COLUMBUS — Rick Bowness hasn't been shy about expressing his frustration with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The veteran head coach has challenged his players over their decision-making, unnecessary penalties, and lack of consistency, and he's made it clear that continued mistakes could cost them ice time.
Now the question is whether his message is getting through.
Following Columbus' 6-2 loss to Toronto last Tuesday, Bowness criticized the team's turnovers and unnecessary penalties. He went a step further by warning that players who continued making those mistakes could find themselves spending more time on the bench.
Bowness wasn't simply upset about losing. The Blue Jackets had shown they could play disciplined hockey in a 1-0 overtime victory over the New York Rangers just three days earlier, only to return to the same bad habits against Toronto.
That inconsistency has been one of the biggest problems during Columbus' 4-5-0 start. The Blue Jackets have shown they can compete with good teams, but they've also suffered ugly losses, including a 7-3 defeat against Florida and Tuesday's four-goal loss to Toronto.
Bowness' frustration isn't new, either. After the Florida loss, he publicly questioned whether the performance had embarrassed his players enough to make them change their approach. His criticism has been direct, and the results explain why his patience is wearing thin, if not gone altogether.
Saturday's 2-1 overtime victory over Vegas was a much better response. Columbus limited the Golden Knights to one goal, Cam Talbot made 26 saves, and Adam Fantilli scored the winner just 59 seconds into overtime.
More importantly, the Blue Jackets avoided the kind of prolonged defensive breakdowns that have hurt them in previous games. They didn't generate much offense, managing just 20 shots, but their defensive effort and goaltending gave them a chance to win.
The power play also finally broke through. Fantilli's winner ended a stretch of 22 consecutive unsuccessful opportunities, providing a welcome result for a unit that has struggled since the season opener.
But one good performance isn't enough.
The Blue Jackets still have plenty of work to do offensively, but Bowness' concerns extend beyond scoring. His message has focused on making smarter decisions, protecting the puck, and avoiding penalties that put the team at a disadvantage.
Those are problems the players have more control over. Bowness can adjust his lines and change his approach, but he cannot make those decisions for the players once they're on the ice.
The Blue Jackets now begin a three-game road trip against Philadelphia, Carolina, and Dallas. It will be another opportunity to see whether Saturday's improved performance carries over or whether Columbus returns to the mistakes that have plagued its opening nine games.
Bowness has made his expectations clear. If the Blue Jackets want to turn their season around, they need to show they can meet them consistently, not just after another embarrassing loss.
