Vincent uses ice time to instill ‘standards’
Kirill Marchenko, a second-year forward, is the latest Blue Jackets lineup mainstay to either get benched or sat out entirely as a healthy scratch while coach Pascal Vincent continues to instill “accountability” via ice time.
For Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vincent dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen, scratching Marchenko in response to a recent dip in play and replacing him with Andrew Peeke, an oft-scratched defenseman.
Once again, the Jackets’ first-year coach cited team culture and accountability as his logic for the decision. Vincent said Marchenko will return to the lineup Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers.
“We keep the standards where they are, and if we want to create something that is more than average, we have to go through this,” Vincent said. “For Marchenko, I feel his last two games, his standards have been lowered a little bit for himself. I know the intentions are right. We just want the best out of him.”
Peeke contributed a goal, assist and finished with a +2 plus/minus rating, but also had the game-deciding goal bounce off his left knee into the net.
The most puzzling thing about Vincent’s decision was the fact the Jackets had won their previous two games, including a 6-3 victory Monday over the Vegas Golden Knights in Columbus. As a result, the Blue Jackets were looking for their first three-game winning streak in almost two years while playing their fifth game in seven days. They were also looking for their first win in Pittsburgh since Dec. 21, 2015.
Most teams in that situation would have placed injured rookie Adam Fantilli on injured reserve and recalled a deserving forward from AHL Cleveland, but Vincent saw an opportunity to accomplish two things at once.
The first was giving Marchenko a “reset” game as a scratch. The second was getting Peeke into the lineup for just the second time in the past 11 games.
“I want to reward Andrew Peeke,” Vincent said. “He’s been here all year, he’s played, what, (22) games? He’s working hard every practice, and when he’s played, he’s been playing good. I would have a hard time looking Andrew
Peeke in the eyes saying, ‘We called up a player and we’re not playing you.’ He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do, and he deserves to play.”
Blue Jackets players are no strangers to seeing lineup regulars sit out.
Damon Severson was benched for the third period of a shutout loss to the Detroit Red Wings at Nationwide Arena back in October. Others who’ve been benched include Gaudreau and Yegor Chinakhov.
Elvis Merzlikins, Patrik Laine, Jack Roslovic and Adam Boqvist have been scratched at various times.
“I think it’s great having a standard in the room,” defenseman Zach Werenski said. “I think it’s something the last few years we’ve missed a little bit. As for (Vincent) scratching guys or benching guys, that’s up to him and the player. I’m not going to get into that, but I think having that standard and knowing you have to play well to stay in the lineup is good for everybody.” Gaudreau agreed. “Hopefully, personally, you can learn from experiences like that,” he said. “Obviously, if you’re not playing your best, you’re not going to see the ice and that goes for everyone. It doesn’t matter who you are, a first-year guy or a 10th year guy. It doesn’t matter. We want to build a culture around here of putting guys on the ice who can help this team win games, hold each other accountable and go from there.” bhedger@dispatch.com @Brianhedger