Skip to content

LEAGUES News

Fantilli fed up with Blue Jackets' skid: 'I don't want to get used to losing'

Ben Jackson / National Hockey League / Getty

Only 15 games into his NHL career, rookie Adam Fantilli expects more from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

This year's third overall pick called for higher standards after Columbus lost its fifth straight game Sunday against the New York Rangers. The Blue Jackets coughed up a lead with 11 seconds remaining in the third period, then fell short in a shootout.

"We have a young team, but that does not matter," Fantilli told The Athletic's Aaron Portzline. "I hate losing. I never want to lose. I don't want to get used to losing. I'm not happy about it. I'm not happy about the series of losses we've had.

"I want to be able to fix it. I want to do my part in being able to fix that. We're a young team, but we're extremely skilled, and I think we have (the ability to play) a lot better than we're showing."

Columbus has fallen to eighth in the Metropolitan Division and 27th in the league standings with a 1-5-4 record in its last 10 appearances.

Fantilli is tied for the team lead with nine points this season despite logging only 15:23 per contest. The 19-year-old ranks fourth in rookie scoring, trailing Connor Bedard, Logan Cooley, and Pavel Mintyukov.

The Blue Jackets return to the ice Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

RELATED NEWS

GOAL NUMBER 899 FOR ALEX OVECHKIN! 🤩
Ovechkin on precipice of new benchmark with goal No. 899 🎯
Kiké Hernandez gets the Dodgers on the board first in this #...
Enrique Hernández rips RBI single as Dodgers strike early in Game 1
Trey Yesavage strikes out Shohei Ohtani to start off the 202...
Blue Jays rookie Yesavage Ks Ohtani to start World Series 😳
ZION DUNKS ON WEMBY ON THE FIRST PLAY OF THE GAME
Zion yams on Wemby on 1st play of game 🍿
Two-time #WorldSeries champion manager Cito Gaston threw out...
2-time World Series-winning manager Cito Gaston throws out 1st pitch for Game 1 👏
The crowd "welcomes" Ohtani to Toronto during starting lineu...
Ohtani seems to enjoy Jays fans' boos during pregame intros 😂
Sources: Chiefs' rookie Simmons nearing return