It's been over 18 months since John Tortorella coached an NHL team from behind the benches. It's no secret that Tortorella's last time out coaching went very, very wrong, culminating in a 15-game suspension and a firing after an abysmal year head manning the Vancouver Canucks.
2015 NHL scores: John Tortorella loses Columbus debut in best Jackets performance to date
Both Tortorella and Columbus are looking to start anew with this partnership.
Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports
It's also no secret that the Columbus Blue Jackets are floundering at the bottom of the league with no life preserver in sight. They were off to one of the worst starts in recent NHL history, and -- up until Wednesday morning -- had expressed no interest in making a change in personnel to stop the bleeding.
Tortorella and the Blue Jackets might be the perfect match for where the respective parties are currently sitting. The 14-year coaching veteran is looking for a fresh start, to put aside memories of embarrassing blowups and media mishaps. Columbus is looking for a blank slate, a chance to turn the horrible start to their season around before it becomes too late. Both Tortorella and the Blue Jackets are looking for second chances here, and it might just work given time.
On balance, Tortorella's first coaching stint with Columbus went well, despite the score. For one, the Blue Jackets were not blown out of the water, losing only by a score of 3-2 to the Minnesota Wild Thursday evening. In fact, Columbus actually held a lead for almost six minutes of game time. While normally that wouldn't be a positive, baby steps look like leaps compared to the first seven games of the season for Columbus.
The Blue Jackets seemed to keep pace with the Wild as best they could. Columbus no longer sat back on their skates and were an active part in a hockey game for the first time since the season started. Players went down to block shots in shooting lanes, and the Blue Jackets managed to out-shoot the Wild 29-23. It was probably the team’s best complete 60-minute effort this year, a low bar for sure but an encouraging sign with a new coach at the helm.
The only concerning note from Thursday’s loss is the up-and-down play of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. The Russian was streaky in net, going from making a strong save one minute to letting in a weak goal the next. Sure, it will take time for Bobrovsky to find his confidence again, but this does not look like the goaltender that carried the Blue Jackets to the playoffs two years ago. Bobrovsky’s belief in his ability to stop pucks may be shaken right now, but hopefully he’s not gone forever.
Scores
Wild 3, Blue Jackets 2
Blackhawks 3, Panthers 2
Capitals 3, Canucks 2
3 things we learned
1. The Dallas Stars are streaking...
It seems as if nothing can stop the Dallas Stars right now, not even a renewed Pittsburgh Penguins team. The Stars rolled over the Penguins 4-1 Thursday after weathering an early Pittsburgh storm. Four different Stars had goals in their fifth straight victory, giving Dallas a 6-1 record, putting them just behind the undefeated Montreal Canadiens at the top of the league. Solid goaltending and lethal scoring have given Dallas one of their best starts in years, a deadly combination for a team in one of the strongest divisions in the league.
2. While the Anaheim Ducks are sinking
Traveling up the coast, last year's Western Conference champion in the Anaheim Ducks have a scoring problem. In six games so far this season, the Ducks have lit the lamp only three times. Three games out of six the Ducks have been shut out and in the remaining three games, Anaheim has produced just one goal. It's perplexing for a team many predicted to lead a weaker Pacific Division all season, and something might have to be done soon to correct a 1-5 start to the year.
3. The preseason is a big fat liar
Preseason: Stars: 1-6-0, -14 diff. Blue Jackets: 5-2-1, +8 diff. Regular season: Stars: 6-1-0, +10 diff. Blue Jackets: 0-8-0, -22 diff.
— Michael Dixon (@spazmaztic) October 23, 2015 Ban the preseason.
Impact Moment
Kevin Hayes puts the Rangers ahead 2-1 pic.twitter.com/pRfy3tYNEO
— Stephanie (@myregularface) October 23, 2015 Mike Smith breaks the first cardinal rule of goaltending, never leave your own net. The mistake gave the New York Rangers the game-winning goal in the 4-1 contest.
Stat of the Night
The Ducks become the 30th and final team in the NHL to score a power-play goal.
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) October 23, 2015 At least the Ducks have that going for them, I think.
Post to post
- Johnny Oduya clearly used his Jedi mind tricks on this goal.
- The newest goal celebration move? The Chicken Dance. Thanks, Jordin Tootoo.
- Rick Nash got his 700th point and first goal of the year without it ever crossing the goal line.
See More:
