Columbus Blue Jackets stumble against Los Angeles Kings, lose another lead: 3 takeaways
It’s gone beyond ridiculous.
The Blue Jackets’ penchant for blowing leads, especially in third periods, has become more than just an affliction. It’s a full-on plague at this point and there doesn’t appear to be a remedy in sight.
More: 5 Takeaways from Columbus Blue Jackets' gutting meltdown against Carolina Hurricanes
Another lead vanished on the Jackets in the third period again Tuesday night at Nationwide Arena, resulting in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings, and the one happened in remarkable fashion. They coughed up a three-goal cushion this time, and it only took the Kings 6:38 to erase it before Drew Doughty’s one-timer 33 seconds into OT ended the game in L.A.’s favor.
“Just more of the same, I guess,” forward Mathieu Olivier said. “We just seem to be in this vicious cycle where we start the game strong, have a really good first two periods and then we just kind of back off. You’d figure at some point we’d learn, as a group. It needs to be addressed. We can’t keep talking about this.”
And yet they must.
It’s only 27 games old, but this Blue Jackets season can already be summarized by two famous quotes by former New York Yankees legend Yogi Berra: “It’s déjà vu all over again,” because they’ve made “too many wrong mistakes.”
Here are three takeaways:
Not all Columbus Blue Jackets meltdowns are built the same
Proverbially speaking, the Blue Jackets have been socked in the gut, kicked in the crotch and body-slammed over and over by their own inability to hold leads.
Take your pick which one the Kings’ improbable comeback felt like in the home locker room.
The Jackets’ OT loss dropped them to 8-14-5 overall and 1-2-5 in eight games when they’ve held a lead in the third period. That’s potentially nine points left on the table by not closing out games they’ve led in the final 20 minutes and they’re six points behind the New York Islanders — Thursday’s opponent — for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Let that ruminate. Also, chew on these facts:
∎ The Blue Jackets have blown leads in 17 games for a total of 21 blown leads, going 3-9-5 in those games.
∎ They've now blown multiple-goal leads in five games, going 1-1-3 in those games.
∎ Four of the Jackets' eight blown leads in the third period happened in the final five minutes, including two with less than a minute left in regulation.
∎ The 3-0 lead against the Kings was the largest margin the Blue Jackets have lost, but they'd also lost five prior two-goal leads, including two in the same overtime road victory in Minnesota.
On top of all that, however, was a different reason that losing to the Kings was galling. The victory for L.A. tied an NHL record at 10 straight road wins to start the season, tying the 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres for longest road winning streak to open a season.
Imagine the confidence the Blue Jackets could've gained just by finishing off the Kings (15-4-3) and their shiny chrome domes. Instead, another slug in the gut. No wonder Olivier noticed "a record number of broken sticks on the bench" after Doughty ended it.
“There’s 10 minutes, it seems like, in most of these games where we lose ourselves,” Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski said. “Tonight, it was a third period. Up three goals, most nights that should be a guaranteed win in my book … in regulation. It’s obviously a good hockey team, but it still shouldn’t happen.”
Columbus Blue Jackets lack Alpha dogs
The Blue Jackets have blown third period leads and lost to four of the East’s top five teams plus the Kings, who are third in the Western Conference.
They’ve also lost leads, regardless of period, against eight of 16 teams currently in playoff spots. That’s a hallmark of a young team, yes, but also a team missing the type of veterans capable of taking over games to impose their will on the outcome.
Look no further than the Jackets’ last two losses, a 3-1 defeat Sunday at the Boston Bruins and the debacle Tuesday against the Kings.
Brad Marchand’s three straight goals to start the third period lifted the Bruins to victory in that one, erasing the Blue Jackets’ 1-0 lead, and Kings center Phillip Danault helped L.A. escape Columbus with two goals in the first 5:08 of the third. That cut the Jackets’ 3-0 lead to a one-goal margin before Kaliyev tied it and Doughty ended it in OT.
‘Alpha’ dogs also played key roles in the Blue Jackets stumbling in the third periods of losses to the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks.
The Blue Jackets’ lack of such players is stunning.
Captain Boone Jenner is the only one who fits the ‘Alpha’ dog description thus far, while Werenski and a handful of others have the potential. Johnny Gaudreau, who had a goal and assist against L.A., is finally looking like his former self after a slow start, which is good, but Patrik Laine continues to flounder while searching for his top form.
Laine and veteran defenseman Erik Gudbranson were sick and didn’t play against the Kings, but only the latter’s presence was missed. That’s a harsh assessment of Laine’s season, but it’s not inaccurate.
While it’s impressive to see the Blue Jackets gain leads and outplay some of the NHL’s best teams for significant stretches, it’s obvious that more ‘alpha’ types must emerge if they hope to finish such games with victories. It's either that or wait for a talented group of young players to grow into that role.
"We've played solid for two periods, really sticking to the plan and winning battles, and then in the third ... we started to not be tight and not close and not get the puck out," coach Pascal Vincent said. "It's part of growing. That's where we are. Part of it is confidence, making those plays, being engaged, staying on your toes. And the other part is experience, and we're learning the hard way what it takes to win ... 3-0 in this league, you're home, gotta close it and we didn't."
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov provides reminder of what Columbus Blue Jackets gave up
Standing on the Kings’ bench early in the game, Vladislav Gavrikov waved and said, ‘thank you,’ as Blue Jackets fans gave him an ovation following his ‘welcome back’ video montage.
The popular former Blue Jackets defenseman then carved up his former team two periods later by playing key roles in the Kings’ three-goal comeback. He was on the ice for all three L.A. goals in the third and assisted on the last two ― first with a shot that slipped through Elvis Merzlikins’ pads for Danault to poke over the line, and then with a pass from behind his own net to start a play that resulted in Kaliyev’s goal.
His two points were just the seventh and eighth of the season for Gavrikov, but they were examples of his ability to make big plays at key times. That’s something the Blue Jackets didn’t value enough before sending Gavrikov and goalie Joonas Korpisalo to the Kings before the trade deadline last season.
Both were pending free agents, but Korpisalo signed with the Ottawa Senators and Gavrikov stayed with the Kings on a two-year contract worth $11.75 million. It was money well spent, according to coach Todd McLellan.
“He has a real good sense of timing of when to dive down the back side in the offensive zone,” McLellan said. “He gets his opportunities off second chances, often pucks that are slung to the net, and the real good thing about it is he’s not often doing that and giving something up going the other way.”
The Blue Jackets gained the Kings’ late first-round pick in the trade, which general manager Jarmo Kekalainen moved in a three-way offseason deal with L.A. and the Philadelphia Flyers to acquire defenseman Ivan Provorov. They replaced Gavrikov with Provorov, which has worked out nicely, but the Blue Jackets lost another quality player they drafted and developed in the process.
That shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Gavrikov and his wife enjoyed living in Columbus and he was a key leader for a flock of young Russian players the Jackets have brought to the U.S. the past couple years. He wanted to sign a long-term extension, but that option vanished after the Blue Jackets signed Gaudreau and Gudbranson in July 2022.
He’s living like a King now, embracing life in Southern California. Asked Tuesday morning if he’s become a ‘beach guy,’ Gavrikov just smirked.
“That’s a stupid question.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Same story for Columbus Blue Jackets in OT loss to Los Angeles Kings
