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Columbus Blue Jackets drop third straight in confounding loss to Vancouver Canucks
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- Columbus Blue Jackets drop third straight in confounding loss to Vancouver Canucks
A full shakeup of forward lines and dominant start weren't enough to get the Blue Jackets a needed victory late Friday night in a back-to-back finale against the Vancouver Canucks .
More: Columbus Blue Jackets steamrolled by Edmonton Oilers: 3 takeaways
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Despite building a 17-2 edge in shots and 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Mathieu Olivier and Damon Severson , the Blue Jackets failed to increase their lead, lost steam in the third and left town with a frustrating 5-2 loss at Rogers Arena.
"It was by far the best period of the year," Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. "I'm very proud of the way the guys played, came out, were ready. It was awesome. But, obviously, we didn't get the result, so it (stings)."
Dec 6, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Teddy Blueger (53) blocks a clearing attempt made by Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins (90) during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Trailing 2-1 in the second, Vancouver tied it 2-2 late in the period with assistance from Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins , who skated left his crease to clear a puck near the blue line and couldn't recover after Canucks forward Teddy Bluegar blocked his attempt. Bluegar hit New Albany's Kiefer Sherwood with a pass for a one-timer, and the Canucks (14-7-4) received a giant lift before the second intermission.
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"That hurt, right?" Evason said. "I mean, it's a nothing play and it ends up in our net. Of course it's frustrating for everybody, and I know Elvis will be accountable for making that decision. Everybody makes mistakes. It's just unfortunate it ended up in our net."
Pius Suter made it 3-2 at 2:17 of the third for the Canucks, which was the eventual winner.
Dec 6, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood (44) celebrates scoring with forward Danton Heinen (20) and forward Teddy Blueger (53) against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Jake DeBrusk added an insurance goal eight minutes later and Suter scored again into an empty net with 1:05 left to seal it. Merzlikins made a few fantastic saves in the game, but only faced 16 shots and allowed four goals. That included DeBrusk's tally to cap a power play, which extended the Blue Jackets' string of allowing a power-play goal to 12 straight games.
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Kevin Lankinen , meanwhile, earned the win for Vancouver with 30 saves after his team was outshot 32-17 — including a deficit of 15 shots in the first period.
Lankinen improved to 8-3-0 in 12 career starts against the Blue Jackets (11-12-3), who dropped their third straight game during a road trip that began last Sunday with a 6-3 victory in Chicago . Since then, they were shutout Tuesday in Calgary , overwhelmed by the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday at Rogers Place and then caught from behind by the Canucks.
Dec 6, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen (32) makes a save on Columbus Blue Jackets forward James van Riemsdyk (21) during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
The Blue Jackets flew to Winnipeg after the game, escaping a crowded postgame scene near the arena with a Taylor Swift concert across the street. They'll finish the trip Sunday against the Jets, who blew them out Nov. 1 at Nationwide Arena.
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"I'd say more the start of the third (was) more crucial for us (than Merzlikins' mistake)," Olivier said. "Even if they scored at the end of the second, it was 2-2 on the road. You give me that option, I'll take that any day. I think it's just our third (effort)."
Columbus also left Vancouver with unsettling health news after defenseman Ivan Provorov left early in the second period with an apparent thumb injury. Provorov didn't return and received X-rays on site for an issue the Blue Jackets are labeling an upper-body injury. Evason said he didn't have enough information to provide an update after the game.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets' fast start fades in stinging loss to Vancouver Canucks
