If the Columbus Blue Jackets had been going to take the following step in 2024-25, their efficiency in opposition to their very own division was going to should see huge enchancment. A minimum of because the calendar turns to 2025, there may be some progress.
We now proceed with our Blue Jackets’ mini sequence taking a look at traits surrounding the staff. In Half 1, we mentioned the necessity for higher highway play within the second half. Their recreation Saturday in Boston didn’t go as deliberate. That pattern shall be value waiting for the remainder of the season.
The Blue Jackets wrap the 2024 a part of their schedule up with a recreation Tuesday night time in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes. The groups break up the primary two conferences with every profitable on residence ice. The Blue Jackets gained their recreation in a shootout.
That’s the place the encouragement lies with the Blue Jackets and video games inside their division this season. They’ve performed higher in opposition to their foes whereas seeing some ends in the method.
Final Season Was Ugly
The Blue Jackets don’t need to take into consideration how issues went in 2023-24. It was particularly ugly in opposition to the Metropolitan Division. If it felt like they misplaced lots of video games, it’s as a result of they did lose lots of video games.
The Blue Jackets went simply 7-16-3 in opposition to the Metro in 2023-24. With simply 17 of a potential 52 factors earned, it was among the many worst showings within the NHL.
The Blue Jackets went 2-9-3 in opposition to the Metro within the 2023 portion of final season. They managed to complete 5-7-0 of their final 12 division video games.
On most nights, the Blue Jackets had been merely no match for many groups. Whereas they began getting some higher outcomes later within the season, the video games didn’t as as a lot from a strain and a postseason perspective. They had been out of the race early within the season.
A Higher Begin
To date in 2024-25, the Blue Jackets are off to a greater begin in opposition to the Metro. Coming into their recreation in opposition to the Hurricanes, they’re 4-3-2 in opposition to the Metro. That .555 factors share is marked enchancment from the .326 they posted final season.
It begs the query. What has modified from final season to this season that the Blue Jackets are seeing this a lot enchancment? Granted it’s a small pattern measurement simply 9 video games. However some traits have developed inside there that shall be value conserving tabs on.
Their residence efficiency stands out. The Blue Jackets are 11-4-3 at Nationwide Area going into their recreation in opposition to the Hurricanes. This consists of 3-1-1 at residence in opposition to Metro foes.
- 10/30/24: 2-0 win over New York Islanders.
- 11/15/24: 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
- 11/23/24: 5-4 win in a shootout over the Carolina Hurricanes.
- 12/10/24: 5-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
- 12/12/24: 2-1 time beyond regulation loss to the Washington Capitals.
The Blue Jackets have been in a position to keep in most each recreation outdoors of the Flyers recreation the place they raced out to a 5-1 lead. The great pattern right here is having the ability to keep within the recreation earlier than an opponent goes up 2-0 or 3-0 early.
Couple that with the Blue Jackets being within the top-10 in targets for and you’ve got the beginning of one thing good. They’re in a lot better place to not solely win, however win in several methods. The younger expertise has improved. The teaching change to Dean Evason has had tangible outcomes. Though the general defensive numbers aren’t displaying it, the Blue Jackets enable fewer pictures per recreation than final season by a noticeable margin. They’ve gone from 34.4 in opposition to to 29.0 pictures in opposition to per recreation.
Additionally some particular person performances reminiscent of from Sean Monahan, Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko simply to call just a few, that has helped the Blue Jackets to see higher outcomes.
It’s all of these issues that add as much as a greater likelihood to win in opposition to anybody however particularly in opposition to their division. That enchancment has allowed the Blue Jackets to remain inside vary of the playoff race. With a heavy Japanese schedule left, their destiny will relaxation on their efficiency in opposition to the Metro.
Need to Hold Issues Going
Tuesday night time shall be a giant take a look at for the Blue Jackets. The final time they met the Hurricanes, they received it handed to them. They should win these video games on their residence ice once they have the benefit of the group and final change.
The Blue Jackets are in part of their schedule the place issues get barely simpler than what they had been. After the sport Tuesday, they’re at residence in opposition to the Pink Wings and Blues. They then go to Pittsburgh, come residence to play Seattle after which play in St. Louis in opposition to the Blues. Then they get two residence video games in opposition to the Flyers and Sharks.
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It’s not a stretch to suppose that the Blue Jackets efficiency in these subsequent eight video games may assist decide the place the remainder of the season goes. Do effectively with these winnable video games, they keep within the race. If not, then the potential commerce deadline chatter may begin to choose up in a serious approach.
The Blue Jackets know what’s in entrance of them. Tuesday night time in opposition to the Hurricanes is the place their focus is at. Profitable this recreation would give them some momentum going into January. It will additionally reinforce that their work in opposition to their division isn’t any fluke.
A minimum of up to now in 2024-25, the Blue Jackets are displaying they’re no pushover. They now should hold that going in the event that they need to play large video games come February and March.
