Columbus Blue Jackets: Problems Persist with Bottom Lines

Even thought the Columbus Blue Jackets played well enough to win, the fourth line made critical errors that led to a regulation loss.

Well, that wasn’t what you would call an “all around team performance” last night from the Columbus Blue Jackets. The top two lines played exceptionally well last night as well as Sergei Bobrovsky. Well enough to win on the road against an elite team.

But the bottom forward lines for the Jackets just couldn’t cut it last night. It wasn’t enough to play 55 solid minutes against the Leafs and it caused the Jackets to fall in regulation.

The third goal of the game was a huge error on the part of the third line of Markus Hannikainen, Lukas Sedlak, and Riley Nash. The icing, the poor matchup, and mental errors led to the Zach Hyman goal that would end up being the game winner. The trio were a combined -5 last night.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The third line of Brandon Dubinsky, Alexander Wennberg, and Anthony Duclair wern’t much better. The line which is supposed to supply some offensive firepower had a combined two shots on net and were relegated to just 10 minutes of ice time because of their poor two-way play. The three were on the ice for the first goal for the Leafs.

The line was outplayed on the half way and then Brandon Dubinsky was beat badly by Tyler Ennis one-on-one below the net. It wasn’t completely on Dubi who was left out to dry by his line-mates and defenders but the goal was not a great look for the Jackets. The Ennis goal brought the building alive late in the second period and allowed the Maple Leafs to get back into the game.

There are serious issues on both these lines that need to be reexamined quickly. Riley Nash has had 20 games to mesh with this team and whether it’s the quality of line-mates or him still not being completely comfortable, it isn’t working. Zac Dalpe deserves a chance to come back to the Jackets and take a shot as the fourth line forward. Heck, you could even move Dubinsky back to center on the fourth line and move Daple to the third line wing role along Duclair and Wennberg.

But that role is better suited for Oliver Bjorkstrand. Even though has fallen out of favor with Torts but he is, on his worst days, a better NHL winger than Lukas Sedlak is right now. I love the young Czech but he isn’t cutting it right now and Bjorkstrand deserves the ice time and that allows the team to move Dubinsky to the fourth line.

These are the lines the Columbus Blue Jackets should roll with Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Artemi Panarin – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Cam Atkinson

Nick Foligno – Boone Jenner – Josh Anderson

Oliver Bjorkstrand – Alexander Wennberg – Anthony Duclair

Markus Hannikainen – Brandon Dubinsky – Zac Dalpe

It may not solve every issue but it will give the Jackets a more aggressive fourth line. It will also give them a third line with a clear identity that can keep the puck away from the opposing team and in the offensive zone.

If the last few weeks have taught us anything about the Jackets it’s that they are great but not elite. They need to figure out all four lines if they hope to be an elite team that makes a playoff run this season.