Blue Jackets Team Report

INSIDE SHOTS

So far, Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock is having trouble getting his message through to his players.

The Blue Jackets have allowed six or more goals in seven games this season, the most in the NHL. On Thursday, they lost 6-3 to Toronto in Nationwide Arena.

The 102 goals allowed by the Blue Jackets are tops in the NHL.

“We don’t do a good job managing the puck at times,” Hitchcock said. “It’s like we have to bump our head against the wall before we do it.”

Last season under Hitchcock—regarded as one of the NHL’s most defensively insistent coaches—the Blue Jackets were tied for ninth in the NHL, allowing 2.72 goals per game.

This season, they’re allowing 3.64.

Maple Leafs 6, Blue Jackets 3:   Rather than avoid a track meet with the Maple Leafs, the Blue Jackets fed right into it.

The Leafs took a 2-0 lead early on two ugly turnovers, then pushed the lead to 6-1 early in the third period.

The Blue Jackets got goals from Kristian Huselius(notes), Jason Chimera(notes) and Jan Hejda(notes). Goaltender Steve Mason(notes) was pulled at 10:55 of the second period after allowing four goals on 14 shots.

NOTES, QUOTES

• The Blue Jackets dropped to 2-5-1 all-time versus Toronto. They hadn’t hosted the Maple Leafs since Oct. 20, 2006.

• After going 13-3-2 versus the Eastern Conference last season, the Blue Jackets are 3-4-1 so far this season.

Quote To Note:   “We have to get this fixed before it’s too late.”—Blue Jackets defenseman Fedor Tyutin(notes), after a 6-3 loss to Toronto.

ROSTER REPORT

Goaltenders:   Steve Mason, Mathieu Garon(notes).

Defensemen:   Jan Hejda, Mike Commodore(notes), Fedor Tyutin, Anton Stralman(notes), Kris Russell(notes), Mathieu Roy(notes).

First Line:   Kristian Huselius, Antoine Vermette(notes), Rick Nash(notes).

Second Line:   R.J. Umberger(notes), Derick Brassard(notes), Jake Voracek.

Third Line:   Jason Chimera, Sammy Pahlsson, Mike Blunden(notes).

Fourth Line:   Alexandre Picard, Derek MacKenzie(notes), Jared Boll(notes).

Player Notes:  

• D Rostislav Klesla(notes) will have surgery Friday in Philadelphia to repair torn muscles in his groin and stomach regions. He’s expected to miss six weeks.

• D Jan Hejda scored the first power-play goal of his career Thursday versus Toronto.

• G Steve Mason was pulled for the fourth time this season in only 22 starts.

Medical Watch:  

• D Rostislav Klesla (torn groin/abdominal muscle) is out for six weeks.

• RW Derek Dorsett(notes) (concussion) is out until early December.

• C Andrew Murray(notes) (shoulder) is day-to-day.

• LW Fredrik Modin(notes) (sprained right knee) will be out until mid-December.