The Columbus Blue Jackets need a shakeup -- somewhere, anywhere -- whether it be the firing of head coach Todd Richards or a demotion of an underperforming player. By the time this article hits the Internet early Wednesday morning, it might have already happened, or Columbus could still be sitting on its hands. Regardless, the Blue Jackets need something -- sooner rather than later, yesterday rather than today -- because their 4-0 loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday night gave them their worst start in club history and makes them the first NHL team in 18 years to go 0-7-0.
2015 NHL scores: Columbus remains winless, Montreal stays perfect and Pittsburgh evens out
Two cities looking up, one looking for change.
Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
Blue Jackets are 0-7-0 to start this season 6th team in NHL history to lose at least their 1st 7 games in regulation
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 21, 2015 The Blue Jackets had their chances, outshooting the Islanders 37-29, but were killed by an inept power play that could not convert on three straight Islander penalties in the third period.
As Columbus falls, Montreal rises, thanks to Carey Price's 3-0 shutout win over the St. Louis Blues. While everything goes wrong for the Blue Jackets, everything is going extremely right for the Canadiens, who remain the only undefeated team after almost two weeks of hockey action. Michel Therrien's offense is firing on all cylinders, Price is in midseason Vezina Trophy-winning form and nothing can seemingly stop the momentum of the Montreal Canadiens. Alexander Semin had his first goal with the Habs in the 3-0 win, while Price is apparently has a cheat code to this game of hockey.
Smack in the middle of the road are the Pittsburgh Penguins, who after starting the season 0-3 have stormed back to win three straight and even their record. A 3-2 overtime victory over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday saw the resurgence of Sidney Crosby to his normal, scary-good self as the Pens held off losing a two goal lead to win in an extra period. Evgeni Malkin scored the game winning goal in the 4-on-3 overtime after Jonathan Huberdeau took an unwise Florida penalty to end regulation.
The goal was reviewed because it looked as though Crosby was offside on the rush as the puck went skyward over the blue line, but video showed no conclusive evidence that Sid was in the zone before the puck.
#HockeyOps clarifies procedure following OT goal in @FlaPanthers/@penguins game: https://t.co/buv02oONF1 #FLAvsPIT pic.twitter.com/ltcySLQae6
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 21, 2015 Scores
Penguins 3, Panthers 2 (OT)
Islanders 4, Blue Jackets 0
Canadiens 3, Blues 0
3 things we learned
1. Sidney Crosby lives!
We were worried there for a bit, Sid. After potting his first goal of the season and the Pens' first power play tally of the year, Crosby added two assists against the Panthers in a three-point night. Crosby also put up nine shots on goal, more than he had in the first five games of the season, to tie his career high. He also had this pretty recovery of a missed pass that made us all believe in the magic of Sidney Crosby once again.
2. Columbus isn't the only team spiraling
The Calgary Flames are regressing back to the mean. After a season of defying expectations as the underdogs, the Flames have crashed back to Earth with a 1-5 start. Karri Ramo was pulled in the second period after allowing a fourth goal to the Washington Capitals, but Jonas Hiller was not able to stop the bleeding as the Flames lost their fourth straight game. It's not as devastating a start as the Blue Jackets', but certainly a letdown after last year's playoff high.
3. No one likes NBC’s Sky Cam
@gccurrens @FOXSportsSW hockey is meant for people, not birds.
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) October 21, 2015 List of horrible sky things: 1) Skynet 2) Sky Mirror 3) NBC’s Sky Camera
— Jason (@damnitjason) October 21, 2015
Impact Moment
Antoine Roussel was all over the ice causing havoc for the Dallas Stars, but his maybe-not-so-accidental collision with Brayden Schenn of the Flyers caused lots of strife between the two teams.
big collision at center ice between Schenn and Roussel pic.twitter.com/K5ikHFGd5J
— Stephanie (@myregularface) October 21, 2015 Stat of the Night
#Stars at #Flyers tonight: A battle of two coaches from Warburg, Alberta (population: 789) - Lindy Ruff vs. Dave Hakstol.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 20, 2015 Small world, eh?
Post to post
- Tyler Seguin scored an actual knuckle-puck for the Dallas Stars
- Evgeny Kuznetsov had eyes in the back of his head on this backhand assist
- Ryan White has provided us with the newest Hockey Fandom reaction GIF
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