Columbus Blue Jackets reach breaking point in 5-0 loss to Toronto Maple Leafs: takeaways

TORONTO Cracks are starting to show.Each loss piled on top of others before it feels twice as heavy on the Blue Jackets shoulders now with just seven games left and their playoff hopes fading quickly.

A 5-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena was the latest gut punch, and the apparent unraveling of whats been a memorable season is getting harder to watch.This was the fifth time theyve been shut out in 15 games since seizing control of the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with an exciting 5-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on March 1 in front of 94,751 at Ohio Stadium.Theyre just 4-10-1 since that night, have dropped to 11th in the conference, trail the Montreal Canadiens by six points for the second wild card, have allowed nine unanswered goals in their past two games and coach Dean Evason felt a need Saturday night to stem a finger-pointing flare up.

Thats exactly what we addressed, Evason said.

Weve stuck together all year.

What would we change at this point? Forget about pressure or whatever, all of that.

You know, you dont change just because theres a situation thats a little bit negative ...

and we havent.

Weve done it (finger-pointing) a couple times, maybe, and tonight we certainly did, so we addressed it real early.

Here are three takeaways: Columbus Blue Jackets stick with goalie Elvis Merzlikins after emotional exit against Colorado AvalancheThe way Elvis Merzlikins left the Blue Jackets 7-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night at Nationwide Arena, there was reason to think Evason and goaltending coach Niklas Backtom might shift to Daniil Tarasov in Toronto.

After allowing the seventh goal to the Avalanche on a defensive breakdown that left him little chance to make a save, Merzlikins smashed his stick on the right goal post and then bent it on the ice while skating to the Blue Jackets bench.

Thats when Evason made his first decision to pull a goalie this season.

Tarasov finished the game, Merzlikins snapped his stick in the tunnel area and Evason said after the game that his decision to pull Merzlikins was based partly on performance and partly on his emotional response to the seventh goal.

According to TV analyst Jody Shelley during Saturdays FanDuel Sports Network broadcast, Merzlikins took the Blue Jackets out to dinner Friday as a team and apologized for his exit against the Avalanche.

He got the starting assignment against the Maple Leafs and helped the Jackets stay within striking distance for two periods.

Evason was asked about the rationale behind starting Merzlikins in Toronto, but his answer said more about the Blue Jackets frame of mind after another galling loss.

There was all of us to blame in this hockey game, he said.Columbus Blue Jackets forward shakeup against Toronto Maple Leafs nets better possession, no goals During their morning skate, the Blue Jackets unveiled an entirely new setup with their forward lines.

James van Riemsdyk replaced Luke Kunin as the lone personnel switch, but a shakeup of combinations resulted in new looks on all four lines.

Dmitry Voronkov moved from Sean Monahans top line to the third, Kent Johnson moved from the second line to the first, Van Riemsdyk skated on the second line, Cole Sillinger centered the third line and Justin Danforth whod been handling that role previously moved to right wing on the fourth line.

Its just to get a little tweak, Evason said.

As coaches, we sometimes do too much of that, but we like to leave the lines together.

We have for a while now.

Its just that game (Thursday against Colorado), we didnt particularly like some stuff.

...

Hopefully, we made the right combinations (and) put the right magnets in place that will give us a chance to get two points here tonight.After two periods, the results were a mixed bag.

The Jackets got off to a strong start, rolling all four lines and controlling play, but the Maple Leafs still took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission despite being outshot 12-8.

Nicholas Robertsons first goal was the only one in the first 20 minutes, and he scored it off a Merzlikins turnover.

Robertson also scored off a turnover by Zach Werenski in the second period to make it 2-0, so the Blue Jackets line shuffling became less of a story.

They just couldnt convert any against Maple Leafs backup goalie Anthony Stolarz, who pitched his second shutout of the season.

Now, theyre expected to face Ottawas No.

1 goalie, Linus Ullmark, in the back-to-back finale Sunday.Columbus Blue Jackets pay for two key turnovers against Toronto Maple LeafsOverall, the Blue Jackets played much better than they had the previous two games.

They pounced on loose pucks, broke up plays with timely stick checks and even threw their weight around a little more with stiff body checks.

The problem was twofold.

First, they couldnt get a puck past Stolarz despite their impressive forechecking work in the first two periods.

Secondly, two turnovers led directly to scoring chances that Robertson buried against Merzlikins.

After scoring off Merzlikins turnover in the first, Robertson made it 2-0 in the second after Werenski had the puck knocked behind him coming out of his Columbus zone.

Robertson got to it uncontested, drifted toward the net in the right circle and ripped a wrist shot into the far side of the net against Merzlikins.

The Blue Jackets have outscored many similar goals off turnovers this season, but they loom a lot larger now with their fading playoff hopes dangling by a thread.Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at [email protected] and @BrianHedger.bsky.social Get 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: Columbus Blue Jackets' woes continue vs Toronto Maple Leafs: takeaways.

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