Canes humbled by Blue Jackets in 6-0 stomping at PNC Arena
By Conor Power
Carolina shipped six to the Columbus Blue Jackets as the team was humiliated in their first regulation loss of the calendar year. Defeated 6-0 by the Blue Jackets, it was a game that just was not good enough. Coaches, players, fans, and management alike know this was an effort that was just straight up not good enough from a team that views itself as a Stanley Cup contender.
When the Canes couldn’t get the puck past the Jackets netminder, you saw signs of it being a long night for the team. They weren’t out of it until the team capitulated in the final period of this one and it just wasn’t good enough. Allowing four goals on breakaways is just not good enough team defense, and I’m sure the blueliners got an earful or two when they reached the dressing room again.
It was the first time this season that the Canes failed to get on the scoreboard, and their record drops to 24-8-2. They didn’t get the result that they needed in this one, and while it could hurt them later in the year, they cannot let it derail the season. They’ve now suffered back-to-back losses to Florida in overtime and now Columbus, so it’s very important that the Canes win their next game.
On the bright side, the Canes didn’t give up a powerplay goal in this touchdown to Columbus. Meaning they push their penalty-killing streak past 30. Their PK is now number 1 in the NHL at over 90%. They’re playing so well, and they looked like the best of the Canes when they were called upon. If you want something good to take out of this game, there is that.
Otherwise, this was the biggest egg the Canes laid this season. This egg could have been used to make omelets for all of the 5000. Carolina will not put up a performance as bad as this again under their current coaching scheme. They will get their heads bitten off before that happens. They were outworked, outskated, outthought, and outplayed. They were outmatched and they were beaten soundly.