Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
Wishing for the status quo for Christmas would have been acceptable for the Columbus Blue Jackets after taking points in nine straight games. However, they are recovering from a tough start and clawed their way into 12th place in the NHL Eastern Conference with nine games left before the halfway point in the season. Columbus is tied for the second-most goals allowed in the East, and a lot of those have come in the third period. Their wish list begins and ends with late-game defense.
The 44 goals allowed in the third period is by far their most of any period and tied for most in the league. They’ve allowed 27 and 28 goals in the first and second periods respectively. Columbus has had trouble scoring, so being able to hold the other team off the scoreboard in the third period can be the difference between zero or two points. Unfortunately for Columbus, there has been a pattern of them leaving points on the table with their third-period defending.
Columbus has lost four games by one goal. In the third game of the season, they fell 4-2 to the Dallas Stars after being tied heading into the third. Two games later, they saw the Ottawa Senators score in the third after scoring twice in the second period to tie it up. On October 26, the Los Angeles Kings scored three in the second and two in the third to win 5-2. The worst may have been on November 21, when the Boston Bruins scored three in the third period to force overtime.
Fortunes have change of late for Columbus, but they need to not relapse into a poor late-game defensive team. The Blue Jackets should be asking for improved defense in the third period. If they can get that for Christmas, then they can make a run back to the playoffs.
Douglas Smith is a soccer writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DFresh39, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
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