Pregame: Columbus Blue Jackets at Ottawa Senators
The Columbus Blue Jackets managed to pull off a 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames at home last night to end a 3-game home stand that started with opening night and ended last night.
Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
The Jackets are 3-1-0, being 2-1-0 in their last 3 games at home, not having been on the road since their first game of the season, which they won, giving them a perfect 1-0-0 on the road.
Ottawa’s record looks oddly similar. They are 3-1-0 as well, but they have been on the road far more than at home. Their records are the same as the Jackets’, but flipped. So far this season Ottawa has gone 1-0-0 at home, and is 2-1-0 on the road.
With that said, going into tonight’s game in Ottawa, the Senators have a perfect home record, and the Jackets have a perfect road record. Something’s gotta give. Both teams currently sit at second place in their respective divisions, just two points behind their division leaders. While standings don’t mean too much this early in the season, it’s never a bad thing to advance to the top of your division.
The Jackets sit two points behind the New York Islanders, a team that has gone a perfect 4-0-0 in their first 4 games this season. The Isles have made an impressive start to their season, and they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight. The Pens are one game and two points behind the Jackets, being 2-1-0 in three games so far this year.
In the Atlantic Division, the Senators sit two points and one game behind the Montreal Canadiens, who have gone 4-1-0 in five games so far this season. Montreal takes on the Colorado Avalanche tonight, so they too have a chance for two more points to stay ahead of the Senators.
Overall tonight there are three games involving two Eastern Conference teams, as the Jackets take on the Senators, the Pens face the Isles and the Red Wings battle the Maple Leafs, and there is one inter-conference game between the Habs and the Avs. That’s a lot of points up for grabs in the Eastern Conference, and grabbing points this early is never a bad idea.
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In recent years, the Jackets have been known to have rough starts to their seasons, disappointing fans and sometimes digging themselves into holes that they could otherwise have avoided. This year, however, their preseason was an excellent 7-1-0, and fans began to hope that thing will be different. They’ve certainly looked good recently, and 3-1-0 isn’t a bad start. But it isn’t enough. They need to keep battling, and keep winning, so they put themselves in a position later in the season where they are solidly in the run for the post-season. And each game matters. Go Jackets!