Blue Jackets schooled again in 6-3 loss to Tampa Bay Lightning

TAMPA — It’s going to take a long time.

The Blue Jackets have a lot of distance to make against elite teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning, which they learned once again Tuesday night in a 6-3 shellacking from a talent-laden, veteran team that nearly won the Stanley Cup a third straight time last year. Playing without 10 injured NHL regulars after defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov was ruled out at the morning skate, Columbus spoiled any shot to pull off an upset with a costly turnovers and penalties.

“We’re learning the hard way,” Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. “Guys are trying and giving effort. We get back within a goal and then we give them penalties. So, you take two penalties against a group like that, they make you pay. So, that’s what happened.”

Nikita Kucherov led the Lightning (25-13-1) with four points on two goals and two assist, recording three of those points while helping Tampa Bay go 3 for 4 on power plays. His only 5-on-5 point was a goal to open the scoring 1:40 into the game, which happened after he intercepted a bad pass by Jack Roslovic just inside the Lighting blue line for a rush the other way.

Vladislav Namestnikov also benefited from a turnover by Blue jackets center Cole Sillinger just outside the Tampa Bay blue line midway through the second, putting the Lightning up 3-1 less than three minutes after Bayreuther’s goal pulled Columbus within a goal. It happened again in the third, when Berni’s goal cut it to 3-2 and was followed by Kucherov’s second goal to cap a power play 1:58 later.

Brayden Point and Ross Colton blew it open six minutes later, scoring goals 1:26 apart for a 6-2 lead before Blue Jackets rookie Kirill Marchenko got one back with 3:26 left.

“First and foremost, their power play’s lethal,” Bayreuther said. “Kucherov’s one of the best half-wall guys in the league. That being said, I think we gave up again. If guys get frustrated, it’s hard. It’s really hard to win in this league, clearly, but it’s very unfortunate.”

This loss stung the Blue Jackets after they downed the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in a shootout Saturday at Nationwide Arena and played one of their most complete games in Sunday in a 1-0 loss to the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena. Following an intense practice going into the Carolina game, Columbus took a couple small steps toward building a foundation with an injury-riddled roster filled with rookies all learning on the fly.

What they learned Tuesday night was how steep of a climb they still have ahead.

“The (previous) two games, the competitiveness went up, the focus and detail went up, the ‘doing it in fives’ went up,” Larsen said. “It’s going to take weeks and months. It’s not because we had one practice. It’s more of a focus and a mind-set, and we’re going to be harping on this right to the end of the year.”

Next is a rematch with the Hurricanes on Thursday at Nationwide Arena, facing a team that will be out for revenge after they dominated the stat sheet in most categories this past weekend.

Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampa Bay Lightning takeaways

Larsen calls for more from Gaudreau 

It’s tough to find fault with Johnny Gaudreau during this rocky, tumultuous season.

He chose to join the Blue Jackets as an unrestricted free agent. He’s signed for six more years at $9.75 million a season, is co-leading the team in goals (11) and leads the team outright with 27 assists and 38 points in 40 games.

On the other hand, his effectiveness has waned over a stretch that’s approaching 20 games and his ice time has stayed well below the 20-minute threshold in the past six — including a season-low 14:35 on 15 shifts against the Lightning.

Technically, he’s still the left wing on the top line. His minutes and that line's usage say otherwise, which Larsen was asked about Tuesday night. Specifically, Larsen was asked whether the drop in Gaudreau’s ice time was related to playing with rookie Kent Johnson filling at center the past 10 games for captain Boone Jenner (fractured thumb).

“No, it’s not his center,” Larsen said. “There’s better in him, you know what I mean? He’s wearing an ‘A.’ He’s a leader. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing with. We’re missing 10 NHL guys, so whoever’s on the ice, you’ve got to give it.”

Gaudreau played four shifts in the third period against the Lightning and sat about four minutes between the third and fourth. According to Natural Stat Trick, the line of Gaudreau, Johnson and Emil Bemstrom logged 8:58 of 5-on-5 together and finished with advantages in attempts (10-8), scoring chances (5-3), high-danger chances (2-1), rush attempts (1-0), rebound attempts (1-0) and expected goals-for percentage (66.1%).

The only category they didn’t top was shots, which were 6-3 in favor of the Lighting during their shifts. It's a situation that bears watching the next few games.

Bayreuther pulls no punches 

Prior to speaking with reporters Tuesday night, Bayreuther sat at his locker stall with a dejected look of frustration on his face. He then spoke aloud what fans and others have also noticed about this team through nearly half a season.

They often crumble when the going gets rough.

