Columbus, Ohio -- The Blue Jackets did not practice on-ice today after back-to-back games Friday and Saturday, instead opting for off-ice workouts. They play their third game in four days Monday versus the visiting Florida Panthers.
The loss last night in Nashville definitely hurts, yet they are making strides in the right direction. Blue Jackets head coach Todd Richards is happy with the compete level he saw out of the players.
"A lot of it came from inside (the room)," said Richards of their compete level. "I try to prepare the guys and get them ready, but as far as motivating them, I think a lot of it came internally from the guys. I think it was the disappointment from the previous night's game."
That 5-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks saw the team implode in the third period. Not so Saturday after the Predators made it 1-0 in the second period. They kept their composure and kept working to find a way to get the puck past Pekka Rinne. They were rewarded in the third period on a cross-crease pass from Nick Foligno to Ryan Johansen, the latter zipping it past Rinne to even the score.
"I knew as soon as he got that puck," Johansen said, "I could tell he was going to come across to me. So I just tried to put myself in position (to score). He threaded the needle with a great pass to me and all I had to do was get the shot off quick. Rinne is good at getting across, too. And he almost had it."
Although the players don't want to talk about positives that can be taken from a loss anymore, Richards sees things a bit differently. Don't be fooled, he doesn't like losing any more than the players do. But, he also looks at the whole of their games, identifying what is working and what still needs improvement.
"The things you can take from it (2-1 loss to Nashville)," said Richards, "are when you work like that, you're trying to do the right things. That will give you a better chance to win a hockey game. In the end, if you do that more often than not, you're going to win hockey games."
They face a stern test Monday as the Panthers roll into Columbus 10 points ahead of the Blue Jackets. They're looking to continue the way they played the Predators and build upon what was done right there.
Look at it this way sports fans, the only way for the team to go is up.
Welcome to the NHL, Kerby
Rookie left wing Kerby Rychel made his NHL debut Saturday night and was a force on the forecheck and not afraid to use his 6'1" frame. Instead of Rychel being on the receiving end of a "welcome to the NHL" moment, he checked Mike Ribeiro as if to say, "Hey! I'm here!"
"It something that I'm trying to do," Rychel said, "in trying to create energy for the guys. It felt good to get involved physically. I told myself before the game that I didn't want to wait around. I wanted to do something to get noticed and try to stay in the lineup."
Richards said today that he was happy with Rychel's play and that he will be in the lineup Monday versus the Panthers.
Shots, shots, shots
Nashville seemingly shot the puck from every which way at Curtis McElhinney, peppering him with 20 shots alone in the first period. Richards wants to see that from the Blue Jackets, too.
"We've talked about that," he said. "We have to do a better job getting to the net, too. It's about simplifying our game to create more chances. It starts with getting the puck into their zone. Then once we get it there, we have to win some battles to keep the puck. There were moments where we were good last night, but it's still an area that we can be better."
This and that
Richards said that center Artem Anisimov will not play Monday after leaving the game in Nashville with an upper-body injury. He's being evaluated today. Richards also said that it was not a concussion, like his previous injury earlier this season.
Center Brandon Dubinsky could go back into the lineup as soon as Monday against Florida, said Richards. He traveled with the team to Nashville and had a good, hard skate Saturday. If he doesn't play Monday, look for him to draw into the lineup at some point this week.
