Keys To Victory: Must-Win Time For The Jackets

This season has not started off the way any of us expected. Sure, we can cite the injury plague for hindering our start, but if the Jackets expect to make the playoffs this year, it’s time to buckle down and get grinding. The Jackets are 6-11-1 and sit at the bottom of the Metro.  The bright spot in this is that there is only an 8 point spread between them and the Washington Capitals who occupy third place. The playoffs are still a very real possibility, but the Jackets MUST get at least a point in their next few games in order to put themselves in a good position by December into January. The schedule doesn’t get any easier either. Here are some keys to the games coming up for your Columbus Blue Jackets

Keys To Victory

• Boston Bruins – The Bruins come to town in what should be a heated Eastern Conference match-up.  The Bruins are 12-8-0 and are in 4th place in the Atlantic. They had a slow start much like the Jackets but have rebounded in the last 2 weeks as they are 7-3 in their last 10 games. The Key to Victory for the CBJ tonight is getting off to a fast start and riding momentum out for the entirety of the game. The Jackets have had some 3rd period woes so far this year, so if the CBJ can attack the injured defensive core of the Bruins which is missing Zdeno Chara and Adam McQuaid among others, the CBJ should be able to sustain a lead and ride off to a victory.

• Philadelphia Flyers – As Elton John would say “Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting”, which is what we should expect when the Jackets travel to the Wells Fargo Center to take on the Flyers. The last meeting between these two teams came on November 14th in which the Jackets snapped their strenuous losing streak with a 4-3 victory in Philly. The Key to Victory in this one is alot like what the Jackets did on the 14th. Eliminate the passionate home town crowd early in the game, grind it out, and don’t look back. Nothing comes easy in the Metro, especially in Philadelphia, so if the Jackets can get to Mason (Maaaaasssonnnnnn) it should be a victory.

• Winnipeg Jets – On Tuesday the Jets fly into Nationwide Arena. The Jets are 10-8-3 and are in 4th in the Central Division. Much improved from last season, Winnipeg is struggling as they are 29th in the NHL in Goals For  but are surviving with contributions from leading scorer Blake Wheeler. The Jets offense needs to be neutralized with a very physical game from the Jackets. I fully expect to see the Jackets to sit back and check Winnipeg as they try to enter the zone and capitalize on chances from the counter attack. The Jets are 4th in the NHL in Goals Against, so chances are going to be few and far between, so capitilazation is a MUST for the CBJ in this one.