COLUMBUS, Ohio — A collection of notes, insights, ruminations and did-you-knows gathered throughout the week that was for the Columbus Blue Jackets:

Item No. 1: Dean in denial

Last season, as the Blue Jackets saw their record tank in the second half of back-to-back games, coach Dean Evason remained steadfast. It wasn’t that their struggle was mental or physical, he insisted: there wasn’t a struggle.

It’s been much the same this season, but with a different topic: the Blue Jackets’ difficulty holding a lead late in games, especially over the last three weeks.

Five times in that span they’ve let games slip away, costing them at least five or six points in just their last 11 games. The most recent happened on Saturday in Detroit, when a 3-1 lead midway through the third turned into a 4-3 overtime loss to the Red Wings.

It sounds like something from George Costanza, who once opined, “It’s not a lie if you believed it at the time!”

Evason, who blamed the media for making the Blue Jackets’ recent rash of blown leads “a thing” after Saturday’s game, seems to be pushing a theory that it’s not a problem if you don’t acknowledge it.

In some ways, honestly, you can understand it. Evason doesn’t want to create a mental hurdle such that every third-period goal allowed comes with a feeling of “here we go again.” But, at some point, you’re ignoring the elephant in the dressing room.

Also, there’s no easy fix. Because there’s not one reason for the unraveling.

It’s not as if the Blue Jackets are simply coming unglued in third periods. We’ve seen that before, and it has accounted for at least one of the recent losses. But they’ve also been guilty of playing way too passively in at least two of the games. On top of that, they’ve endured some crummy luck and puck bounces. Hockey can be weird. But the Blue Jackets have been outscored 17-6 in the third period beginning with that loss to the New York Islanders. Something is going on here.

Here’s a look at each of the five games — two regulation losses, two overtime losses, and a shootout win — in which the Blue Jackets frittered away two points, one point or gave an Eastern Conference rival a point they didn’t deserve.

Each loss will be graded on a scale of 1-10 on the gag-o-meter, with one being mostly tough luck and 10 being a massive meltdown.

Nov. 2 at New York Islanders

The lead: The Blue Jackets led 2-1 until the game neared the final minute.

The loss: With 1:07 remaining, Zach Werenski inadvertently redirected a Matthew Schaefer shot, lifting it over goaltender Elvis Merzlikins to tie the score at 2. With 37.3 seconds remaining, New York’s Anders Lee snuck a puck past Merzlikins at the near post, and Simon Holmstrom tucked it home for a 3-2 win.

The damage: The Blue Jackets were 67 seconds from two points and flew home with zero. Worse, they gave two points to the Islanders, who look like they’re going to hang around in the playoff race this summer.

Gag-o-meter: 8

Nov. 8 at Vancouver Canucks

The lead: The Jackets led 2-1 earlier in the game, but this was letting a clutch road point slip away in what was a tight game with the Canucks well into the third.

The loss: With only 5:45 remaining, Vancouver’s Brock Boeser was allowed to get behind defenseman Ivan Provorov, sending a puck off Merzlikins’ glove and into the net for a 4-3 lead. The Jackets had a late power play (so a two-man advantage with the goalie pulled) but couldn’t tie it.

The damage: Evason was irate by the lack of situational awareness, saying: “We’ll have to talk to some individuals and figure out what we’re thinking in that situation, if we are thinking.”

Gag-o-meter: 5

Nov. 10 at Edmonton Oilers

The lead: The Blue Jackets led 4-2 and were playing a very impressive game until late in the third period.

The loss: Connor McDavid blew past Kirill Marchenko and beat Jet Greaves with 6:21 remaining, but the Jackets still had a 4-3 lead. And with 2:18 remaining, they were awarded a power play, which should have been an easy path to icing the win. Instead, they came unglued. Werenski’s shot was blocked out of the zone, and so began a sequence where the Blue Jackets played with the puck deep in their own zone. Eventually, Mathieu Olivier inadvertently deflected a pass into his own net with 57.2 seconds remaining to tie it. In overtime, a late line change sprung former Jacket Jack Roslovic on a game-winning breakaway and a 5-4 Oilers win.

The damage: These are the ones that can really rattle a team. Bad luck with the Olivier deflection, sure, but there’s no reason the Blue Jackets assumed all of the risk in the game over the final minutes.

Gag-o-meter: 10

Nov. 17 vs. Montreal Canadiens

The lead: The Jackets had taken charge in the second period and were leading 3-1 near the midpoint of the third period.

The “loss”: Another former Jacket, Josh Anderson, scored off a rebound at 8:48 of the third to make it 3-2. With 1:19 remaining, Lane Hutson fired a puck through traffic to tie it.

The damage: The Blue Jackets, who won in a shootout, earned two points, and that should not be overlooked. The crime here, however, is that they gifted a point to the Canadiens, who beat them out of the final playoff spot last spring and may be well in position to do it again next April. Also, the Jackets didn’t get credit for a regulation win, and those come in handy as tiebreakers in a tight race.

