Columbus Blue Jackets breakdown: Dallas Stars dominate third period for 5-3 victory
DALLAS — Finish continues to be the Blue Jackets’ biggest issue in goals and games.
Lack of finishing power got them again Monday in a 5-2 loss to the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center. After overcoming a 1-0 deficit on the game’s first shift to take a 2-1 lead on goals by Dmitri Voronkov and Damon Severson, the Jackets couldn’t get beat Stars goalie Jake Oettinger (22 saves) again until the game was out of reach in the third period.
"We're 2-2 going into the third period," Severson said. "Not a bad spot to be on the road. They just outplayed us a little bit in the third there and got a couple really nice bounces, as well, at the same time. But they did play better than us in the third."
The Blue Jackets (3-4-2) had a four-game streak of outshooting opponents nixed by getting outshot 33-25, including 15-12 in a third period controlled by the Stars (5-1-1) in the first 10-plus minutes. The loss was the fourth in a row for Columbus, including the past two in regulation.
Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent wasn't pleased with what he felt was inconsistent work ethic by his team.
"I don't think we were resilient all night," Vincent said. "I think it was on and off. It's not about the final score. I think we have more than this, and I'm talking about the effort. A lot of guys worked hard, but we can't afford to have a few guys not working hard enough. That's not going to fly. It's not going fly now. It's not going to fly after Christmas. It's not going to fly ever."
Voronkov’s goal was the first of his NHL career and tied it 1-1 in the first. Severson put Columbus up 2-1 with 6:19 left in the first on his first goal as a Blue Jacket. Sean Kuraly scored the Jackets' third goal late in the third, cutting the Dallas lead to 5-3 with 2:50 remaining.
Dallas got a goal 27 seconds into the game from defenseman Thomas Harley off a 2-on-1 rush and the Stars' other goals were scored by Roope Hintz, former Blue Jackets forward Matt Duchene and Evgenii Dadonov before Wyatt Johnston's empty-netter sealed it with 3:39 left.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Dallas Stars: play of the game
A minute after Duchene put Dallas up 3-2 early in the third, Oettinger made the save of the night to keep Boone Jenner from tying it.
After getting the puck alone in front of the Stars’ goalie, the Blue Jackets’ captain deked to his backhand and was denied with a great desperation glove save. It was symbolic of the Blue Jackets’ struggle to finish scoring chances to start this season.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Dallas Stars: turning point
Duchene and Dadonov scored about 10 minutes apart in the first half of the third to give the Stars a 4-2 lead and command of the game. In between those goals, Oettinger made his dazzling stop on Jenner to keep Dallas in front 3-2.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Dallas Stars: notes
— The Blue Jackets’ video staff, headed up by Dan Singleton, caught another missed offside that negated an opposing goal. This time, the coaching challenge caught the Stars offside prior to a goal by Mason Marchment in the second period, which briefly gave Dallas a 3-2 lead. The reversed goal was the fourth in the Jackets’ first nine games favoring them.
― After missing practice Sunday with an undisclosed injury, defenseman Erik Gudbranson played against the Stars. The only change to the Jackets’ lineup from their loss Saturday to the New York Islanders was in net, where Merzlikins got back between the pipes.
― Vorokov’s goal in the first was the third career-first tally for the Blue Jackets this season, following defenseman David Jiricek and center Adam Fantilli.
— The Blue Jackets’ coaching staff juggled the top three forward lines toward the end of the second period, including Voronkov taking Gaudreau’s spot at left wing on the top line with Boone Jenner. That sent Johnny Gaudreau to Fantilli’s line and Alexandre Texier to the third line with Cole Sillinger and Kent Johnson.
— The Blue Jackets, in the NHL's ongoing effort to claw back lost revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic, are 0-1-0 in the SealMaster era. The team announced earlier Monday that SealMaster, an offshoot of Sandusky-based parent company ThorWorks Industries, will sponsor the team's road white helmets this season. SealMaster's logo, which features red lettering and a black-and-white checkered stripe, will be worn on both sides of the helmets. SealMaster is a global manufacturer and distributor of pavement maintenance products and equipment. The Blue Jackets' home blue helmets are in their second year of a multi-year agreement with Bread Financial.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Dallas Stars: Dispatch 3 stars
First star
Jason Robertson, Stars, left wing
Robertson wasted no time becoming a thorn in the Jackets’ side with a beautiful cross-ice feed on a 2-on-1 rush 27 seconds into the game for Harley’s goal. He added another assist with a shot from the point that deflected off Hintz for a goal in the second, giving Robertson a two-point night.
Second star
Roope Hintz, Stars, center
Hintz also assisted on Harley’s goal and scored one for himself off Robertson’s shot from the blue line in the second.
Third star
Jake Oettinger, Stars, goalie
Oettinger made 22 saves for the win, including a desperation effort with his glove to keep Boone Jenner from tying the game early in the third.
Columbus Blue Jackets lineup at Dallas Stars
Forwards
Johnny Gaudreau – Boone Jenner – Jack Roslovic
Alexandre Texier – Adam Fantilli – Emil Bemstrom
Dmitri Voronkov – Cole Sillinger – Kent Johnson
Justin Danforth – Sean Kuraly – Mathieu Olivier
Defensemen
Zach Werenski – Damon Severson
Ivan Provorov – David Jiricek
Jake Bean – Erik Gudbranson
Goalies
Elvis Merzlikins
Spencer Martin
Scratched: F Kirill Marchenko, D Andrew Peeke, D Adam Boqvist
Injured: C Patrik Laine (upper body)
Injured/non-roster: G Daniil Tarasov (knee)
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Breakdown: Stars topple Blue Jackets with strong finish in Dallas
