The Columbus Blue Jackets have had a strong begin to the season, going 5-3-1 by their first 9 video games. As of Oct. 31, they sit fifth within the Metropolitan Division standings in each factors (11) and factors proportion (.611). Regardless of this, they really are in a playoff spot as a result of sluggish begin of many groups within the Atlantic Division. In actual fact, they’d presently be sitting third within the Atlantic, forward of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Whereas it’s far too early to start out predicting playoffs, it’s a welcome change of tempo for the Blue Jackets to not be sitting on the backside of the standings on the finish of October.
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The Blue Jackets haven’t made the playoffs for the reason that shortened 2019-2020 season, the place they went 33-22-15 and beat the Maple Leafs within the play-in spherical, simply to lose to the Stanley Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning within the first spherical. Since then, the Blue Jackets’ finest season was the 2021-2022 season the place they went 37-38-7. After a couple of tough seasons, this workforce and its followers are determined for some success. So what about this season has been totally different up to now? Is their early season success sustainable? Listed below are two the explanation why the Blue Jackets have began sizzling, and a take a look at whether or not they can stick with it.
Franchis-Document Scoring
The Blue Jackets have continued to set information for many targets scored to start out the season in franchise historical past. Thus far, they’ve scored 35 targets with a 3.89 goals-per-game common. That’s 4 targets greater than the earlier file of 31, which has occurred in three earlier seasons. So is that this workforce actually that dominant offensively? Effectively, sure and no. They’re presently sitting first within the NHL in taking pictures proportion at 14.21%. Whereas definitely spectacular up to now, there are issues about how sustainable that is. As an illustration, their 2-0 win in opposition to the New York Islanders had one aim from a fortunate deflection off of a skate and the opposite was scored on an empty internet.
FIRE THE CANNON!
The Blue Jackets are on the board because of a Damon Severson aim!#CBJ pic.twitter.com/EI92Qi1THx
— FanDuel Sports activities Community Columbus (@FanDuelSN_CBUS) October 31, 2024
Per MoneyPuck, the Blue Jackets are final within the league in anticipated targets for at 2.63. Meaning they’re scoring targets at a considerably increased charge than anticipated. This might be attributed to the lucky schedule the Blue Jackets have began with. 5 of their 9 video games have been in opposition to groups taking part in their second evening of a back-to-back. In 4 of these video games, the workforce performed their backup goalie. There’s a excessive chance that the Blue Jackets’ excessive taking pictures proportion might be associated to going through fairly a couple of secondary goaltenders. If that taking pictures proportion begins to dip, the Blue Jackets may shortly begin to see their aim scoring dry up.
Blue Jackets’ Improved Goaltending
An essential enchancment for the workforce this season has been the play of the Blue Jackets’ netminders. Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov have each performed properly up to now, with the previous stopping 56 of 57 pictures within the final two video games. Merzlikins ranks 22 in NHL goaltenders this season in targets saved above anticipated (GSAx), posting a 0.8 GSAx in 4 video games. Tarasov isn’t far behind with a -0.2 GSAx that places him at 33 out of 71 goaltenders this season. For comparability, Merzlikins completed 83rd out of 98 in GSAx final season, and Tarasov completed 52nd.
Is that this enchancment in internet sustainable? This appears extra doubtless than the scoring streak the Blue Jackets are on, though the explanation would possibly shock you. The goalies’ success may very well be, at the least partly, as a result of improved workforce protection being performed in entrance of them. Merzlikins commented in regards to the play in entrance of him after his shutout in opposition to the Islanders, saying “They helped quite a bit. They’re actually working exhausting for his. That is our shutout.” The workforce protection has performed a greater job cleansing up rebounds and taking away open possibilities in entrance of the online which have been an actual downside the previous few seasons. They’ve additionally had cleaner zone exits and restricted defensive turnovers. All of this appears as a result of new system and play fashion below head coach Dean Evason and can hopefully stay constant by the season.
Flash within the Pan or New Regular?
Whereas the scoring tempo is nearly definitely going to regress to a traditional charge (Mathieu Olivier has 4 targets on 8 pictures), the enhancements in targets in opposition to ought to hopefully be extra sustainable. The final three seasons have seen the Blue Jackets permit 297, 298, and a franchise record-setting 329 targets in opposition to. This season’s enhancements have the Blue Jackets on tempo for 228 targets in opposition to, which might be an enormous enchancment. Even when their present scoring tempo of 319 targets for this season slows down, this workforce completely may end with extra targets for than in opposition to. That hasn’t occurred for the reason that 2018-19 season the place that they had 256 targets for and 231 targets in opposition to. These numbers appear attainable this season, and if that occurs, this Blue Jackets’ workforce would possibly simply be knocking on the door of the playoffs.
