2013-14 Columbus Blue Jackets Season Predictions: Over or Under
By Mike Majeski
Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
As part of our ongoing preview of the 2013-14 NHL Season, it is time to kick off another prediction series! Instead of the standard “what will happen?” format, I thought an Over / Under format would be more interesting. In this series, each staff writer at the Union and Blue will answer Over or Under in response to several hypothetical stats for the 2013-14 season and then explain why they selected that option. In a future post we will check back and see how everyone did.
The Blue Jackets will finish the regular season with 90 pts: Over or Under?
Under
The Blue Jackets finished the lockout shortened season with 55 points. So at first, 90 points does not seem that hard of a mark to hit. However with a longer, more grueling season, and all of this coming in a new division, I do not believe the Jackets can maintain the same pace they had last season. During the 2011-12 season, 92 points was needed to get the 8th seed in the playoffs. I believe the Jackets will fall just shy of the playoffs again and finish in the low to mid-eighties points wise.
Bobrovsky will win 35 games in the 2013-14 season: Over or Under?
Over
For once there is not a goalie controversy going into a Blue Jackets season and Bob is going to get the majority of the starts. While a longer season means it will be difficult for him to replicate last year’s Vezina winning performance, I think it is possible for Bob to win 40+ games this season.
Bobrovsky’s Goals Against Average (GAA), 2.00: Over or Under?
Over
While Bobrovsky was tremendous in net last season, I think the shortened season did play some role in that performance. I do not foresee Bobrovsky taking a major step back this season, but I believe it will be difficult to replicate or break his 2.00 GAA from the 2012-13 season. In previous seasons he was closer to the 2.5-3.0 mark, but I do not believe it will increase that much, I feel something in the 2.25 range is more likely.
Marian Gaborik will finish the season with 75 points: Over or Under?
Over
This will be Gaborik’s first full season with the Jackets after spending the majority of the last season being under utilized and demoted to the 3rd line in New York. An offensive talent like Gaborik is something the Blue Jackets desperately need and he will be given the opportunity to put up big points in Columbus. I think he has a chance to chase his career high of 86 points from his first year in New York (2009-10).
Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports
Jared Boll will rack up 200 Penalty Minutes this season: Over or Under?
Over
Who doesn’t love a good hockey fight! In the lockout shortened season Boll finished with 100 PIMs. Now that Derek Dorsett is out of the picture, Boll will be the primary enforcer on the roster. That means more fights and more opportunities to rack up the penalty minutes.
The Blue Jackets will win a playoff game this year: Over or Under?
Under
I have the Blue Jackets narrowly missing the playoffs again this season, therefore I am forced to take the under on this one.
That concludes my Over / Under predictions for the 2013-14 Blue Jackets season! Check back for the other Union and Blue staff writers’ predictions over the next few weeks. Feel free to provide your predictions in the comments section below or comment on our Facebook page or Twitter!