theathleticuk
Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness had recently confided in general manager Don Waddell that he intended to soften his postgame remarks, particularly following tough losses. Bowness's fiery critiques had become a hot topic around the NHL, especially in Canada, with former players and analysts questioning whether his harsh words might cause players to tune him out. The old Bowness would have been livid after a 5-2 defeat to the Buffalo Sabres in front of 19,070 at KeyBank Center.
The score flattered the Blue Jackets, as Buffalo exploded for 19 shots and three goals in the second period, turning the final frame into a formality. "What bothers me when we lose is when we make it too easy on the other team to play their game, and that's what we did," Bowness said. "Our puck management wasn't where it needed to be tonight." That was about as candid and pointed as Bowness got after one of the more deflating losses of the young season.
Columbus had been building momentum with strong performances, including a 7-2 rout of the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday and a 2-1 shootout win over the Dallas Stars on Thursday at Nationwide Arena. But Friday's game was a major letdown, reminiscent of other early-season losses that had provoked Bowness's ire. This time, Bowness said the coaching staff would examine how they're handling the club heading into back-to-back games—the loss dropped Columbus to 0-3 in the second half of such sets—and he asked his players to reconsider their preparation. "I told the players after that, we will take a look at what we're doing as a coaching staff," Bowness said. "But they have to take a look at what they're doing to prepare, too. There's a lot more (10 remaining back-to-backs) coming yet this season."
Buffalo consistently raced out to early leads, often capitalizing on sloppy puck play in dangerous areas. Columbus goaltender Jet Greaves bore the brunt, facing a barrage for most of the first two periods. He finished with 32 saves on 37 shots, including 16 stops in the second period alone. Greaves fell to 2-6-0 with his fourth consecutive loss, and his save percentage dropped to .880. His career save percentage before Friday was .911.
"(The Sabres) started off strong," Blue Jackets tough guy Mathieu Olivier said. "They competed hard. It feels like we just got, ya know, outcompeted in our battles, and they took advantage of their chances offensively." Olivier added: "I can't really remember a push, a real push from us in the game. I thought our jump was off, our battle level was off a little bit. It's not anything that's a thing. It's just a simple, compete and execute kind of thing."
The Sabres never trailed and pulled away in the decisive second period. A goal from captain Rasmus Dahlin made it 3-1 at 4:30 of the second, and Buffalo extended the lead to 5-1 when Josh Norris and Josh Doan scored just 1:07 apart. Columbus pulled to 5-2 when Zach Werenski scored on a power play with 1:39 remaining, but the celebration was muted. Kent Johnson also scored for the Blue Jackets.
"In a back-to-back, you have to turn your brain on a little bit more," Blue Jackets center Charlie Coyle said. "It seemed like we were a little lax in that area, and it led to their chances, and to us being a little slow. We just felt like we were a step behind, but it was our own doing."
Bowness even tweaked his lineup after Thursday's win over the Stars in a way that should have provided a spark. Steven Lorentz, acquired in the trade last month that sent Kirill Marchenko to the Toronto Maple Leafs and brought Matthew Knies to Columbus, was recalled from AHL Cleveland and made his Blue Jackets debut on the fourth line. He played only 8:45 but tied for the team lead with three hits. Jack Williams, also up from AHL Cleveland, centered the fourth line and played 9:54. To make room, Luca Del Bel Belluz and Ryan Lomberg were healthy scratches.
The Blue Jackets lost two players to injury in the second half. Sean Monahan, who has centered a top-six line all season, left late in the second period after blocking a shot. The team announced during the second intermission that he would not return. Dmitri Voronkov, who was moved higher in the lineup after starting on the fourth line, left in the third period with an upper-body injury. Bowness said both were being evaluated further before an update would be provided.
Key Analysis
Bowness's restrained approach marks a shift from his earlier fiery demeanor, but the Blue Jackets' lackluster effort raises questions about whether the softer tone is resonating. With a grueling schedule ahead and key injuries mounting, Columbus must find consistency and urgency to avoid falling further behind in the standings.
Originally reported by theathleticuk.