There are plenty of storylines as the Blue Jackets get ready to take part in the NHL Global Series.
Laine is back home
, as was made obvious by the adoring fans -- mostly kids -- who yelled for sticks and pucks every time he got close during Thursday's open practice. Joonas Korpisalo and Jarmo Kekäläinen are back in their home country, too, while the rest of the Blue Jackets have had a chance to enjoy one of Europe's finest attractions for the past few days.
It has truly been a memorable trip, but once the Blue Jackets stepped on the ice for that practice yesterday at Nokia Arena, it started to turn from an experience to savor to more a business trip.
The good news, Larsen said, is the Blue Jackets appeared tuned in during the two hour-long practices they've had since arriving in Finland.
"We worked," he said. "Our two practices were good. I thought they were solid as far as the mind-set and what we wanted to get accomplished. We'll see tomorrow."
It's no secret the Blue Jackets got on the plane to Europe in a bit of a rut, as three straight losses weighed on the squad. Sunday's 7-1 setback in New Jersey was described as "ugly" by Larsen, and the team admitted after the game it needed to get back to a much more competitive mind-set and put the work in to get back on the winning side of things.
"The last two or three games, especially our last one, was a giant thud, really," Larsen said. "You have to reset and get back to really foundational stuff. You have to. There's no magic practice, there's no magic formula how to do it. It's sweat equity. You have to work your way through these things."
The Jackets have said they've enjoyed the trip thus far, but it will be far more memorable if they can return to Columbus with as many points as possible.
"Obviously it's great for Patty to come out here and play in Finland, but these are important games for us," Johnny Gaudreau said. "We need to get going here and try to climb our way back out of the little hole we've put ourselves into."
