The Columbus Blue Jackets headed north of the border on Tuesday night to take on the Winnipeg Jets, who entered the game as one of the hottest in the league – the Jets were 8-0-2 in their previous ten heading into the matchup.
The Jackets made no lineup changes from their previous outing, meaning Elvis Merzlikins was a healthy scratch for the second straight game.
Here’s what happened.
First Period
The Jets opened the period on the front foot, dominating possession early and forcing several saves from Daniil Tarasov – the Jets would consider themselves unlucky not be leading after the first minute. As the Jets kept up the pressure, they were able to capitalize on a 3 on 2 rush that deflected off of Erik Gudbranson and past Tarasov for the opening goal.
Winnipeg goal (0-1): Dillon from Ehlers and Schiefele, 3:12
The Jets continued to maintain possession and dominate chances early until Cole Sillinger finally threatened for the Blue Jackets at the 7:30 mark when his follow up on a rebound chance hit the goal post but failed to bounce in.
The Jackets eventually found their footing, relieving some of the siege on Tarasov, but were not consistently able to generate offensive zone time. Instead, we saw a lot of bad neutral zone play and dump-and-chase hockey without any real threats to Winnipeg’s net. The Jackets were able to limit the damage to one goal, but never really felt truly threatening.
Second Period
The Jackets earned a power play early in the second period as Neil Pionk was boxed for tripping at 0:45. The Jackets managed no shots on goal and minimal offensive zone time and the Jets killed the penalty with ease. Through the midway point of the period, the teams continued to trade neutral zone time and blocked chances, but neither did anything of note.
After a long, long shift in the offensive zone, the Jets finally made it 2-0 on a goal that felt long coming. The Jackets defense came completely unglued and Damon Severson left Cole Pefetti all alone in the slot who tapped home to double the lead.
Winnipeg goal (0-2): Perfetti from Samberg and Schmidt, 10:50
Adding insult to injury, Jake Bean took a poor holding penalty 32 seconds later to give the Jets a power play. Terrible, stupid penalty from Bean. The Jackets killed the power play, however, not compounding the mistake. After an offsides from Winnipeg that allowed a line change, the Jets got back on the board. Josh Morrissey skated up impeded into the zone and unloaded a one timer past Tarasov to make it a three goal game.
Winnipeg goal (0-3): Morrissey from Lowry, 14:03
The Jackets went back to the power play, but it didn’t matter, they didn’t remotely threaten the Jets. Adam Fantilli was knocked to the ice on an awkward hit late by Pionk and Danforth stepped to his defense, which was good to see. The Jackets earned a power play and Fantilli stayed on the bench, which was a positive.
Third Period
A turnover from Kent Johnson trying to get fancy at the blue line led to a rush the other way where Kent Johnson took a holding penalty to bring the sides even at four skaters apiece. Connor Hellebyuck made a big save on Texier to preserve his shutout, the best chance for Columbus on the night just two minutes into the third.
The Jets again found the back of the net after winning a puck battle int the corner – Cole Perfetti was left alone in the slot and he walked through Gaudreau and Fantilli and ripped one past Tarasov to extend the lead to 4.
Winnipeg goal (0-4): Perfetti, unassisted, 3:34
The Jets earned a power play (Bemstrom, high sticking) and made it a 5-0 game on a nice cross ice pass. More poor defending from Columbus.
Winnipeg goal (0-5): Vilardi from Lowry and Perfetti, 9:29
The Jackets almost scored with 1:27 to go. In the words of their head coach, they’re close.
Final
Columbus Blue Jackets 0 Winnipeg Jets 5
Final Thoughts
The number of compounding mistakes this team makes on a nightly basis is astounding. Allowing a goal and immediately taking a penalty to gift the opposition a power play, allowing a bad goal late and then capitulating defensively and allowing a second, letting an opponent counter your goal within five minutes – these are tangible things a competent coaching staff would address. Pascal Vincent can say this team is close and learning all he wants, but every fans’ eyeballs aren’t lying to them. This team is making the same mistakes in game 42 they made in game 2, game 17, and game 32. It’s consistent. That falls on no one BUT coaching.
This is what happens when a well built, well structured, well coached team with a solid system runs into a team with no mental toughness, no defensive structure of note, and little offensive chemistry – a blood bath. The Jets skated rings around Columbus from the opening whistle.
It’s time to have the conversation – Damon Severson is a disaster in his own zone. He was completely lost on the Perfetti goal, routinely makes poor plays, is slow to get back into the defensive zone. Severson will be 36 at the start of the final year of his contract. He was brought in to shore up the defense and is marginally better than Adam Boqvist this year with a $6.25 million cap hit. That contract is going to age like milk left on the sidewalk in the bayou in July.
This team is terribly coached and terribly unorganized in their own zone. Absolutely no cohesion, system or plan defensively, from anyone on the ice. It’s the same thing, night after night after night. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss – there’s no appreciable difference between this team and the Larsen outfit of the last two years. Pascal Vincent seems in over his head at this point.
Serious, actual question: what, meaningfully and appreciably, is different between Larsen and Vincent at this point? Poor defense, lack of adjustments, no offensive zone cohesion, throwing lines together with no rhyme or reason, over-reliance on a goaltender going psycho mode – what’s the difference?
Up Next
The Columbus Blue Jackets return home to take on the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night in Nationwide Arena. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET. Maybe they’ll score this time.