The Columbus Blue Jackets went on the street to start out their 2024-25 season. With video games towards the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche, it wasn’t going to be simple for the guests to win given it was every respective workforce’s residence openers.
Not solely did the Blue Jackets play properly in each video games, they earned a cut up. A case might even be made they performed properly sufficient to win each video games.
For as a lot because the Blue Jackets are going by means of, coming residence from that street journey 1-1 is spectacular. They performed the video games with out their captain Boone Jenner and Dmitri Voronkov. Then early on Saturday evening, they performed many of the recreation with out Zach Aston-Reese who took a excessive hit early within the first interval.
If the Blue Jackets have been going to have success, a number of issues needed to go proper. In these first two video games, they did go proper for probably the most half. The largest a part of this was the efficiency of their proficient youth.
Kent Johnson Shined
One of many largest questions coming into the brand new season from a purely hockey perspective was who would step up offensively? The Blue Jackets’ hope was pinned on their proficient youth to make vital contributions.
Thursday evening in Minnesota, Kent Johnson answered the decision. With the rating 1-0 Wild within the second interval, the Blue Jackets have been capable of tie the sport early within the interval.
Johnson skated the puck into the zone and was capable of join on a cross with Mikael Pyyhtia. This led to prolonged possession. A few gained battles later, the sport was tied.
Johnson was capable of finding the puck in a crowd, spin, shoot and rating. It was the sort of purpose that confirmed what these new look Blue Jackets have been all about.
The Wild had a number of guys across the puck at completely different instances. It didn’t matter. Because of the efforts of the road and specifically Cole Sillinger, the play stayed alive. It was the strain on the puck that created this purpose.
The road of Pyyhtia, Sillinger and Johnson are ages of twenty-two, 21 and 21 respectively. Johnson wasn’t finished both on that evening. He factored in on Zach Werenski’s power-play purpose to chop it to 3-2 late.
For Johnson, it was considered one of his most full video games as a professional. He performed 18:05 and was a consider all zones. He additionally performed each special-teams models within the course of. Whereas the Blue Jackets had a number of probabilities to tie the sport, they fell quick. Nevertheless it was Johnson’s effort partially that allowed them to be ready to tie. What would he do for an encore?
Saturday evening in Denver, Johnson led all Blue Jackets’ forwards in ice time. He performed 21:30 together with 2:55 shorthanded. He’s now exhibiting the propensity of wanting the puck on his stick always in all conditions. He added a purpose within the first interval from a large angle that was labeled.
What was much more spectacular about Johnson’s purpose was how he created it. He took a cross from Jake Christiansen after which did the remainder.
From middle ice, Johnson entered the zone and drove broad. This created confusion amongst the Avalanche on the best way to defend the play. Then from the broad angle, he went excessive on Alex Georgiev. That made targets in consecutive video games to start out the brand new season for a man GM Don Waddell known as an vital a part of the Blue Jackets’ future.
Different Youth Shined Too
Whereas Johnson did his factor, others stepped up too. Zach Werenski scored in every of the 2 video games. Don’t neglect he’s solely 27. He scored a power-play purpose in Minnesota after which opened the scoring in Denver on a play the place he drove the online and completed an incredible cross from Yegor Chinakhov.
Talking of Chinakhov, his line with Sean Monahan and Kirill Marchenko dominated Saturday evening. Every member of the road had 1-2-3.
Whereas Werenski opened the scoring and Monahan closed the scoring with an empty-net purpose, it was the 4 Blue Jackets’ targets scored within the center that stood out. Who scored them?
- Kent Johnson (21)
- Adam Fantilli (turned 20 on Saturday)
- Kirill Marchenko (24)
- Yegor Chinakhov (23)
The typical age of those 4 purpose scorers is 22. Waddell mentioned earlier than the season that the youth would get a giant alternative to play vital minutes. It’s very early, however Saturday evening confirmed a glimpse of what these Blue Jackets hope to change into sooner or later.
Even in a 3-3 recreation Saturday evening, the Blue Jackets held proper in. They took the lead because of Marchenko’s purpose. It was a lead they saved for the remainder of the sport. That’s the opposite large takeaway from this mini street journey that wants highlighted.
Evason’s Impression
One of many largest x-factors coming into the season was how new head coach Dean Evason would influence issues. The early opinions are overwhelmingly optimistic on that entrance.
The Blue Jackets performed maybe considered one of their finest 5-on-5 video games in a very long time Thursday evening. They dominated possession. They seemed quick. Extra importantly, they have been positionally sound and knew what to do on the following play generally.
The Blue Jackets of the previous couple seasons struggled mightily on that entrance. Many instances, they couldn’t make a simple play. It appeared they didn’t know what to do as soon as they bought the puck.
Underneath Evason, there’s decisiveness. There may be strain in all zones. There’s fast puck motion north. Though Thursday resulted in a loss thanks to some key errors, it was the sort of recreation that gave optimism in regards to the future. If the workforce performs like that persistently, higher days are forward.
Dean’s legendary cellys have made their approach to the #CBJ bench! 👊
Congrats on the primary of many with us! @drinkgaragebeer | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/2d0smciPNz
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 13, 2024
Whereas the Avalanche scored 4, they held the Avalanche to simply 30 photographs. Given how typically they’d enable 40 or extra photographs in a recreation, having this sort of efficiency is noteworthy. In a 5-3 recreation many of the third interval, the Blue Jackets outshot the Avalanche 8-7.
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Whereas the way in which Evason needs the Blue Jackets to play continues to be a piece in progress, the early outcomes are clearly seen. They appear way more organized and in management than at any level the final two seasons.
Groups typically tackle the persona of their head coach. For the Blue Jackets, they’ve taken Evason’s message to coronary heart and are making use of it to their recreation. The win Saturday marked Evason’s first because the Blue Jackets’ head coach.
It’s simply two video games so that you don’t need to go too loopy but. Nevertheless it’s laborious to stroll away from the video games and never assume the Blue Jackets could also be onto one thing. The appropriate observe is usually a protracted street. They should begin someplace although.
The Blue Jackets took care of enterprise and earned a cut up in a pair of hostile environments. They’re laying the muse for what they need to change into. Their youth led the way in which providing a glimpse of higher days forward.
Werenski not too long ago mentioned that this season must be profitable for them, it doesn’t matter what it appears to be like like. If they’ve extra nights like Thursday and Saturday, the Blue Jackets will take advantage of out of this difficult season.
