No two ways about it, the Blue Jackets were done in by inexcusably sloppy play last night in Phoenix. Whether it was defensive breakdowns, goaltender miscues or undisciplined penalties (again), Columbus seemingly did everything in their power to lose the game rather than win it. Some might point to this being the second game in two days and the fact they didn’t arrive to Phoenix until early Saturday morning following their defeat in LA Friday but using that as an excuse is just unacceptable.

Here’s a rundown on the mistakes made that cost Columbus last night.

In the first period with the Jackets up 1 – 0, Antoine Vermette banked a pass off the defensive LW boards that was picked up by Mikkel Boedker. Matt Calvert was covering for the pinching defender but lost his stick so was at a disadvantage trying to backcheck on David Moss. Mikkel Boedker skated in with speed on the LW and as he took the puck to the near post he slipped the puck through Mason and to the goal mouth.

Mistake #1: Mason has to get to the post faster and not give Boedker any space to get the puck by him, through him, or over him. Instead the puck lies up and Moss has an easy tap-in. Calvert, minus his twig, was virtually powerless to prevent the goal.

Just 1:30 later, Martin Hanzal skated into the offensive zone on a mini two-on-one and slid a cross-ice pass to Radim Vrabta who fired a wrist shot to the far side over the glove of Steve Mason.

Mistake #2: When defending against a two-on-one you can’t allow the player with the puck to pass the puck to his teammate. The defender needs to prevent the pass and leave the shooter to his goalie.

Mistake #3: This was a goal Mason should have stopped regardless. He had time to slide over and as a big goalie he should have been able to take away any angle for Vrbata to get the shot through. It was a great shot but I’d bet Mason would have liked that one back.

After tying the game at 2, The Jackets had possession of the puck in the neutral zone. However Raffi Torres forced a turnover and carried the puck into the zone where he fed Keith Yandle. Yandle skated in on the LW (again) and got a pass to a streaking Kyle Chipchura who one-timed it past Mason.

Mistake #4: Tim Erixon fell asleep on this play and got caught watching Yandle instead of picking up Chipchura.

Mistake #5: After again knotting up the score early in the second period and while shorthanded, Derek Dorsett takes a dumb slashing penalty late in the frame giving Phoenix a two-man chance. Phoenix failed to score but the additional 2-minute penalty kept Columbus from going on the attack.

Mistake #6: Fedor Tyutin took a penalty early in the third, another unnecessary infraction. Boedker dumped the puck into the offensive zone and went in to chase. Tyutin funneled Boedker into the boards long after the puck left Boedker’s stick for an obvious interference penalty. It was on the ensuing PP that Phoenix would score the eventual game-winner.

Mistake #7: On the PK, Nick Drazenovic won a defensive zone faceoff against Martin Hanzal. John Moore had a chance to clear the puck out of the zone but his attempt hit someone in front of him and the biscuit stayed in the zone. The Coyotes would score soon after. You have to take advantage of an opportunity to get the puck down the ice and out of the defensive zone.

Mistake #8: With the Blue Jackets now trailing and trying to score the tying goal, Dorsett took another stupid penalty, this time a roughing call. It wasn’t much, a little forearm/elbow, but it was unnecessary and it warranted a penalty. Dorsett wears an “A” for this team and has a responsibility to play the game the right way. When one of your team leaders continues to take undisciplined infractions it sets a bad example. This has got to stop. In fact it might be a good idea to sit Dorsett assuming Anisimov and Dubinsky are both able to go Monday.

Eight glaring mistakes later the Blue Jackets dropped a 5 – 3 decision to Phoenix. Todd Richards and his staff are going to have to find a way to get their charges to clean their game up. They simply can’t afford to make mistakes like that and expect to win games. All of the errors they made are correctable but they demonstrate a lack of focus from the players.

Game Notes:
• Brandon Dubinsky left the game with an injury to his left knee in the second period and did not return. He is with the team in Anaheim but is questionable for Monday’s contest with the Ducks.
• The Jackets PK was solid again despite giving up the game-winning tally early in the third. They successfully killed off six of seven chances including a 0:39 two-man advantage in the second.
• Columbus’ PP still stinks. They failed in all three of their efforts and still can’t convert timely goals. After jumping to an early lead the Jackets had an opportunity on the PP to extend their lead to two but they couldn’t score. In fact, just after the PP opportunity expired Phoenix tied the game up on Moss’ tally. Late in the third period, Columbus had another chance to tie the game up but again failed to convert with the game on the line.
• Jared Boll had a nice game. He was all over the ice banging bodies and even chipped in offensively with a goal and an assist. The goal was lucky as his shot toward the goal happened to redirect off the stick of Hanzal and by Mike Smith. He also earned the primary assist on Derek Mackenzie’s goal tying the contest in the second. Boll took the puck up the RW on a 3-on-2 and fed the trailer, Mackenie, who beat Smith low to the glove side.
• Matt Calvert had a pretty good game netting his second goal of the season when he finished off a 2-on-1. With Chris Summers sliding to prevent a pass, Calvert roofed a wrist shot over Smith’s catching glove. He finished with a team-high six shots on goal and tied for the team lead with three hits.
• Mason was shaky in the first period but very good in periods two and three. He made a couple of terrific saves in the third period to keep the game close robbing Boedker on two terrific PP shots.
• Is it me or does Mason play smaller than his listed size? Mason and Mike Smith are both listed at 6’4” but Smith plays bigger and takes up more of the net.
• I admire the Coyotes for overcoming their financial limitations and making it to the postseason in each of the last three seasons. Dave Tippet does a great job there and deserves a ton of credit. That being said I hate that dumb howling coyote they play all the time at Jobing.com Arena. It’s annoying. But maybe I’m just being petty.

Trivia Time:

Since no one even bothered answering, I’m going to leave the last question up. Who owns the single-season mark for highest plus/minus rating?

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