2013-14 Columbus Blue Jackets Season Predictions: Over Or Under Cont…
As part of our ongoing preview of the 2013-14 NHL Season, it is time to continue the prediction series! Instead of the standard “what will happen?” format, Mike Majeski 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. Make sure to check out the first post in this series, Over Or Under – Mike Majeski, the second post Over Or Under – Mark Huss, and the third post Over or Under – Clint Linn
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Blue Jackets will finish the regular season with 90 pts: Over or Under?
Over
It may be just me, but I am feeling the magic this year. With guidance from POHOP John Davidson, GM Jarmo Kekalainen, & Head Coach Todd Richards, and hard work from the players, there is no reason why they can’t get 90 pts. There is a possibility of 40 goals for the season from Marian Gaborik and a .925 save percentage from Sergei Bobrovsky, which if achieved, will propel the Columbus Blue Jackets to the playoffs and most certainly over the 90 point mark.
Bobrovsky will win 35 games in the 2013-14 season: Over or Under?
Over
Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s do the math. 82 games a season, 17 back to back game nights. The Blue Jackets learned their lesson last season about starting Bobrovsky on back to back nights. So, 82 minus 17 is 65. 35 is a little over half of 65. If Bob keeps his numbers around .925 SA and 2.00 GAA, of course he will win more than 35 games.
Bobrovsky’s Goals Against Average (GAA), 2.00: Over or Under?
Neither
He had a 3.02 GAA with Philadelphia during his time as back up for Ilya Bryzgalov. In a matter of a year, he worked his butt off to get to a 2.00 GAA in both the KHL with SKA Saint Petersburg and the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets. I am predicting that he stays right within that range, anywhere from 1.95 to 2.05 GAA.
Marian Gaborik will finish the season with 75 points: Over or Under?
Under
I love what Marian Gaborik has been doing in the preseason for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He truly has the potential to be a 40 goal scorer. The problem is that he has a long history of injuries, any of which could be triggered with a particularly hard hit and take him out for the season. Of course I don’t want this to happen, and no one wants to predict that it is going to happen, but I am going to have to go with the under on this one.
Jared Boll will rack up 200 Penalty Minutes this season: Over or Under?
Over
Sure, why not? With Derek Dorsett gone, Boll has the enforcer role all to himself. It might be hard to make it to 200 PIM with the new helmet rules, but Boll knows his place on the team and I’m sure he will knock some heads around this season.
Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
The Blue Jackets will win a playoff game this year: Over or Under?
Over
I might get shot if I say under! How can I not predict a playoff win? With a powerful first line (Gaborik, Dubinsky, Jenner or Gaborik, Anisimov, Atkinson) and one heck of a goaltender between the pipes, I am predicting not only a playoff berth, but a playoff win!
I know that these are only predictions, and I am sure I am wrong on at least one. There are more predictions to come so stay tuned, and give us your opinions & your predictions for the Columbus Blue Jackets 2013-2014 season. I look forward to looking back and seeing who predicted what.