The numbers, as a whole, aren’t terrible.
The Blue Jackets have held third-period leads in 12 of their first 22 games, a solid 54.5%, and they’re 9-1-2 to win 75% of the time in that scenario. The problem is what happened Nov. 22 at Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit, where the Red Wings overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period to down the Blue Jackets 4-3 in overtime.
It was the seventh time the Jackets have coughed up a lead in the third period, and their fifth blown two-goal lead in a third period. That includes two separate two-goal leads that evaporated in the third period of a 5-4 loss Nov. 10 at Edmonton.
The Blue Jackets (11-8-3) have also made six third-period leads stand up as regulation wins, but every point is massive right now within a tightly packed Eastern Conference. Taking a second look at their 9-1-2 record in games they led late, the four points left on the table stand out like missing teeth in a hockey smile.
The Blue Jackets sat fourth in the Metropolitan Division and sixth in the conference with 25 points after their afternoon fumble in Detroit but could have been as high as second in each. That might not seem like a big deal now, but it’s got to sting even more for a team that missed last season’s playoffs by two points.
Blowing third-period leads was one of the biggest reasons the Blue Jackets didn’t win enough for Pascal Vincent to get more than the 2023-24 season as head coach, and now they’re doing it again under the more experienced Dean Evason.
Once again, two years later, it’s a vexing issue.
Bad luck burns Columbus Blue Jackets in overtime vs. Detroit Red Wings
Hockey has more odd bounces that seem to factor into the outcome of games than most sports, and the Blue Jackets found that out the hard way in Detroit.
The Red Wings’ first goal, which tied it 1-1 just 36 seconds into the second period, was scored after Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov sent the puck off linesman Tyson Baker trying to clear the puck from the Columbus zone. Lucas Raymond scooped it up, made a quick stickhandling maneuver and backhanded his shot past Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves.
That was the Jackets’ first sting of bad puck luck.
Ben Chiarot’s goal in the third was even worse, cutting the Blue Jackets’ lead to 3-2 after defenseman Dante Fabbro blocked Patrick Kane’s shot in the left circle. Chiarot ripped a shot that sailed between Brendan Gaunce’s skates as the Blue Jackets center tried to block it.
Instead, he screened Greaves from seeing the shot leave Chiarot’s stick and Greaves had no shot to stop it. That’s what ignited the Red Wings’ comeback, which was further aided by a Detroit power play after Charlie Coyle was penalized for hooking on the next shift.
Moritz Seider tied it 3-3 two seconds after Coyle was freed from the box, leading to overtime.
Columbus Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski stings Detroit Red Wings again
Facing the Red Wings always brings out the best in Zach Werenski, who grew up rooting them in the Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe.
He logged two more points against his hometown team with a goal and assist and fired the Jackets’ only overtime shot. Werenski, who has a six-game points streak, assisted Adam Fantilli’s goal in the first period for a 1-0 lead and put the Jackets up 3-1 lead at 8:38 of the third.
His career numbers against the Red Wings moved up to five goals, 17 assists and 22 points in 26 games to go with a +9 plus/minus rating.
Columbus Blu Jackets’ Adam Fantilli stays hot against Detroit Red Wings
After leading the Blue Jackets to a 3-2 overtime win Nov. 20 in Toronto, near his hometown, Fantilli’s hot hand stayed scorching against the Red Wings. A day after watching his brother, Luca, play for Michigan against Ohio State in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Fantilli scored his seventh goal in the past eight games.
He’s been on a hot streak since a 4-3 loss Nov. 8 in Vancouver, when he moved up to center the top forward line with wingers Kirill Marchenko and Dmitri Voronkov. Fantilli has seven goals, four assists and 11 points in nine games since the promotion.
Columbus Blue Jackets becoming overtime connoisseurs
All things considered, it could have been worse.
Greaves made three more stops following Seider’s goal to keep the game tied and force the game into overtime to assure both teams at least one point in the standings. It was the sixth time in the past eight games the Blue Jackets have needed either OT or a shootout to decide who gets the second point with a win.
The Jackets have gone past regulation eight times, which works out to 36% of their 22 games.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets letting late leads vanish too often: Takeaways
Reporting by Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
