Despite playing some of their worst hockey under head coach Rick Bowness, the Columbus Blue Jackets remain in the heat of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. They can take an important step on Saturday night on home ice.
The Blue Jackets host the Winnipeg Jets in a battle of two teams currently outside the playoff race in their respective conferences. But a strong finish for both could be enough to qualify for the playoffs.
Both the Jets and Blue Jackets are coming off losses. The Jets lost to the Dallas Stars 3-0 while the Blue Jackets played one of their worst offensive games in team history on Thursday in a 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Each team is looking at Saturday as a chance to take a big step towards staying in their playoff races.
Today in our Gameday News & Notes, Bowness revealed what he wants his team to learn. Then we caught up with Jets’ forward Cole Perfetti to see where their vibes are and what their mindset is after a tough loss to the Stars.
Blue Jackets Not Having Their “A” Game
The Blue Jackets have gone through a stretch of games where they haven’t consistently had their “A” game. Any team that wants to win and be successful has to be able to win under less than ideal circumstances.
Bowness admitted that the Blue Jackets are still learning this concept. He elaborated on which areas the team is learning.
“Is to simplify the game,” Bowness said. “When you don’t have your A game, don’t be trying to make plays that you normally make when you know you’re flying and you just keep it a little more simple. That’s what they’re still learning how to do.”
The Hurricanes held the Blue Jackets’ to a franchise low 10 shots on goal Thursday. Every time the Blue Jackets tried to make a play, the Hurricanes not only had an answer, but they were also quickly counterattacking. Bowness saw some things that he didn’t like.
“We’re going out to the blue line a couple times, there’s nowhere to go, but we’re still trying to make plays. And now we’re playing a three-quarter ice game and they’re coming right back at us. Those are the things they have to learn. They learn those harsh reminders and those are the harsh reminders. Now I got to back check, right? And so if I put it a little bit forward, now we’re playing a 200-foot game. But if I’m getting too easy at the blue line at the wrong time, now we’re back checking.”
“If you watch Carolina, their D get it. There’s no play. It’s out. They just flip it. They’re not trying to force anything. It’s off the boards and it’s out. It’s to the far blue line. And they’re slashing guys. You can’t always make a play in this league. It’s too good. There’s too much pressure on you because the league is so fast. So take what’s there and that’s what they have to learn. Don’t give your troubles to someone else, right? He’s covered. We got him. Here, you take it. He’s not going to be able to do anything with it. Those are the things they’ve got to learn.”
In order for the Blue Jackets to turn their losing streak around and start winning again, they have to get back to basics. Make simple plays. Take what the opposition gives them. Don’t force the issue. It will be important against a Jets’ team that can turn mistakes into goals quickly.
Perfetti on Jets’ Mindset
The Jets are on a 10-5-4 run since the Olympic Break. At one point, they were 11 points back of the final playoff spot in the West. Going into Saturday night, the Jets are just three points out.
Perfetti likes the approach and attitude the Jets have shown.
“There’s no quit in here,” Perfetti said to the Hockey Writers. “I think obviously we know where we stack up and where we are in the standings. We’re not out of it. We’re going to keep fighting and keep going every day. Every game is massive for us and we still control our own destiny. We’re going to go out there every game and have the same mentality of fight for our lives. I think we’ve shown that. Win or lose, I think we’ve shown our effort’s been there and we’re not quitting.”
Like the Blue Jackets, the Jets have had moments of frustration this season. Due to injuries and other factors, the Jets struggled until the Olympic Break. They have been able to put the past behind them in order to give themselves a chance to make the playoffs.
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For Perfetti, it’s a simple approach that he and his team take.
“Every day is a fresh start,” Perfetti said. “We can learn from our prior games. We’ve had some great games as of late and we’ve had some games where it didn’t go our way. It’s just not getting too high or too low, just learning from the good and bad and seeing what we can do better everyday. At the end of the day, it’s moving onwards and moving towards the next game. Once this is over, put this in the rear view mirror and move on to the next game.”
The Blue Jackets had better be ready for a desperate Jets’ team. With Connor Hellebuyck expected to start, it will be the latest tough game the Blue Jackets have to find a way to win on home ice.
Side Dishes
- The Blue Jackets will start Jet Greaves against the Jets. As for the lineup, Bowness said there were game-time decisions. Mason Marchment is one of those. He participated in the morning skate in line rushes and on the power play. All indications point to him being able to play. As for Isac Lundestrom, he is also a game-time decision but did not participate in the morning skate. He took a puck on Thursday in Carolina that clearly got him in a vulnerable spot. He is not expected to play.
- If Marchment plays and Lundestrom does not, expect Zach Aston-Reese to play for Kent Johnson and Jake Christiansen to come in for Egor Zamula. But check back at warmups for official confirmation.
- Former Blue Jackets’ head coach Scott Arniel is back at Nationwide Arena behind the Jets’ bench. He’s been able to help his team be in position playing meaningful games. “Until we get that checkmark that says we’re out of it, we’re going to battle right to the end. We just came out of the Olympic Break. We just decided we weren’t happy what happened prior to the Olympics. We couldn’t do nothing about it. Now it’s making sure that every chance, you have an opportunity to win hockey games, to continue to put pressure on the other teams that you’re in the battle with and that are above you. That’s what we’ve done.”
- Former Blue Jacket Gus Nyquist, who still lives in suburban Columbus, is a game-time decision according to Arniel. He is healthy but did skate with the extras at the morning skate. He is not expected to play against his former team Saturday night.