Gag-o-meter: 4

Nov. 22 at Detroit Red Wings

The lead: A gorgeous goal by Werenski put the Blue Jackets ahead 3-1 midway through the third in a game they were mostly commanding.

The loss: Ben Chiarot fired a puck past Greaves with 9:37 remaining to pump a little life into a quiet building. With 6:35 to go, Moritz Seider scored through traffic to tie it at 3. At 1:50 of overtime, Alex DeBrincat found a crevice between Greaves and his near post, sneaking the puck through to give the Wings a 4-3 win.

The damage: Put the Wings right there with the Islanders and the Canadiens as clubs who could well be in the battle for wild-card spots in the spring. And they come out of this meeting with the two points.

Gag-o-meter: 9

Item No. 2: Gone missing

When the Blue Jackets were thriving last season, all four lines had well-defined roles and tendencies, and took turns contributing offensively. It’s a big reason the Blue Jackets set a franchise record for goals (267) and finished tied for seventh in scoring.

It hasn’t come as easily this season.

The No. 1 line has been the best line on the ice in most games. Currently, that’s 21-year-old center Adam Fantilli between wingers Dmitri Voronkov and Kirill Marchenko.

The third line has made a huge impact, too, typically as the line Evason uses to check the opponent’s top line, but also by having sporadic bursts of offensive impact. The fourth line, which plays limited minutes, has been about what you’d expect.

What the Jackets have struggled with mightily is finding a second scoring line.

Sean Monahan was replaced by Fantilli on the top line earlier this month, landing on a second line between wingers Boone Jenner and Kent Johnson. Jenner is out of the lineup with an injury, but all three of those players were off to slow starts this season.

Recently, Evason has played Miles Wood and Kent Johnson on either side of Monahan, and he insists that as long as the line is working hard and checking well, he’s not concerned about the production following.

“There’s another level for sure,” Monahan said. “We’re getting a few chances each game, but … I definitely have to be better. You have to find ways to produce, and that’s not happening right now. But you have to stick with it, be hungrier, and find ways to do that.”

Cam Talbot robs Sean Monahan 🛑 pic.twitter.com/Rmf52bDHdD

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 22, 2025

Monahan was speaking the day before Saturday’s loss in Detroit, but that game was like so many others he’s endured in recent weeks.

At 6:53 of the second, Wood set him up on the doorstep, but his shot was denied by the left pad of Detroit goaltender Cam Talbot. He had a short-handed breakaway in the third period that would have given the Blue Jackets a 4-2 lead, but was denied again.

Through 22 games, Monahan has 2-8-10 and a plus-2 rating. At this point a season ago, he had 7-13-20 and a plus-9 rating, earning rave reviews for elevating Voronkov and Monahan to new heights.

Meanwhile, Johnson has just 2-3-5 with a garish minus-12 rating in 21 games. (He was a healthy scratch for one game.) One year ago, he had played only eight games, but had 5-6-11 and an even rating.

“Part of it is just burying our chances,” Johnson said. “Our shooting percentages are down, or at least I know mine is. That’s just one-on-one with the goalie, and I have to hit my spots. I don’t think we’re far off, but it can definitely get frustrating when it’s not going in.”

Johnson was correct. After shooting 19.5 percent last season, he’s at 5 percent now. Monahan, who scored on 14.8 percent of his shots in 2024-25, is at just 4.7 percent.

Evason thought Saturday’s game in Detroit was one of the their better games. They’ll likely be intact on Monday, when the Blue Jackets play in Washington.

“You just have to work,” Monahan said. “I’ve been through it plenty of times, when it’s just not going in, or things are going well. You have to work your way out of it and stay mentally strong.”

Item No. 3: Take 5, Jet Greaves

“Take 5” is our weekly brief and (mostly) non-hockey conversation with a Blue Jackets player, coach, broadcaster or staffer. This week, goaltender Jet Greaves:

What part of Columbus did you settle in?

Grandview Heights. Nice neighborhood, nice to walk around. It’s pretty safe and relaxed, you know. I like all of that. There’s nice little shops and restaurants and stuff like that. It’s close to the rink but it very much has its own feel. A lot of the other young guys live downtown, so I’m really close to them.

Any hidden talents?

Juggling. It’s kind of a goalie thing. I can do three or four. I can keep three balls going and interchange them with both hands, does that make any sense? I can keep four going, but that’s two balls per hand either each hand independent. I can’t do four balls all at once with both of my hands. I learned it to improve my hand-eye coordination between games. It’s a goalie thing. (laughs) I’m not sure how hidden of a talent that is.

What’s your guilty pleasure song?

