NASHVILLE — After one game, the Blue Jackets have a lot to feel good about.
They just don’t have a victory to show for it after a stinging 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators in the season opener Oct. 9 at Bridgestone Arena. A debatable goaltending interference ruling spoiled the night, making the Blue Jackets’ own 2-1 lead vanish, but plenty of other things went right.
The Blue Jackets outshot the Predators (38-31), got a strong 29-save outing from goalie Jet Greaves and dominated puck possession.
“We did so many good things in this hockey game,” head coach Dean Evason said. “It’s frustrating, obviously. It’s tough to go in the room and say, ‘Keep doing that and we’re good, we’re fine,’ but the guys know how hard and how well they played.”
According to Natural Stat Trick, the Blue Jackets controlled 5-on-5 play. They finished with 19 more attempts (60-41) for a 59% edge in that area, outshot the Predators 38-24 at even strength (63%) and held commanding advantages in scoring chances (33-16, 61%) and high-danger chances (11-6, 65%).
The Jackets just couldn’t get enough shots past Predators star Juuse Saros (37 saves).
“There’s not one guy that we thought didn’t do what he is capable of doing,” Evason said. “We just ran into a hot goaltender, who was obviously good. Otherwise, the story would’ve been a lot different here tonight.”
Kirill Marchenko tied his NHL career high with eight shots to lead the Blue Jackets on a night they finished with 38, He just couldn’t get single one past Saros.
The only other time Marchenko has fired eight shots was Jan. 7, 2023 at Nationwide Arena in a 4-3 shootout victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. He netted three goals in that game for his first NHL hat trick, which provides some context for Saros’s performance.
It was a bit of revenge for Saros, who allowed three goals to Marchenko for a hat trick last season on April 2 in Columbus. Marchenko finished that campaign tied with Adam Fantilli for the team lead in goals at 31 each, so watching him get a bunch of scoring chances in the season’s first game was encouraging.
Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves solid in loss to Nashville Predators
Evason and his staff made the decision to start Greaves in the opener prior to practice Oct. 8, but it wasn’t revealed publicly until Oct. 9 in Nashville.
That was probably a wise decision considering that Elvis Merzlikins has owned the No. 1 goaltending spot in Columbus for the past three years. Evason provided context, saying Greaves isn’t the Blue Jackets’ main starter and that Merzlikins may in Minnesota, but this was a statement.
It says less about Merzlikins and more about Greaves, who put together his latest strong outing in the 22nd appearance of his NHL career. He stopped 29 of 31 shots, was beaten by two good shots to the glove side and otherwise looked calm, cool and collected in the pressure of a road season opener.
“I felt good,” Greaves said. “I felt comfortable. I was excited for the opportunity to be out there with the guys tonight. I think there were some positives, but also some things to improve on. It’s a good step, but there’s a lot for myself and for us to learn from going forward.”
That might be true, but Greaves gave the Blue Jackets a chance to win. That’s all they need from each goalie.
“In terms of Jet and Elvis, you’ve got two good goalies who are competing, and that’s a healthy problem to have,” defenseman Erik Gudbranson said. “I sit beside them in the room, and they work well together. … Coaches say it all the time, ‘Just make our job difficult.’ Perfect scenario for a team aspect.”
Columbus Blue Jackets’ losing ways in Nashville continue
Nearly as unthinkable as the Blue Jackets’ tendency to lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh is their proclivity for losing to the Predators in Nashville.
Despite dominating the game in almost every facet but goals, the Jackets dropped to 9-37-8 all-time at Bridgestone Arena with their 10th straight loss in the Music City. The last time Columbus has left Nashville victorious was March 30, 2019, and the Predators’ all-time points percentage of .723 against the Blue Jackets prior to adding another win was their highest against any opponent.
Columbus Blue Jackets take another frustrating road loss
After finishing just two points shy of a playoff spot last season, the Blue Jackets didn’t need an in-depth statistical breakdown to spot one area that could’ve helped them immensely.
They really struggled on the road, going just 14-23-4 in 41 games away from the comfort of Nationwide Arena. This game felt like an improvement with how much the Blue Jackets controlled the action, but it was still another road loss in regulation to start out. That was tough for them to stomach, especially after watching Mathieu Olivier’s goal get overturned under questionable NHL logic with 17.1 seconds left in the second to nix a 2-1 lead.
“That’s definitely a point of contention from last year,” Gudbranson said of road losses. “When we talk about how we didn’t make it into the playoffs, it was one of those road games for sure. So, being a better road team is going to be huge for us this year.”
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social