Blue Jackets reeling after devastating loss

By Shawn Mitchell

The Columbus Dispatch

COLUMBUS

The latest humiliation of the Blue Jackets will cast an even deeper pall over a three-day holiday hiatus that began Friday.

The Blue Jackets canceled practice and gladly parted ways following a stunning 6-5 loss at Nashville on Thursday night in which they squandered a hat trick by center Jeff Carter, twice led by three goals and conceded the breakaway winner to Martin Erat with 8.4 seconds remaining.

Afterward, Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel was so furious that he declined to speak to assembled media, fearing that his anger would lead to regretful words.

“I know it doesn’t dissipate,” Arniel said. “It really kind of ruins your break. It’s one thing to lose a tight game but ‘ that was really unacceptable. This one was a full-out collapse.”

The Blue Jackets have mastered the art of faltering in crucial moments. They are an NHL-worst 8-11-3 when leading or tied after two periods.

The Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks have a league-low nine victories. They are the first Western Conference teams with fewer than 10 victories by Christmas since the 2005-06 St. Louis Blues.

“The biggest thing to me is the embarrassment of allowing it to happen to us,” Arniel said. “How you cannot be embarrassed as a pro athlete or coach when you have to walk out in front of the fans and see your family and talk to people around the league; I’m so mad, so upset.

“I don’t want to ruin [the holiday] for my family. But the status quo isn’t working. I’ll talk to the [assistant coaches] and to [general manager] Scott [Howson] and we’ll deal with things moving forward.”

The Blue Jackets roster has remained static since the season began, save for the trade of defenseman Kris Russell and moves to and from minor-league Springfield.

Do the current players and staff have what it takes to return to respectability?

“I don’t know,” goaltender Curtis Sanford said. “But we have to believe in each other. We can’t stop believing. Once that happens, the whole season is a loss.

“We have to expect that these collapses aren’t going to happen, that we’re not going to allow them to happen anymore. Hopefully, this break is something good. We have to figure it out.”