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After a come-from-behind win in San Jose the night prior, Columbus threw up an absolute dud in Anaheim.
The Jackets fell behind 2-0 early and only mustered up one goal the rest of the way en route to a 4-1 loss where they were outshot 34-17.
10 takeaways:
1. It hasn't been as noticeable because the Jackets have fought back on a couple occasions and walked away with wins, but they can't continue to start games slow and expect to pick up points. For the third consecutive game and fourth time in the last five the Jackets fell behind 2-0, and they weren't able to recover.
Anaheim is nearly impossible to beat at home, so if you're spotting them two goals in the first 10 the game is pretty much over.
2. I know Columbus played the night before, but recording only seven shots in the first 30 minutes is pretty embarrassing. John Gibson is really good, but he's a rookie and hasn't made a start since opening night. You have to test him more than that.
3. The Jack Johnson - David Savard pairing actually spent more time against Cogliano - Kesler - Silfverberg than anyone else and were an absolute train wreck defensively and in possession. Only 28% of all shot attempts taken when that pairing was on the ice headed the direction of John Gibson. The other 72%, of course, were coming Sergei Bobrovsky's way.
4. Speaking of Bobrovsky, he was very good and once again gave the Jackets a chance in this game. Down 2-1 after 20, Bobrovsky allowed one goal on 25 shots (.960SV%) in the final 40 minutes to keep Columbus in it. Obviously they didn't take advantage of that. Wasted effort.
5. Ryan Johansen wasn't at his best, but he created a couple chances and picked up a primary assist on Scott Hartnell's goal to extend his point streak to seven games. What a player.
6. Sticking with Hartnell, he now has a goal and nine points in seven games with Columbus. Really, he's been about as good as the team could have hoped for; especially with all the pieces up front they're missing.
7. One thing I noticed quite a bit is the Ducks defensemen weren't backing off the line in the defensive zone, and were challenging oncoming puck carriers from the Jackets. That made it very difficult for them to gain possession entering the offensive zone, to say the least. A good way to get around that is to use speed through the neutral zone, bounce one off the boards and win the race to the puck. If you're in full stride and a defenseman comes to meet you at the line, you can chip the puck by him and, chances are, win the race for the puck.
8. I have no idea what Jared Boll was doing last night. Playing primarily against a line with noted star Tim Jackman on it Boll did poor in possession, and was completely ineffective. Not only that, but he randomly drove Sami Vatanen into his own net then punched him in the head after the play and took a dreadful penalty. How Corey Tropp sits and Brian Gibbons is in Springfield while Boll plays on a nightly basis is beyond me.
9. Cody Goloubef was fine against the Ducks, I thought, but if he's playing 11 minutes a night I don't know why he's in the lineup.
10. Up next for the Jackets is a Sunday clash with the Los Angeles Kings. They're about as good as anyone at protecting leads so Columbus really can't afford another slow start.
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