Blue Jackets show "solid effort" but struggle to finish on offense in shootout loss
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As Alexandre Texier skated back to the Blue Jackets' bench after missing the net in the shootout, he realized his stick was broken.
It was no longer a mystery, then, why his shot hadn't gone the way he envisioned. Texier's broken stick may well be a metaphor for the Jackets' overall performance in a shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday: creating chances, but not quite able to finish.
Columbus (13-1-1) scored on just one of its 34 shots on goal and scored just once in the shootout, when Jakub Voracek out-waited Ducks goaltender John Gibson, while the Ducks (15-8-5) scored twice in the shootout to take the extra point with a 2-1 shootout win.
"It was a pretty solid effort," Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. "I thought we did a lot of good things there. Ran into a pretty good goalie tonight. We had some good looks, but there are gonna be tight games. We’ve gotta try and find a way to squeak out that extra point."
Texier opened the scoring in the first period on a cross-ice feed from Eric Robinson to light the lamp for the ninth time this season.
Anaheim evened things up before the period was over when forward Isac Lundestrom slipped the puck five-hole on goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, but neither team was able to score in the ensuing 54:37 — including the five minutes of three-on-three overtime.
It was an improved defensive effort from the Jackets, who had given up nine goals in the last two games, particularly against a team like the Ducks that has been one of the NHL's top offenses throughout the season. That's a positive sign to take forward into a grueling five-game road trip, which begins Saturday in Seattle, despite some concerns that arose about the offense's ability to finish.
"I thought we played a really good game," Robinson said. "It felt like we were gonna get one there at any point in the second and the third. It just doesn’t happen, but I think we played well and it’s definitely something to build off of going onto the road."
Blue Jackets once again lose an offside challenge
Just 52 seconds into the second period, defenseman Zach Werenski wove his way around a Ducks defender and fired a shot from the low slot over Gibson's shoulder to give the Jackets a 2-1 lead.
There was just one problem. Werenski was offside on the zone entry, and Anaheim challenged the goal. As has become a pattern for Columbus, the goal was waved off after review. It was the fifth time in eight games that a Jackets goal has been overturned after reviewing if the play was offside.
"These guys know," Larsen said. "They know what offside is. It’s not like we have to go coach these guys what offside is. Zach couldn’t see the pass, he’s trying to look through, by the time he looks, he’s off. He came to the bench like, ‘I’m pretty sure I’m off.’
"He knew right away. It’s frustrating. Heck, we’ve done it four or five times I think. But what do you do? These guys are NHL players. I think they understand the rule. They’ve just gotta apply it."
Blue Jackets' Eric Robinson plays against brother Buddy
For the first time in their lives, the Robinson brothers played against each other.
Buddy, who was recently called up by the Ducks from the San Diego Gulls in the AHL, is four years older than Eric, and because of the age difference, they've never had an opportunity to play with or against one another.
"It was a pretty special night for the two of us," Eric Robinson said. "Just with the age gap, we were never able to play together or against each other. For it to happen at this level is obviously pretty special and something we’ll be able to look back on and enjoy forever."
Buddy told The Athletic in February 2020 that Eric lives with him and his wife, Sarah, in the summers, and the brothers train together. Thursday, it was the younger brother who came out on top with the primary assist on Texier's goal, while Buddy was held off the scoresheet and played just 9:57.
"I always looked up to him, always admired him and wanted to be just like him," Robinson said. "Watched him work and what it took to get to each level, so it’s been great to be able to go home in the summers and have someone who’s doing the same thing as you. You’re able to train and skate with them and enjoy it, because you’re doing it with your brother. It’s pretty special."
Adam Boqvist suffers upper-body injury
Defenseman Adam Boqvist left the game with an upper-body injury midway through the second period and did not return. Prior to the injury, Boqvist played 4:28 and was on the ice for one goal against.
Larsen didn't have an update on Boqvist's status after the game. In Boqvist's absence, forward Gregory Hofmann played the left half-wall on the top power play unit, and Werenski, Jake Bean and Vladislav Gavrikov all played more than 22 minutes as they worked to fill the gap.
Blue Jackets, Ducks tempers flare after shootout
After the horn blew, it took a few extra moments to get the two teams off the ice as some conversations were had at center ice.
Ducks rookie Trevor Zegras seemed to initiate the rising tempers with a yell as he skated past the Jackets' bench after scoring on his shootout attempt, and Voracek had words for the Ducks' bench after scoring on his own attempt moments later.
As Anaheim left the ice, Gibson waved farewell to the Columbus bench, which prompted Gavrikov and Merzlikins to exchange words with their opponents. The officials separated everyone quickly, but it was clear that there was tension between the two clubs.
Blue Jackets traveling to Seattle on Thursday night
After the game, the Jackets headed to the airport to take off for Seattle, where they play their next game Saturday. They won't return home until after playing in Buffalo on Dec. 20 at the end of a five-game, multi-country road trip that includes games against Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary.
When asked why Columbus was leaving Thursday, rather than Friday, Larsen framed the decision as somewhat of an experiment.
"We don’t have two days between (games), and these guys don’t sleep (after games)," Larsen said. "We gain three hours. We get there, we can get in, get a practice in the early afternoon (Friday) and then get a morning skate (Saturday).
"We’ll try it. If we lose, probably won’t do it again. I don’t know. We’ll see how it goes."
Blue Jackets three stars
First star
Alexandre Texier, forward
Texier scored the Jackets' only goal to move into the team lead with nine goals on the year at 8:02 of the first period. He's already surpassed his previous career-high in goals (six in 36 games in his rookie season, 2018-19) and is just one point away from matching his career-high point total.
Second star
Elvis Merzlikins, goaltender
Though tagged with the shootout loss, Merzlikins was instrumental in allowing the game to get to a shootout in the first place. The Ducks had multiple high-danger chances late in overtime, and Merzlikins made the stop every time. He allowed just one goal on 26 shots before the shootout.
Third star
Gregory Hofmann, forward
Hofmann was kept off the scoresheet, but he tied for the team lead in shots on goal with four, the most he's had all season, and played a career-high 18:29. After Boqvist's injury, Hofmann took his place on the top power play and created multiple scoring chances throughout the game with his speed.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets lose to Anaheim Ducks in shootout