“Kucherov’s one of the best half-wall guys in the league,” he said, referring to Tampa Bay torching the Blue Jackets for three power-play goals. “That being said, I think we gave up again. If guys get frustrated, it’s hard. It’s really hard to win in this league, clearly, but it’s very unfortunate.”

That was a clear reference to the Jackets not having the gumption to stay close despite twice pulling within a goal, once on Bayreuther’s goal in the second and again following Berni’s tally in the third.

Sillinger’s turnover led to the first deflating goal, scored 3:21 after Bayreuther scored, and penalties in the third by Merzlikins (delay of game) and Gaudreau (hooking) lessened the meaning of Berni’s first NHL goal and point. Colton also added a cherry on top for the Lightning, making it 6-2 just 1:26 later.

“I think the more things are struggling, the more we’re getting frustrated,” Bayreuther said. “Unfortunately, that’s not the way things are going to work to get out of this hole. We’ve got to stay positive. We’ve got to come together and make sure we’re coming together to be a very good, healthy team before anything happens.”

Berni continues to impress

This was only the 17^th NHL game of Berni’s career and he wouldn’t even be in Columbus had defensemen Zach Werenski, Jake Bean and Nick Blankenburg not been sidelined by long-term injuries ― including season-ending shoulder surgeries for the first two.

Berni, a sixth-round pick in 2018 (159th overall), is savoring the opportunity. He's also catching the attention of Larsen and the coaching staff with his calmness under duress. That’s why Berni is currently locked into the second defense pairing alongside veteran Erik Gudbranson and beginning to show some offensive upside.

“I would lie if I would say it’s easy, but I definitely enjoy it,” Berni said. “It’s the greatest challenge I can have in my career right now, so I’m enjoying every bit of it and I feel very grateful to get the trust to be out here.”

Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampa Bay Lightning notes

— Kucherov’s three-point game (two goals) upped his career stat line against the Blue Jackets to 13 goals, 22 assists and 35 points in just 24 games. His final assist was a primary helper on Point’s goal to make it 5-2 and increase his career numbers against the Blue Jackets to 13-14-27 in 23 games.

— Rookie forward Carson Meyer left in the second with an upper-body injury and didn’t return. Meyer left after his second shift in that period, skating just 6:54 over eight shifts. Larsen filled the vacancy by double shifting Bemstrom into Meyer's spot on a line with Marchenko and Sillinger.

— Prior to the morning skate, the Blue Jackets announced that goalie Joonas Korpisalo was unavailable due to a personal reason. It was soon revealed that his reason was an early return to Columbus to join his wife for the birth of their first child. Rookie goalie Daniil Tarasov (upper body) was moved to injured reserve and rookie Jet Greaves was recalled on emergency basis from the Cleveland Monsters for the fourth time this season.

— Gavrikov participated in the morning skate in his usual spot on the top pairing, but Larsen announced afterward that he was out with an upper-body injury. It's some sort of left hand/wrist issue that happened Sunday in Washington, when Gavrikov left the game for a stretch after taking hit from Capitals forward Tom Wilson. He returned to finish the game, but it appears the Blue Jackets have a 10^th injury situation to weather.

— Blankenburg missed another game while continuing to wrap up his recovery from a fractured ankle/high ankle sprain Nov. 10 against the Philadelphia Flyers. He missed his 27^th consecutive game, but is believed to be “day-to-day” and nearing a return. Forward Eric Robinson missed his fourth straight game with an upper-body injury that occurred Jan. 3 in Ottawa. He’s also “day-to-day.”

Columbus Blue Jackets lineup at Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards

Johnny Gaudreau – Kent Johnson – Emil Bemstrom

Gustav Nyquist – Jack Roslovic – Patrik Laine

Liam Foudy – Sean Kuraly – Mathieu Olivier

Carson Meyer – Cole Sillinger – Kirill Marchenko

Defensemen

Andrew Peeke – Marcus Bjork

Tim Berni – Erik Gudbranson

Gavin Bayreuther – Adam Boqvist

Goalies

Elvis Merzlikins

Jet Greaves

Scratched: G Joonas Korpisalo

Injury/illness: C Boone Jenner (fractured thumb), D Vladislav Gavrikov (upper body), LW Eric Robinson (upper body), F Yegor Chinakhov (ankle), G Daniil Tarasov (upper body), D Zach Werenski (shoulder), F Justin Danforth (shoulder), D Jake Bean (shoulder), D Nick Blankenburg (broken ankle/high-ankle sprain), F Jakub Voracek (concussion).

Up next for the Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets return to Nationwide Arena on Thursday for a rematch against the Carolina Hurricanes, who lead the Metropolitan Division and will be seeking to avenge a 4-3 shootout loss this past Saturday in Columbus.

bhedger@dispatch.com

@BrianHedger

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets learn hard lessons against Tampa Bay Lightning