Someone needs to remind the Blue Jackets that they can stop standing around once the national anthem singer belts out and the home of the brave.

While they are playing much stronger second and third periods, the Jackets continue to put themselves in a hole with their starts. Another poor first period contributed to a 2-1 shootout loss to the Phoenix Coyotes last night in Nationwide Arena.

They allowed the only goal of the period to defenseman Keith Yandle on a Jake Voracek giveaway at 1:48. That has been a common occurrence for the Jackets, who have allowed the first goal in seven of the past nine games.

"Our starts have been our back (breaker)," captain Rick Nash said "It doesn't seem like we ever score first goals for the last couple of games. I don't know if it's something in the room. Maybe the leadership group has to do a better job of getting guys ready. It's something that has to change."

The Jackets also had slow starts in losses to Anaheim and Minnesota, where they were outshot 11-3 in the first period.

Coach Ken Hitchcock said the tentative starts are a reflection of their lack of success recently. They have lost 13 of their past 15 games.

"We are wondering what is going to drop next," he said.

Getting minutes

Hitchcock was asked if the team had considered sending center Derick Brassard to the minors rather than relegate him to fourth-line NHL duty.

Brassard, who began the season on the top line, played 8 minutes, 29 seconds Tuesday at Minnesota.

"He's going to end up playing a lot of minutes," Hitchcock said. "That's the last place (the minors) he needs to be. He needs to be right here, dug in, finding out what it's like to compete at this level, finding out how hard it is."

Brassard, who has four goals, played up in the lineup against the Coyotes, seeing time with Voracek and R.J. Umberger. He played 14 minutes, 33 seconds.

Swede emotion

The Jackets' four Swedes look forward to the opportunity to open next season in their homeland. The Jackets will play two games against an opponent to be determined.

"It would be a great experience," forward Kristian Huselius said. "I never thought when I moved over here (to North America) that I would have a chance to play again in Sweden."

The Jackets likely will play in one of the three largest cities: Stockholm, Gotenburg or Malmo.

"The fans for each team have their own cheers, and they go back and forth the whole game," defenseman Anton Stralman said. "It's almost like they're singing. I think it's way better. They really get into it."

Different streak for Garon

The King of the Shootout has tasted defeat for a second straight time. Mathieu Garon, who has the NHL record for consecutive shootout wins, with 13, allowed two goals on three Coyotes shots.

He also lost in his last shootout, Dec. 10 at Nashville. He is 18-6 in shootouts.

"It's frustrating," Garon said. "I was used to having success lately. I will have to adjust some of the things I'm doing."

treed@dispatch.com