Columbus Blue Jackets January 2018 Schedule Outlook

The Columbus Blue Jackets 2017-2018 season is quickly approaching. How will January play out for the CBJ?

January is going to be a struggle for Columbus Blue Jackets fans. 10 games in 31 days. Woof. Out of those 10 games there will only be four games at home for fans to enjoy. Add on top that both Ohio NFL teams and the Buckeyes will be done by early January and it’s going to be a long month for fans.

Not to say that it will be a difficult month in terms of opponents. Eight of the 10 teams the Jackets will play did not make the playoffs last season. The two playoff teams they will face were both bounced in the first round.

Columbus Blue Jackets fans can look forward to making an inaugural trip to Las Vegas. The Jackets will travel to face the newest NHL franchise on January 23rd. Perfect timing for Ohioans in desperate need of some sun in the dead of winter.

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Two Paths

The month will go one of two ways. The Jackets will come into January having not left the eastern time zone relatively rested and carrying a good amount of momentum. They will use the sparse month of games against inferior opponents to get a mini break and continue to rack up points.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Or they will hit the dog days of the season with tired legs. The will lose momentum by only playing every third day on average and traveling long distances for the first time all season. January ends up being a disappointing month of frustrating losses against bad teams and the rest of the season starts to look shakey.

We know this Columbus Blue Jackets teams has solid leadership. Coach Tortorella and Captain Folingo won’t allow this team to succumb to the pitfalls January holds.

The Jackets will use this odd month to win some solid games on the road and refuel the legs and mind. Those that are knicked up can use the ten days from January 12th to the 22nd where the team will be in Columbus and only play two games to heal up.

The Jackets will use January as a scheduling midseason to look forward to. January will get them through the first three months of the season.

January Schedule Notes

• The Jackets will only play three eastern conference teams all month.
• Columbus will only play one back-to-back in the entire month, January 7th and 8th against the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
• There will be a four day stretch where the Jackets will not play a game three times in the month of January.
• Columbus will play its second of only three Sunday games at home on January 7th against Florida.
• The Jackets will play zero Metropolitan Division opponents in January.

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January is an odd month for the Jackets. Don’t expect the peculiar scheduling to bother the young, but well led squad. The darkest month should yield bright results for the Jackets in the first month of 2018.