Team meets on power-play woes
The Blue Jackets’ power-play struggles have worsened, and the team now clearly is worst in the NHL in that area, producing only three goals in 35 opportunities.
Their 8.6 percent success rate is more than 10 percentage points below the league average and a point of emphasis as they embark on a three-game trip.
“As a group, we know what we can do, and we’re falling short of it, which is the most frustrating part,” defenseman Zach Werenski said. “Our goal right now is to not get frustrated, and try to build momentum even if we don’t score.”
That frustration showed in the Jackets’ 0-for-5 effort Monday against the Bruins, coach John Tortorella said.
“There was zero setup. The concept, the foundation that we did have, was out the window the last game,” he said.
Before practice Wednesday, the team had “a very extensive meeting,” Tortorella said, largely to explain defined roles on the power play. Players were allowed to offer input. There was a consensus that the Jackets need to get the puck to the net more often with a man-advantage.
“It just seems like the rule of thumb is, we need to make three seam passes before we take a shot,” Tortorella said. “That’s going to have to stop, or we’re going to have to try different people. Do I want to do that? No. Do we want to panic? No. But I just don’t want people getting stubborn and not understanding the coaching.”
Center Nick Foligno said that when all five players on a unit aren’t on the same page and try to convert individually, “it just kills your power play. It makes you look slow and predictable.”
The Jackets boasted one of the NHL’s best power plays for a majority of last season but struggled over the final 25 to 30 games, Tortorella noted, and that has carried over to this season.
Said Foligno: “We’ve just got to relax, know who we are, get into it, and I guarantee success will start happening before long.”
Injury update
Defenseman Gabriel Carlsson (upper body) said he felt good after his second practice in two days and would be traveling with the team on its three-game trip. Wing Cam Atkinson (lower body) missed his second straight practice. Tortorella’s only comment on the two was that the status of both is day-to-day. Zach Werenski practiced after sitting out Tuesday for “maintenance.”
Motte moving up
The forward lines during Wednesday’s practice included recently recalled wing Tyler Motte skating with Brandon Dubinsky and Boone Jenner. Motte started his Jackets debut Monday on the fourth line. On Wednesday, the fourth line featured Sonny Milano and Zac Dalpe, with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Markus Hannikainen splitting time.