Foligno frustrated by lack of goals, wins
It was a frustrating moment in a frustrating game in a frustrating season for Nick Foligno.
Against Dallas on Saturday, Foligno had the Blue Jackets' best scoring chance when he swatted the puck with a backhand in front of goalie Jake Oettinger with space to jam it into the net.
But the puck hit the post, and Oettinger's pad stopped Foligno's second attempt. The Blue Jackets lost 5-0, another defeat in a season in which the Jackets have failed to gain traction.
As the team's captain, Foligno carries the burden more than anyone. The Jackets have struggled to score this year, and Foligno has only four goals and 11 assists in 26 games entering Tuesday's home game against Florida. His last goal came 13 games ago, against Carolina on Feb. 7.
But Foligno is a net-half-full kind of guy, and he believes both he and his teammates are on the verge of turning the corner.
“I'm more frustrated team-wise,” Foligno said Monday. “I still feel like I've played a pretty good brand of hockey. It's been frustrating that I haven't been able to score. I was doing well early on and obviously of late have not been able to get on the scoresheet. But I'm just trying to figure out what's going on with our team and trying to help in that regard.”
In hopes of creating a spark, or at least a semblance of the old Blue Jackets' blue-collar identity, coach John Tortorella has put Foligno on a line with center Boone Jenner and fellow wing Cam Atkinson.
“Those guys have played together,” Tortorella said. “You know you're going to have two hard workers. Cam's a hard worker also, but you've got a bit of a sniper there with him. We'll see where it goes.”
Tortorella was hesitant to assess Foligno's performance this year because, as he put it, on a 10-11-5 team, not many players are going to earn glowing reviews.
“Nick has played in spurts, just like everybody else,” Tortorella said.
What he doesn't take issue with is Foligno's leadership. It has been a challenging season in terms of developing team chemistry off-ice because of stringent COVID-19 protocols.
“That's been the hardest thing,” Foligno said. “I'm big on relationships and how I lead and getting to know guys. It's been hard for me just to try to get my claws into some guys and understand how they are and what makes them tick, how they can feel a part of it.”
Foligno said he's the kind of captain who invites players to his home to hang out with his family or to meet for morning coffee or postgame beers.
“We just don't have that luxury right now,” Foligno said. “So it's trying to connect on a different front at the rink. A lot of times it's tough because it's a place of work. That's how Torts likes to run it, and I like it, too. You come in here and get your job done and then go have your fun outside.
“Now we've got to try to balance that where you have some fun at the rink. It's been a struggle, but it's been a struggle for every team. We've got to find a way.” He seems to be managing it. “Nick has been a good leader for us right on through,” Tortorella said. “As a captain, it doesn't matter what circumstances is going on with your club. You need to read the room and act accordingly.
“I think Nick has grown tremendously in the past years that I've been dealing with him, and I think he's done a really good job this year.”
Now, if only the goals and victories will follow.