NASHVILLE — The Blue Jackets’ 25th anniversary season began Oct.9 at Bridgestone Arena with a little controversy.
Despite outplaying the Nashville Predators for most of the season opener for each team, the Blue Jackets lost 2-1 after their own 2-1 lead late in the second period was erased by a disputable coaching challenge for goaltender interference.
The NHL ruled that Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier interfered with Predators goalie Juuse Saros before scoring off a rebound with 17.1 seconds left in the second, which deflated an elated Columbus bench heading into the second intermission.
“They make the decision,” Olivier said. “Our job is to play. I’d love to give you a better quote on that, but ultimately I can’t do much about it. They made the decision and we move on.”
The Predators took advantage of their break early in the third.
Ryan O’Reilly broke a 1-1 tie to give Nashville a 2-1 lead at 2:41 of the third to cap a power play, which was all Saros needed during his 37-save performance. Jet Greaves (29 saves) started for the Blue Jackets (0-1-0), who finish their first road trip Oct. 11 at the Minnesota Wild.
Michael Bunting scored the first goal for the Predators (1-0-0) and Dmitri Voronkov scored the lone goal for Columbus.
Olivier’s overturned goal was a point of contention after the NHL ruled that he interfered with Saros in the crease.
Replays showed Olivier standing in the crease before Saros initiated contact with him, but the league cited rule 69.1 in its decision, which states in part: “Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal.”
Olivier felt he was pushed into the crease by Predators defenseman Justin Barron, but the NHL apparently didn’t agree. Unlike offside reviews, which have become mostly clear cut, rulings on goaltending reviews are highly unpredictable.
“I don’t know what to say, because you just don’t know,” Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. “We think Saros slides out. That’s why he’s not able to make the second save. He makes the (first) save. We think him sliding takes him out of position, not (Olivier) hitting him. That’s what’s difficult for us. Hopefully we’ll get an explanation (Oct. 10), but you never know. So, we’ll see.”
Each team scored a goal in the first with the help of fortunate bounces.
Bunting made it 1-0 at 6:45, scoring with a long wrist shot after getting the puck back off a blocked attempt. Voronkov tied it, 1-1, with 3:59 left by simply reaching his stick out in front of the net to deflect Damon Severson’s deflected shot from the point.
The Blue Jackets outshot the Predators 38-31 and controlled play for most of the first two periods. They just couldn’t get beat Saros more than once despite generating numerous scoring chances.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social