Blue Jackets’ defensive play rounding into form
The past couple of weeks for the Blue Jackets were defined by an ugly losing streak and speculation that a coaching change might be looming.
A 1-5-2 stretch dropped Columbus below the threshold for playoff contention in the NHL’S Central Division and brought whispers that coach John Tortorella might be on his way out.
But one area of the Jackets’ game has
resurfaced this week, in time to show they still have a pulse.
Their defensive rigidity is back.
“We’re talking a lot about that,” said Tortorella, who received a vote of confidence Tuesday from general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. “We truly don’t have an identity. It’s something we’re trying to work on.
“(But) if you’re going to have any chance consistently in this league, you’re going to have to defend. We’ve improved. We need to get better.”
They already have, at least based on the number of defensive miscues and missed assignments in the past five games. Glaring mistakes in their own zone have reduced considerably, goalie Joonas Korpisalo’s play has improved and the Blue Jackets have again made it difficult for opponents to put the puck in their net.
“We feed off each other,” said Korpisalo, who has only allowed nine goals in the past five games. “(Our defensemen), they make great plays and we’re just building that confidence between us. That’s what teamwork is … work together for a common goal.”
Not long ago, things were quite different.
Missed coverages allowed open looks and easy tap-in goals. Rebounds weren’t cleared and became goals far too often. Shots tipped from all over the zone fluttered or bounced past Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins with regularity.
In other words, the Jackets were a defensive mess.
Such play was a shocking detour from the kind of stout defensive hockey that helped the Blue Jackets qualify for the playoffs the past four seasons. So, they’re fixing it, even while other parts of the game — such as puck possession and exiting the defensive zone — remain sore spots.
“I think we’re better positioned,” Tortorella said Thursday after the Blue Jackets edged the Dallas Stars 3-2 for their second straight victory. “I think prior to this game here, against Detroit (on Tuesday), we didn’t give up much … but that’s a wounded hockey club we were playing. (Thursday) was a bigger test for us. This is a really good hockey club we played.”
The Stars are wounded too, after being ravaged by COVID-19 during training camp and then having multiple home games postponed by an ice storm that caused an energy crisis in large swaths of Texas.
Their loss Thursday pushed a losing streak to four games and they are just 2-8-2 since opening the season with a four-game winning streak. But Tortorella’s point remains.
The Red Wings have a lot less talent, again contending for the dishonor of being the NHL’S worst team. Dallas played in the Stanley Cup final last summer and gave the Blue Jackets problems with a relentless forecheck during games Feb. 2-4 in Columbus.
Those two games were split, but left a vivid impression of how dominant the Stars can be when they’re clicking.
Dallas won the possession battle again Thursday, generating a slight edge in scoring chances, but the Blue Jackets fended off enough to win. They also frustrated the Stars by breaking up plays with their sticks and bodies, didn’t allow Joe Pavelski to easily tip shots and cleared a lot of rebounds out of dangerous areas.
“I thought we got back (to) forechecking and for the most part I think we played a really good game,” Tortorella said. “(We) defended really well. Killed some penalties. So, that’s a good, solid win for us.”
The teams conclude their latest two-game set Saturday night in Dallas.
Injury updates
The Blue Jackets received good news on the injury front this week, after goalie Merzlikins (upper body) and forward Gustav Nyquist (shoulder) practiced Wednesday in Columbus.
It was the first practice this season for Nyquist, who underwent surgery Nov. 3 and was given a timeline of five to six months for a full recovery. It was the first practice for Merzlikins since he was injured while making an acrobatic save in a 4-2 loss to Nashville on Feb. 20 in Columbus.
Both remain on injured reserve, but Merzlikins traveled to Dallas to continue working with goalie coach Manny Legace. bhedger@dispatch.com @Brianhedger