Yikes 2022 New Year's Day Wasn't Lucky For Blue Jackets

As I said in my last post, I was working and unavailable to watch the game today.  Sadly, it started amazing, and then grew painful to watch, from what I've heard.  After a 6:54 goal by Werenski, a 12:30 goal by Boqvist, and a 18:04 goal by Nyquist, the Blue Jackets were up 3-0 after Period 1.  It was an incredibly strong start, at home in Nationwide Arena, to start 2022.  

With another goal tacked on by Texier at 8:39 in Period 2, the odds looked good for the Blue Jackets to start the year with a shutout.  However, never count out the Hurricanes, who are tops in the league right now for good reason.  This would be the last goal scored by the Blue Jackets, today.  At 9:11, Lorentz would score goal 1 for the Hurricanes.  Goal 2 would come from Skjei at 14:05.  The second period would end with a still hopeful 4-2 Blue Jackets lead, but remember what I said before as we head into a very bad third period.  

At 6:53 Skjei would score again.  Blue Jackets up 4-3.  Then, Niederreiter would score at 10:34.  Hurricanes tie Blue Jackets 4-4.  Bear would score just seconds lateer, at 10:50, 5-4 Hurricanes.  Lorentz would get his sceond of the game too at 11:59.  6-4 Hurricanes.  At 17:30 the Blue Jackets would push to gain back some control by pulling the goaltender.  This would be Merzlikins, who didn't start the game, but rather Tarasov had.  Merzlikins took over to try and ease the bleeding, but there wasn't a chance.  The Hurricanes would win after an empty net from Trocheck.  7-4 was the final after the Hurricanes scored 7 goals with no answers from the Blue Jackets Offense or Defense.  

Again, I didn't personally witness this game.  However, to me the situation is simple.  Korpisalo is still out due to the Covid situation.  Larson likely wanted to rest Merzlikins before facing the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champs, at home, on Tuesday.  The young goaltender went in and it went well for a while.  Then, being up 4 goals, the team likely thought they had the game in the bag.  By the time it got away from them, there was no way to gain it back.  This has happened before and is expected with a fairly young team.  So please, let's not panic and start roomers of firing Coach Larson, or trading "X" player.  That isn't the problem.  They need to start as strong as they finish.  Build up the endurance, and this comes with practice and time.  Also, keep in mind, for them to have held a lead like this for so long, against the Hurricanes of all teams, shows that this team is clay ready to be molded.  No doubt.  

Happy New Year 5th Line!          

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