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With winning streak over, Blue Jackets’ work just beginning

Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72), of Russia, skates toward the bench as he is replaced by goalie Curtis McElhinney (30) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, in Washington. Blue Jackets right wing Cam Atkinson (13) and center Boone Jenner (38) look on. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72), of Russia, skates toward the bench as he is replaced by goalie Curtis McElhinney (30) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, in Washington. Blue Jackets right wing Cam Atkinson (13) and center Boone Jenner (38) look on. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72), of Russia, skates toward the bench as he is replaced by goalie Curtis McElhinney (30) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, in Washington. Blue Jackets right wing Cam Atkinson (13) and center Boone Jenner (38) look on. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

By Associated Press 3 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – John Tortorella has been waiting for this.

The Columbus Blue Jackets coach enjoyed riding a 16-game winning streak, but when it ended with a 5-0 clunker against the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, Tortorella was ready to really begin evaluating his players.

Knowing from years of experience that losing reveals more than winning, Tortorella is anxious to see how players respond Saturday against the New York Rangers and in the coming post-streak weeks.

“You cannot exhale,” Tortorella said. “We have so much hockey to be played. I still don’t know who we are. … We have a long ways to go here to really define who we are.”

For the past five weeks, the Blue Jackets were defined by the winning streak that fell one short of the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins’ NHL record. Their power play continued to lead the league, 2013 Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was on top of his game and hype built up around a club that missed the playoffs the past two seasons.