Saad decries team’s lack of energy in slump
Blue Jackets wing Brandon Saad prefers to lead with actions rather than words.
But after the club’s latest loss — a 2-0 setback Thursday night to the Ottawa Senators — he made a few pointed observations about its recent funk.
“We have to play with more energy,” Saad said. “We have the talent, but even as a team, not just our line, it just seems like we have a lack of urgency. We’re late on getting to pucks. When we are playing well, we’ve got four lines rolling and we’re getting in on the forecheck and creating turnovers.
“Right now, we’re just going through the motions and that’s why we are losing hockey games.”
Saad was quick to note the 3-5-0 slide since 16-game winning streak is a small sample size. But on a night the Blue Jackets attempted 42 shots overall yet generated few quality scoring chances in the first two periods, Saad’s message was clear.
“We had some shots but a lot of it is perimeter,” said Saad, who led all players with seven shots. “The goalie played well, but when you don’t get traffic in front of him it’s a tough league to score goals in. It’s a lack of getting to the net, a lack of urgency. A little flat out there. Not enough energy. It showed for sure.”
The line of Saad, Alexander Wennberg and Nick Foligno was the team’s best in December. Saad, who had eight goals and eight assists during the winning streak, has one goal in the last eight games.
“I don’t know the rhyme or reason for it,” Saad said of the perceived lack of energy. “It seems we’re not connecting on passes. We’re a little sluggish out there. … We’re going to face adversity throughout the season. We’ve just got to stay positive — keep working hard and staying on pucks, and the luck will come back our way.”
Prout time
Dalton Prout played his first game on defense since Nov. 12. He earned 20 shifts totaling 10:44 on the third pair with Ryan Murray.
Prout made a diving play to keep the puck in the offensive zone late in the first period, but after a sudden change of possession, he could not get back in time to prevent Kyle Turris finding a seam between the defensemen. Turris scored on a breakaway for the game’s first goal.
The veteran replaced Scott Harrington in the lineup. Harrington played in place of an injured Marcus Nutivaara. The rookie remains out because of an undisclosed injury.
Slap shot
Former Ohio State forward Ryan Dzingel celebrated his return to Columbus by scoring a goal in the second period. It was his ninth of the season in his 43rd game. Dzingel played three seasons for the Buckeyes from 2011 to ’14.