Blue Jackets 'lack of competitiveness' costs them in home-opener against well-oiled Tampa Bay Lightning
Other than scoring the first goal again, the Blue Jackets’ second game of 2022-23 was nothing like the first.s they did Wednesday in a 4-1 loss at the Carolina Hurricanes
“It’s a great hockey team we just played,” said Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen, who was not happy with his team’s effort or execution. “We played a great hockey team in Game 1 too, in their building. We’re out-chancing after two periods. We’re in real good shape. … Tonight’s game? We’re giving up ‘Grade As’ all over the ice, and that, to me, that’s a lack of focus. That’s a lack of competitiveness.
The first was scored by Stamkos off a centering pass that hit Adam Boqvist’s left skate and slid inside the left post, making it 2-1 Tampa Bay 1:15 after Perry tied it 1-1 in the first. Foote scored the second one to make it 4-2 late in the first, deflecting the puck off Jake Bean’s right skate into the net.
“We all make mistakes out there. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old. I’m sure I had a few mistakes tonight too. We just all need to be better. We’ve got to play better in front of our goaltender. played well tonight and kept us in this game for a majority of the night.”“It’s good to play these teams right now. They’re a benchmark for us and we know that we eventually need to get to that level. I think playing a full 60 minutes, plugged in, will help us.
— After going 0 for 4 on power plays, including 1:36 of 5-on-3, the Blue Jackets are now 0 for 6 through their first two games. — Mathieu Olivier only played three shifts in each period for a total of nine. He’s a fourth-line winger acquired from the Nashville Predators for a fourth-round pick in the offseason to add bite into the lineup, but he’s also expected to contribute offensively.