Brad Marchand's hat trick hands Columbus Blue Jackets another tough loss: 3 takeaways

BOSTON ― Same story, different barn.

The Blue Jackets fell to 8-14-4 after another lead slipped through their fingers Sunday night at TD Garden and this time the beneficiary had a familiar face. Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand led his team to a 3-1 comeback victory over the Jackets with a natural hat trick in the third period ― erasing a 1-0 deficit plus every ounce of momentum Columbus gained from captain Boone Jenner’s 13th goal, which broke a 0-0 tie late in the second.

“When you score early in the period, score late in the period, that’s always a big boost,” Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent said. “I think it should’ve been a big boost and we just let them come back.”

That’s become an all-too-familiar tale for the Blue Jackets, who were called for six penalties, allowed two power play goals and fumbled away another strong goaltending performance by backup Spencer Martin (26 saves).

Here are three takeaways:

Columbus Blue Jackets still struggling to build off leads

The Blue Jackets’ biggest source of frustration is the way they’ve continued to lose leads, which happened again Sunday courtesy of Marchand.

The Jackets have held the lead in 16 of 26 games, but they're 3-9-4 in those games after coughing up a total of 20 leads. That includes four games when they blew the lead twice. The Jackets have also lost five two-goal cushions, and this was the first time they’ve lost in regulation when leading after two periods (6-1-2).

It’s a self-inflicted source of ongoing torment.

“We’re aware,” Jenner said. “We talk about it. We know the situation when we’ve had leads in games and weren’t able to close it out. We’re trying everything to fix that and build towards that. It’s in here. We know it is. For us, it’s getting that feeling of what we need to do. We’ve done it a couple times, but not consistently enough throughout the year when we do have those leads.”

How close are the Blue Jackets from contending within the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference?

That depends on perspective. Those who see the Blue Jackets as a losing franchise that can’t get out of its own way see a team that’s miles from contending. Those who see how many times the Jackets score the first goal or overcome early deficits to take the lead before it vanishes may see a team closer to contending that many realize.

Take that 3-9-4 record in games the Blue Jackets have blown leads, for instance, and flip it to 9-4-3 for a 14-8-4 record overall. That would be 32 points and put them second in the Metro behind the New York Rangers (37 points).

“(We) can’t look at (being close) right now,” Jenner said. “We lose a game. We didn’t keep playing our game in the third. Let them back into it. You’re not going to get wins in this league like that. Lots of good, but it’s just finding that extra gear late or even if they score one, get back on the attack and find that next one. They were able to do that and it’s frustrating for us.”

Columbus Blue Jackets have depth in net, may keep three NHL goalies

As smoke billows online around trade rumors involving Elvis Merzlikins, both he and Martin continue to give the Blue Jackets solid goaltending.

Daniil Tarasov (knee) is also on a conditioning assignment in the American Hockey League and there’s a chance the Blue Jackets will opt to carry three NHL goalies when he’s ready. That runs counter to what Daily Faceoff insider Frank Seravalli told an Edmonton radio station last week, but general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said it's on the table.

Tarasov’s inability to stay healthy is the primary reason.

“We need to make sure that Tarasov stays healthy,” Kekalainen said. “That’s what we’ve got to see. We’re going to go day-by-day here, maybe week-by-week, and see what happens. If it means carrying three goalies, that’s what we’ll do.”

The reasons this is a topic are twofold.

One is Merzlikins’ impressive rebound after posting career-worst numbers last year. The other is Martin, who has shined for the Blue Jackets since they claimed him off waivers in the preseason from the Vancouver Canucks.

Martin made several dazzling stops in the first two periods against Boston, including two sets of sprawling back-to-back saves and one three-save sequence in a span of three seconds in the second. He also earned the goaltending win last Monday against the Bruins at Nationwide Arena.

So far, Martin has made Blue Jackets goaltending coach Niklas Backstrom and Cleveland Monsters goaltending development coach Brad Thiessen look brilliant for suggesting the waiver claim.

“I was feeding off my teammates,” Martin said. “I feel like I’ve been in some games where it’s a similar story, where you’re so close and it’s frustrating. But I’m going to stick with it.”

Don’t be surprised if the Blue Jackets stick with three goalies. The only way Merzlikins is leaving is through a trade, and the Jackets must place Martin or Tarasov on waivers for a standard AHL assignment.

They don’t want to risk losing either that way, and a source told the Dispatch the Merzlikins trade rumors aren't accurate despite the Edmonton Oilers sending three scouts to attend Blue Jackets home games last week against the Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators ― including goaltending scout Jeff Salajko, pro scout Warren Rychel and assistant GM Brad Holland, son of Oilers GM Ken Holland.

Seravalli told Edmonton radio host Bob Stauffer that Merzlikins’ Edmonton-based agent, Gerry Johansson, had indicated both the Blue Jackets and their top goalie were open to a “change of scenery” type trade. Johansson didn't reply to a request for comment. Unless a deal includes a return package with a goalie who’s on par with Merzlikins’ current numbers — 3.11 goals-against average and .907 save percentage ― it’d be surprising to see the Jackets move their top netminder.

They’ve currently got a solid goaltending combo with Merzlikins and Martin that could become a three-headed monster when the 6-foot-5 Tarasov arrives.

“They’re playing extremely well,” Vincent said. “I think our team is playing good in front of them. We’re blocking a lot of shots. You want to take away the dangerous chances, but then they face one, and it’s going to happen every game, they’re doing a good job. Two goalies that can play? That’s a big plus.”

Columbus Blue Jackets' dads trip delivers 'fun' memories

It started with a win over the Ottawa Senators and culminated with the loss to the Bruins, but the Blue Jackets thoroughly enjoyed having their fathers around for a dads’ weekend excursion.

Activities included dinner Saturday in Boston, when the dads were asked to share memories about their sons that were special or still give them a chuckle thinking about them.

Mathieu Olivier’s father, Simon, shared a story about his son’s youth hockey days that drew some laughs. Olivier grew up around the sport because his father played professionally, so he developed a sharp tongue at an early age. That became an issue in a game when he picked up an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, at age 8, after insulting an official with a term he’d heard from the pros.

“I’m playing a hockey game back home and I had a few guys on me,” Olivier said. “I guess there was no call, and I turned around and I called him a … I can’t say it. I said something really bad to him, and I got two minutes for unsportsmanlike.”

Olivier, who grew up in Quebec, later shared that what got him sent off was calling the ref “a fat pig” in French. Curious about his son’s transgression, Simon called the official over.

“He says, ‘What’d you give an unsportsmanlike conduct to an 8-year old about? What’d he say?’” Olivier said. “The guy said, ‘I won’t be called a ... (fat pig).’ My dad said, ‘He called you that?’ and started laughing, and the guy tossed him out of the game.”

Olivier and his dad now have a new hockey memory to share.

"I spent my whole life in a rink following (my dad) around, and the one thing I can give back to him now is the experience of life in the NHL," Olivier said. "It really is a special moment and I think everyone feels that way.”

bhedger@dispatch.com

@BrianHedger

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Bruins' Marchand spoils Blue Jackets' bid for a win in Boston