There’s a lot. Currently, there’s like a lot of girl country music that I like, so I guess that’s maybe a bit of a guilty pleasure. Like Ella Langley, Lainey Wilson, that type of music. I think a lot of hockey guys are into country now. We always have country on in the room.

What’s your favorite restaurant?

I went to this really good spot in Grandview. I don’t know how well known it was, but very good. It’s called La Tavola. I’ve only been there once, but I’ll be back. I like Italian food, so … There’s some really good restaurants here by the rink, too. Martini is very nice.

What’s a movie you watch over and over?

I don’t have the deepest movie bag. There are a lot of movies I haven’t seen, but I love movies. If I had to pick, I’d say “The Outsiders.” That’s my favorite movie. It’s sick. I’d put “Good Will Hunting” in there, too. I’ve watched them both a lot. Like, not a ton, but … high single digits for each of them. Great movies.

Item No. 4: Snacks

• Tonight the Blue Jackets finish a stretch in which they’ve played 9 of 12 games away from Nationwide Arena. It’s been a wild run, but the Jackets are 4-4-3 heading into tonight’s game with the Capitals. The schedule gets much easier down the stretch. After they play in Utah on Jan. 11, the Jackets play 14 of the final 16 road games in the Eastern time zone, and the two exceptions are Chicago and St. Louis, in the Central.

• Remember how the Blue Jackets’ biggest concern in the first two weeks of the season was the penalty kill? They allowed 11 power-play goals in their first eight games, sitting in last place in the NHL (60.7 percent). Since then, they’ve allowed only three power-play goals in the last 14 games, an 88.5 percent kill rate that ranks fifth in the NHL in that span. Also, don’t look now, but the Jackets are 4 of 13 on the power play in their last seven games.

• Get ready for a series of Charlie Coyle milestones. Coyle’s next point will be the 500th of his career. He’s also 28 games away from 1,000 and eight goals away from 200.

• On a recent episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” Simmons was answering a fan question when he agreed with the fan that the Blue Jackets are “the most irrelevant franchise in professional sports.” Obviously, the Blue Jackets were none too pleased, taking a swipe back via social media.

Werenski was asked about this after Thursday’s morning skate in Toronto, and said: “Yeah, it doesn’t matter. It is what it is, I guess, right? I’m not going to lose sleep over it. I like Columbus, I like playing there, and I don’t care what Bill Simmons has to say.”

• Adam Fantilli’s game-winning overtime goal on Thursday in Toronto was the first OT winner of his career. He became the third Blue Jackets player aged 21 or younger to score an overtime winner, joining Kent Johnson (Dec. 14, 2023) and Cole Sillinger (Jan. 30, 2025).

THAT’S GAME! 🚨

Adam Fantilli scores the Subway Canada OT winner for the Blue Jackets. pic.twitter.com/ip3MN6QFwA

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 21, 2025

 

• This week’s Monday Gathering trivia question(s): Which player has scored the most points in his career against the Blue Jackets?

• Can nothing be easy or done without drama? Eight of the Blue Jackets’ last nine games have been decided by one goal. The exception is the 5-2 loss at Winnipeg on Nov. 18. The Blue Jackets’ last win by more than one goal was Oct. 29 vs. Toronto, a 6-3 victory.

• It has not been an easy start at Michigan State for Cayden Lindstrom, the Blue Jackets’ No. 4 overall pick in 2024. Lindstrom missed both weekend games against Wisconsin, the second straight weekend he’s been out of the lineup. The word last week was that he was saddled by a groin injury, but he was expected to dress this weekend. In eight games, Lindstrom has just 1-1-2, with both of those points coming in a 4-2 win over Boston U. on Oct. 17. He last dressed in a 5-0 win over Penn State on Nov. 8. His status for two games later this week vs. Colgate is yet to be determined.

• Trivia answer: Patrick Kane. This question was prompted by Saturday’s game in Detroit, when he had two more points against Columbus. In 65 career games vs. the Blue Jackets, Kane has 28-60-88, putting him way ahead of the pack. The rest of the top five: Pavel Datsyuk (21-47-68), Sidney Crosby (21-44-65), Martin Erat (17-43-60), and Jarome Iginla (27-30-57). I know, right? Erat? Crazy.

• On Friday, Luca Pinelli had a goal and two assists, including a third-period power-play goal that helped AHL Cleveland to a 5-3 win over Hershey. Pinelli, in his first pro season, has impressed the Blue Jackets so far and could be in line for a call-up at some point this season. He’s currently riding a three-game goal streak and has 5-5-10, with 18 penalty minutes, in 13 games.

• It was a much-needed bounce-back game for the Monsters, who had lost to Hershey 5-2 just 24 hours earlier. Goaltender Ivan Fedotov, who started both of the back-to-back games, rebounded after allowing three Hershey goals in the first 12 minutes of Thursday’s game. He’s currently 3-4-3 with an .896 save percentage and 2.68 goals-against average.