During the first three weeks of the season, the Columbus Blue Jackets were among the most explosive clubs in the NHL. Given their heavy reliance on young strikers playing leading roles, the goals scored seemed too good to be true.

Now, in the throes of a four-game losing streak, it appears that is the case.

The Blue Jackets held on to Los Angeles Kings for two periods Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, but the game was stopped early in the third period. The Kings won 5-2 in front of 18,145, thus extending the Jackets’ slip (0-3-1).

After scoring six goals in each of their first four wins of the season, the Blue Jackets have scored just seven goals during their recent slump.

“We need to get back on track, get some confidence back,” Blue Jackets center Justin Danforth said. “It really helps to win games when everyone scores. But guys are going to go through times where they’re not scoring, and other guys have to step up. »

BOOM

VORONKOV BURIES HIS FIRST OF THE SEASON! @FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/0DEs6VERYy

– Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) November 10, 2024

The Blue Jackets scored goals of Dmitry Voronkov And Ivan Provorovand Danforth had two assists. After spending Friday’s practice pushing his players to go harder to the net and look for fat goals, Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason was not happy.

“There’s a little bit (of improvement), but we can still get there,” Evason said. “I think we still rely too much on rushing.

“Our offensive play, our play in the offensive zone, our ability to hang on to pucks and allow the cycle and our movements to generate more chances… it’s been better this season than in the last few games.

The Blue Jackets were ready to head to California for a long getaway after suffering back-to-back lopsided losses last weekend – 6-2 to the Winnipeg Jets at Nationwide Arena last Friday, and 7-2 against the Capitals last Saturday in Washington.

But California brought no comfort. The jackets lost to the humble San Jose Sharks 2-1 in overtime Tuesday before getting a three-day break to face the Kings.

One of the dangers of relying on so many players 24 and under is the wild inconsistency in performances, including but not limited to their offensive production.

Egor Chinakhovwho was among the league’s top scorers just weeks into the season, has no goals and two assists in his last eight games. Kirill Marchenko has one goal in his last six games. Zach Werenski (six games), Cole Sillinger (five) and Adam Fantilli (five) are also mired in scoring declines.

The way the Blue Jackets handled the puck – and handled the pressure from the Kings – there’s no way two goals would have been enough to win.

The Jackets trailed 2-1 after two periods, but began to push late in the second period, earning a late power play that continued for 1 minute, 41 seconds into the third . But the pivotal moment belonged to the Kings.

TREVVV SHORTYYYY pic.twitter.com/vUDLuFfaNM

– Los Angeles Kings (@LAKings) November 10, 2024

Just 30 seconds into the period, Sillinger dropped a puck at the offensive blue line, propelling Los Angeles in the other direction. Warren Foegele beat the Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins with a slapshot from distance crossing the left circle.

The Jackets responded only 19 seconds later to Provorov’s first goal of the season to make it 3-2, but a nasty deflection from Los Angeles’ Alex LaFerriere at 7:05 gave the Jackets a two-goal lead again. Kings.

The 5-2 goal was scored into an empty net.

“In key moments of the game we gave them opportunities,” Evason said. “I don’t want to say we gave them goals, but they took advantage of certain things.

“First goal, we return it. Second goal, we made a huge mistake. Third goal, we return it. That’s three goals. In key areas we clearly need to make the right read and clearly not turn the puck over.

The Blue Jackets will play at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday at Anaheim before finishing the trip at Seattle on Tuesday.

(Photo by Kevin Fiala and Elvis Merzlikins: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)