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Rick Bowness: ‘I’m Mad at Myself’ as Blue Jackets Rank 30th in Goals Against

The Columbus Blue Jackets returned to practice on Friday in the midst of another early-season lull in their schedule. They last played on Tuesday, a 7-3 home loss to the Florida Panthers.

Published: Saturday, 17 October 2026 at 1:45 PM
Rick Bowness: ‘I’m Mad at Myself’ as Blue Jackets Rank 30th in Goals Against
Key Things to Know
  • Head coach Rick Bowness voiced intense frustration over the Columbus Blue Jackets' poor defensive ranking and goals against.
  • Columbus has allowed 21 goals in five games and ranks 30th in the NHL with a 61.1% penalty kill rate.
  • Bowness kept his post-practice media address under three minutes following a 7-3 defeat against the Florida Panthers.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness expressed strong frustration following a high-paced Friday practice after a 7-3 loss to the Florida Panthers. Bowness spoke to the media for under three minutes, stating that he is mad at himself and the team for ranking near the bottom of the NHL in goals against early in the season.

The Blue Jackets have allowed 21 goals through their first five games and hold a 30th-ranked penalty kill success rate of 61.1%. Bowness emphasized the need for better execution on special teams and increased urgency as Columbus prepares for back-to-back weekend games against the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild.

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