Ouch.
The Columbus Blue Jackets continued their five-game road trip in Alberta as they faced the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. Blue Jackets fans remember how good the Flames are after a 6-0 drubbing at Nationwide Arena on Jan. 26.
Columbus faced a familiar foe from Saturday as Tyler Toffoli was traded from the Montreal Canadiens to the Flames on Monday. He scored his first goal with his new team as part of a 6-2 win for the Flames.
Elvis Merzlikins (35 saves on 41 shots) made his fifth straight start. Opposing him was Dan Vladar (18 of 20), who made his first home start after nine starts, and 10 appearances, all on the road.
Playing With Fire
Teams don't need to do too much to let the Flames beat you and the Blue Jackets victimized themselves too many times on this night.
Oh my goodness. Peeke with a perfect finish into the wrong net on a Calgary centering feed. His head immediately went to the sky.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) February 16, 2022
Hockey, man. Tough one for a guy having a hell of a year.
Calgary up 2-0 now late first. Lindholm gets credit for the goal.
#CBJ takes a second straight penalty here in the opening half of the second. Playing with fire, so to speak.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) February 16, 2022
For the record, the Blue Jackets killed off both of the Flames' power plays. Columbus was 0-for-1.
Roslovic with a bit of a speculative pass that turns
into a turnover, and the Flames pounce. Tkachuk from Gaudreau, Elvis with no chance. 3-1 Calgary. #CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) February 16, 2022
This game could have been much worse than 6-2 indicates. Columbus was outshot 29-8 over the final 40 minutes of play.
Patrik Laine Stays Hot
Last week's Second Star of the Week, Patrik Laine, added to his seven-game point streak with a first period assist on Adam Boqvist's eighth goal at 17:50.
Boqvist scores it, Laine adds to his point streak with his 15th assist, ditto for Jenner. pic.twitter.com/W9jWeKrjI3 #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 16, 2022
Laine, who had one shot on net in 19:13, now has 13 points (seven goals, six assists) since Jan. 27. Along with the goal, Boqvist finished with one shot and one blocked shot in 19:59 ice time.
Road Warriors
Maybe a little road weary, the Blue Jackets suffered their first loss since the All-Star Break as their three-game win streak was snapped. Also ending was their five-game road winning streak.
Yet, they've been a different team over the last few weeks.
Since their last game against Calgary, they have won five of their last seven games, scoring 13 goals over a four-game stretch, including Tuesday's loss.
The Flames are just a better team as they look to prove they're a true Stanley Cup contender. They've won seven straight and reclaimed first in the Pacific Division with the victory.
Windy City Rematch
The Blue Jackets go to Chicago on Thursday to face the Blackhawks at 8:30 pm ET. Columbus fell to the Blackhawks 4-2 on Jan. 11 at Nationwide Arena. It's scheduled to be Seth Jones' first game against Columbus since last summer's trade after missing the first meeting due to COVID protocols. Chicago is off until Thursday after beating the Winnipeg Jets 3-1 at Canada Life Centre on Monday.
