Hill trips up Columbus Blue Jackets: 4 takeaways from loss to Vegas Golden Knights

A thread the Blue Jackets are clinging to for playoff qualification is getting precariously thin.A vexing 4-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night at sold-out Nationwide Arena removed another strand, but the Jackets havent fallen from a playoff perch just yet.Despite losing for the fourth time in five games second in a row the Blue Jackets (31-26-8) still own the second wild card in the Eastern Conference despite the New York Rangers pulling even at 70 points with a win in Minnesota.

The Jackets have the tiebreaker over the Rangers via points percentage, and theyre up next in Columbus on Saturday night.More: Columbus Blue Jackets playoff tracker: monitoring the push for a postseason spotThe playoffs have already started for the Blue Jackets and the four teams chasing them, all within three points of the coveted second wild-card spot.

Only one will buckle it down, so buckle up for a bumpy ride.

Its going to be a battle to the finish, Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski said.

Its fun for our group to try and win these games and get into the playoffs.

Its going to be a battle to the end, but I think were ready for it.

Here are three takeaways from Thursday nights defeat:Columbus Blue Jackets stumble over a great startHockey can be a truly strange sport sometimes.

Odd bounces off sticks, skates, boards and various other hard objects make it predictably unpredictable and thats without even digging into its statistical anomalies.

And thats what that smacked the Blue Jackets in the face during the first period against Vegas, sending them to the locker room at the first intermission down 2-0 despite holding a commanding14-6 edge in shots and 33-9 advantage in attempts.

They dominated in almost every measurable way except for actual goals scored by Nicholas Roy and Brandon Saad a former Blue Jackets forward who signed with the Golden Knights on Jan.

31 after the St.

Louis Blues bought out his contract.

Allowing for some key saves made by Vegas goalie Adin Hill, who pitched a shutout, the best way to describe the Jackets fortune in that that first period is with a shoulder shrug.

They didnt almost everything right, still trailed by two goals after 20 minutes and never recovered.

Thats hockey.

When it was 8-0 (in shots) and they hadnt had a shot yet and we had, I think it was 33 attempts in the first period to their (nine) ...

they get (a power play) and its like, Hmm right? Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said.

So, of course theres (an anxious) feel, and then when it does go in the net, its like, Alright, but I dont think we folded.

I dont think we sagged.

I just think we didnt have something positive happen after that.Columbus Blue Jackets scrambling to fix power-play outageNeither of the Blue Jackets special teams have been special of late, but the power play is the biggest concern.

After going 0 for 3 against the Golden Knights, the Jackets are now just 4 of 43 (9.3%) since losing Sean Monahan, their bumper on the top unit, to a wrist injury Jan.

7 in Pittsburgh.

File all complaints to Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, whose unpenalized cross-check from behind caused the injury after driving Monahan headfirst into the end boards at PPG Paints Arena.

Evason and his coaching staff shifted some things around before facing Vegas, including Boone Jenner flip-flopping with Dmitry Voronkov for the top groups net-front spot, but nothing worked.

The Blue Jackets generated six shots on goal during six minutes of power-play time, but Hill stopped all six.

That included a four-minute power play late in the first with Vegas up 1-0 on Roys goal.

They have video, too, right? Evason said.

We changed the personnel, but weve talked about where to position people.

...

At the end of the day, we had some looks.

Weve just got to finish, right? Its just got to go in the net, and it hasnt for a bit now.Fischer makes Columbus Blue Jackets debut, Chinakhov sitsChristian Fischer played his first game with the Blue Jackets after being claimed off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings on March 6.

Watching games in New York and New Jersey prior to his debut Thursday gave Fischer a look at the Blue Jackets systems and structure, which saw at ice level Thursday.

Fischer skated at right wing on the fourth line with center Sean Kuraly and left wing Zach Aston-Reese, finishing the night with 9:39 ice time on 12 shifts.

Fischers debut, meanwhile, forced Yegor Chinakhov out of the lineup as a healthy scratch.

Chinakhovs return from a back injury that sidelined him for 39 games was paused to let him hit the reset button, while Fischer at 6 feet 2 and 212 pounds brings a hard-nosed style to the fourth line that should mesh with Kuraly and Aston-Reese.

We just believe he plays like we pay, Evason said.

He plays the game hard, plays on the inside, finishes checks, plays right, great teammate.

Thats all were asking.

Were just asking everybody to play the same way, the right way, how we play and give us a chance to win.Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson nearing returnJake Christiansen, a young defenseman whos played all 65 games for the Blue Jackets, wont play against the Rangers on Saturday.

After sustaining an undisclosed upper-body injury midway through the second period, Christiansen left the bench and didnt return.

His absence against New York creates a vacancy on the blue line that will be filled by Jack Johnson, Jordan Harris or possibly even Erik Gudbranson whos practicing without contact limitations.

Hes in full practice now, so itll just be evaluation and communicating with him, Evason said.

Well go through the process and when he gets in there, hell be ready to go.

[email protected]@BrianHedger.bsky.socialGet more on the Columbus Blue Jackets with our Cannon Fodder podcast.oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Hill trips Columbus Blue Jackets: 4 takeaways vs Vegas Golden Knights.

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