In what has become a recurring and disturbing trend, the Blue Jackets were delayed coming out of the gate Tuesday night and it cost them two points.
They were swarmed by an Arizona Coyotes team that has by and large struggled this season but has played better hockey of late, out-shot 10-2 at one point in the first period and playing the majority of it in their own zone. It’s made Todd Richards one unhappy coach who is quite obviously frustrated by the inconsistency that has plagued his team, and that particularly plagued them in a 4-1 loss at Nationwide Arena.
“You’d think we would come out and play,” Richards said. “It’s disappointing. We had some guys who were ready to start the game, but not enough. We have some guys that we need more out of.”
“It’s very frustrating,” said Brandon Dubinsky. “I can’t put a finger on it right now.”
Arizona took a 1-0 lead eight minutes into the game, scoring on a rebound put-back by Lucas Lessio at the side of the net. The Coyotes were playing well but on the other hand, the Blue Jackets were not helping their own cause, turning pucks over and making it difficult to generate and sustain offensive zone time with poor puck management.
Dubinsky’s fight with Kyle Chipchura sparked the Blue Jackets at least temporarily, and some of their biggest threats in the game came late in the opening period. They skated, forechecked, drew a penalty that led to their only goal, and had the Coyotes scrambling in their defensive end.
The Blue Jackets tied the game 40 seconds into the second period on a James Wisniewski one-timer from the center point, sent through heavy traffic in front of Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith – a goal that could have sent them on their way, but instead, they took two penalties back-to-back and gave up two goals in a 2:47 span that turned a 1-1 game into a 3-1 game.
“We were better after (the Dubinsky fight),” Richards said. “But I don’t look at that and say that’s the difference. We didn’t start the game on time. It’s disappointing, especially with how we played our last three games. It was simple: they dumped it in, they forechecked and they were hard on the puck.”
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