The Columbus Blue Jackets began this season with a new energy, an aggressive style of play that excited the fan base and surprised the prognosticators. Unfortunately for the Jackets, they lost that edge Friday against the hottest team in the NHL, falling to the Winnipeg Jets, 6-2, at Nationwide Arena.

Winnipeg (10-1-0) is a seasoned squad with size that likes to play a methodical game, taking advantage of forced turnovers for scores. And that’s exactly what they did against Columbus. 

“They got on us quickly,” noted head coach Dean Evason after the game. “They’ve got a lot of speed up front and I think we got surprised by it a little bit. but we fed into it or compounded the issues by making soft plays out of our zone that they got sticks on pucks, turned it over and then away they went.”

The Jets scored first, just 5:13 into the contest, when Nikolaj Ehlers scored the first of his three goals on the evening. The Blue Jackets tied the game at the 11:02 mark. James van Riemsdyk battled on the boards behind the Winnipeg net, then chipped one into the slot that Sean Kuraly sent past goalie Eric Comrie. It was Kuraly’s first of the season.

Ehlers made it 2-1 before the first period ended when the Blue Jackets failed to clear their zone after a face-off despite a couple of opportunities. On the night, Columbus had 17 giveaways and only five takeaways.

“We just didn’t play smart,” said Zach Werenski. “Too many turnovers. I didn’t think we were sharp in the D-zone. It kind of felt like we handed it to them a little bit tonight. Didn’t make them earn it.”

After Mason Appleton made it 3-1 at the beginning of the second period, the Blue Jackets responded. Sean Monahan tipped in a Zach Werenski shot on a Columbus power play. But it was all Winnipeg after that with Ehlers’ third goal and scores from Josh Morrissey and Gabriel Vilardi.

“We held our own after a little bit there, and we were fine, but we have to play a way more intelligent game,” said Evason. “We never had a forecheck all night, not all night. There was no pressure, no sustained heat for us in all three zones.”

The Blue Jackets will have to put Friday’s loss behind them quickly. They travel to Washington, D.C. to take on the Capitals Saturday. “We’re ready to go for this one [in Washington],” noted Sean Kuraly. “We want to bounce back quickly. Five o’clock game, I think tomorrow, so lucky for us, we don’t have to think about it long.”

After Saturday’s game against the Capitals, the Blue Jackets head to the West Coast. They play the San Jose Sharks, the Los Angeles Kings, the Anaheim Ducks, and the Seattle Kraken over eight days beginning Nov. 5.