Tortorella says Blue Jackets 'need to be better'

COLUMBUS --The Columbus Blue Jackets qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time, but coach John Tortorella said their standards need to be raised.
"I think we need to get by this 'Young team, yeah, you went through some really good experiences,'" he said Thursday at Nationwide Arena. "No, we need to start thinking that we are a playoff team and that when we get the opportunity we need to be better."

The Blue Jackets won the first two games of the Eastern Conference First Round before losing four straight to the Washington Capitals, three at home, to lose for the fourth time in four playoff series.
Columbus (45-30-7) finished fourth in the Metropolitan Division this season and was the first wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
"I think we're in a good spot," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. "Can we get better? Absolutely. And we will. We'll look at every opportunity to do that. There's no question about it.
"Like [John] said, the standard has to be make the playoffs every year. We're going to be better. We're going to win a series, and then two, and three, and hopefully get to the Stanley Cup Final. That's the goal. You want to win the Cup."

Columbus lost in five games to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2017 first round, but Tortorella said he draws no satisfaction from extending the series further against the Capitals.
"We're going to talk about how there was some progression within our game, within the individuals, but we're six games and we're done," he said. "That's what I want to get away from. I want us to be more aggressive in our thinking and expect some more, not be satisfied as far as the process.
"We need to change our mindset here to where … that we feel we belong in the playoffs, not just be [in]. That's what worries me when I keep answering these questions about, 'Was it a good year?' We played six games in the playoffs. Six. One more than last year."