Power play shut out again in 5 chances
As the clock ticked down in the Blue Jackets 4-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, scattered boos echoed across Nationwide Arena.
The crowd’s source of frustration? The Jackets' dismal power play, which is now 2 for 42 over their last 15 games after finishing Tuesday 0-for-5 with the man advantage.
“It’s a little frustrating, yeah. We’ve kind of done it to ourselves here a little bit,” Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones said of the crowd’s disapproval. “It’s not we’re not trying, and we’re doing video almost every day and just trying to take it back to basics. The skill is on the ice; it’s just a matter of chemistry and finding the back of the net.
“You see every once in a while, we show a little glimpse of it, but we have to be more consistent.”
The Blue Jackets nearly scored a powerplay goal: Nick Foligno redirected Oliver Bjorkstrand’s shot past goalie Cory Schneider in the first period, but the goal came about seven seconds after the power play ended.
Seeking identity of fourth line
With Boone Jenner joining Lukas Sedlak and Tyler Motte, Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella hopes to create an identity with the fourth line. Whether that’s the trio that achieves that is up in the air.
“I think it’s important,” Tortorella said. “They add the jam as we are trying to play the way I think we should play, and the way our players feel we should play, I think we add to it. This fourth line here tonight … I like what this line can do for our bench.”
“We say it’s the fourth line going in, but I’m not sure what it ends up as the game goes on.”
Tortorella said Jenner would start the game on the fourth line, but he wasn’t sure how it would progress. He held true to his combinations, with Jenner playing most of Tuesday’s game with Sedlak and Motte. All three logged the least ice time among Columbus forwards.
Jenner led the Blue Jackets in hits with seven.
Peeke makes WJC roster
Blue Jackets prospect Andrew Peeke (Notre Dame) was named Tuesday to the U.S. team for the World Junior Championships. The Jackets took him in the second round of the 2016 draft, 34th overall.