Peeke assisted on Nyquist's seventh goal of the season.
Seven for #14 pic.twitter.com/t5XrQSyuqS #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 5, 2022
Boone Jenner just missed making it a 4-3 game on a two-on-one chance that turned into an open net but he couldn't put it through.
Patrick Maroon made it 5-2 on the Lightning's third power play goal. The goal occurred following a penalty to Jenner, which went back to the sequence in which he missed out on a two-on-one chance.
All in total, a four-goal second period for both teams. Some good news, as Oliver Bjorkstrand returned from COVID protocol, leading the way for Columbus with four shots.
Penalty Kill Struggles
The Blue Jackets allowed three power play goals to the Lightning on four chances, which was essentially the difference. Surprisingly, the Lightning entered play tied for 19th in the NHL with an 18.1 power play conversion rate.
That number has since improved.
Conversely, the Blue Jackets' penalty kill came in tied for 20th with the Lightning (79%) and will plummet.
You just can't give multiple chances to loaded and stacked teams. While Columbus was 3-for-3 on the kill against Carolina on Saturday, they went 4-for-10 on the three-game homestand against the Nashville Predators, Hurricanes, and Lightning.
The Predators and Hurricanes are both inside the top 10 on the power play and we don't have to remind you how lethal the Lightning are, even if they came in ranking towards the lower half of the league.
Home-And-Home
The Blue Jackets will play the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Thursday at 7 pm ET. It will be part of a home-and-home as both teams play Saturday night at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets defeated the Devils 4-3 in a shootout on Oct. 31 in New Jersey. New Jersey lost to the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Tuesday 5-3.
