We keep writing about it.
The Columbus Blue Jackets keep doing it. And they keep talking about it.
You know what it is.
Blowing third-period leads. The inability to close out leads in the third period and winning hockey games.
Tuesday was the latest worst loss of the season when Columbus found yet another way to watch a lead — a 3-0 lead — evaporate into a 4-3 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
As referenced in Three Things from Tuesday night's loss, Columbus' situational play after the second period this season:
- 6-1-3 when leading after two periods
- 1-5-2 when tied after two periods
- 0-3-1 when tied after two periods at home
Everyone's already thinking about it when this team enters the final period of play leading by a goal, tied, or even up by three. Can they close it out?
More from Mathieu Olivier: "We have to find a way to address this. I think as a group, we're all on the same page here. No one thinks, 'It's just another one.' The amount of broken sticks on the bench today was probably a record after the game. Guys are not happy about it." #CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 6, 2023
It took a matter of 6:38 before the 3-0 lead suddenly turned into a 3-3 game.
Phillip Danault scored the first goal for L.A. 23 seconds into the third period. He scored his second goal at 5:08. Arthur Kaliyev tied it by 6:38.
Did anyone expect the Blue Jackets to come away with even a point?
They were able to hold off the Kings until overtime before Drew Doughty's winner only 33 seconds in. Columbus was outshot 15-7 in the third period as Los Angeles, like all the others, began firing shots at will against Columbus.
The blueprint is there. Columbus folds in the third period.
Some numbers just 27 games in:
— The CBJ Center (@CBJcenter) December 6, 2023
19 Ls -> Held a lead in 14 of them.
5 OTL -> Held a 3rd period lead in all 5.
4 -> # of multi - goal leads blown.
8 -> # of blown leads while leading heading into the 3rd period.
No matter how often players and coaches talk about preserving leads and coming away with two points, all too often, they're on the other end of it, talking about how frustrating the game was and they need to find a way to win these games.
"We have to find ways to win games," Zach Werenski said after Tuesday's loss. "It's definitely not be in your D-zone for a full period. It's get on the attack and play the way we played the first two periods.
"It's definitely frustrating to have all these third-period leads and end up losing the games."
At 8-14-5, the season already looks like a lost cause. They're only four points behind the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins, and six points behind Thursday's opponent, the New York Islanders.
And yet, the Blue Jackets can't get on a run because they can't hold leads consistently enough.
Columbus looks like a competitive team on most nights. Good enough to play with anyone, but not good enough to beat everyone.
There's a reason they're one point above the basement of the Eastern Conference.
"I think it's a combination of different things," head coach Pascal Vincent said. "We've played solid for two periods. Really sticking to the plan and winning battles.
"In the third, started to not be tight and not close. Not get the puck out. It's part of growing. That's where we are."
As Vincent said before the season, talk is cheap. At this point, it's all they have but to talk about the struggles and the growing pains.
At what point does that change?
"We don't change the main foundation (of protecting a lead)," Vincent said. "But we want to be smart too. We want to forecheck, but the forecheck might be a little bit different. It's not about that.
"When you look back at all the games we were ahead, it's a one-on-one battle. It's a box out at the net. If it was structural, if it was systematic, we would make some changes. It's not about that."
Pascal Vincent points to a lack of confidence and experience at holding leads now for #CBJ. "It's human nature. If I tell you they're not thinking about it, Id be lying to you, but we have to get by it. We have to win some games when we have the lead and doing the right things."
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 6, 2023
Columbus will try to gain and preserve a lead on Thursday when they battle the Islanders.
