Can a shutout loss be considered a moral victory? In the case of the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Colorado Avalanche, the answer might be yes.
DENVER — When you take a closer look at the seasons unfolding for both the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Colorado Avalanche, it's easy to grasp the strange atmosphere that enveloped the Blue Jackets following their 4-0 defeat at Ball Arena on Saturday.
However, things could have been even worse.
The Avalanche have dominated the NHL this season, remaining nearly unbeatable on their home turf. In stark contrast, the Blue Jackets have struggled significantly, especially after coming close to clinching a playoff spot last season.
On top of this, the Blue Jackets had goaltender Elvis Merzļikins in net, who had not faced a puck in three weeks since December 20 and has statistically ranked among the least effective goalies in the league this season.
Just two days prior, the Avalanche had crushed the Ottawa Senators with a staggering 8-2 score in the same arena. So, what do we make of a 4-0 outcome?
"I know it sounds a bit odd, but we observed several positives," remarked Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason. "We executed our checking effectively against their top players. Even their so-called 'lesser players' can capitalize if presented with a single opportunity.
"Did we make some errors? Absolutely. However, we genuinely believed that our offensive plays, along with our determination to drive toward the net and penetrate their defense, were commendable. We managed to get pucks through to the top, and they were bouncing around everywhere."
Despite these efforts, the puck never crossed the goal line past Colorado rookie goaltender Trent Miner, who achieved his first NHL win and shutout by saving 29 shots, including 13 during the second period.
This loss marked the second time this season that the Blue Jackets were shut out, bringing their record to 1-4-1 over their last six games. They are beginning to firmly establish themselves at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
The only way for them to salvage any pride from this four-game road trip—their last significant travel plans of the season and the final time they venture outside the Central Time Zone—will be on Sunday when the Blue Jackets face off against the Utah Mammoth at 7 p.m. ET.
When asked how he felt about finally playing again, Merzļikins grinned and said, "Happy."
Jet Greaves was initially designated as the starting goalie back in early November, and his responsibilities have increased significantly over the past month. He has started in both ends of back-to-back matchups, but this time, it was Merzļikins’ turn.
Merzļikins, who made 13 of his 27 saves in the opening period, recognized that the game’s pace felt akin to jumping onto a busy freeway. He quickly found himself fatigued, explaining that it’s challenging to replicate the physical toll of an actual match during practice sessions.
"Getting into the game was tough," Merzļikins admitted. "You could see the team was putting in the effort. For instance, Mo (Adam Fantilli) made a significant blocked shot in the first period. The guys understood I was a bit rusty at the beginning until I acclimated to the game, and they supported me well.
"It was demanding because Colorado is incredibly fast. They bring such speed to the ice. I needed to calm myself down and try to slow everything down in my mind, focusing on my positioning and awareness."
The Avalanche took a 1-0 lead at 13:58 in the first period, capitalizing on a rapid sequence of shots that challenged Merzļikins.
Only three and a half minutes later, he was critical of himself regarding the second goal, which pushed the score to 2-0. This occurred after the Blue Jackets lost a puck battle in the corner, allowing Victor Olofsson a clear route to score.
"I did make mistakes, like reading the game situation—especially on that second goal, right?" said Merzļikins. "I assumed he (Olofsson) would pass it back to the blue line since that's typically their play. But I noticed a guy was entirely open, and he shot it on his backhand. I didn’t see that coming.
"Overall, though, I’m pleased. It could have turned out much worse—especially considering how they played against Ottawa in their last home game. So, I’ll take this."
The Avalanche extended their lead to 3-0 at 10:30 in the second period, followed by a 4-0 score at 8:33 in the third.
What truly defines a moral victory?
The primary objective for the Blue Jackets was to neutralize the Avalanche’s extraordinary top line, led by center Nathan MacKinnon, flanked by wingers Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas. They certainly had opportunities—MacKinnon registered eight shots on goal—but ultimately, the line failed to score.
The Blue Jackets enjoyed prolonged stretches in the second and third periods where they maintained possession in the Avalanche's zone. Yet, they were unable to find the back of the net. There was always a sense that Colorado had another level they could reach if pressed.
For the Avalanche, it was a comfortable afternoon, as they remain extraordinarily secure in their home environment, boasting an impressive record of 19-0-2 at home. They have yet to lose a home game in regulation this season, with their only losses coming from shootouts against Dallas and Carolina, the latter occurring on October 23.
"We all knew how effectively they performed at home heading into the game," stated Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski. "I liked our performance today. There are losses that feel worse than others.
"But I believe that today, against a team of that caliber, aside from our inability to score, we played hard, and if we keep up that level of effort, that’s what we consider our standard. We need to convert those opportunities into goals. That’s frustrating, no doubt, but I appreciate the way we worked."
