The second half of the season begins tonight with game #42 as the New York Rangers invade Nationwide! To get yourself fully ready for the contest, you can check out our full preview here.
Alright, now that that’s out-of-the-way, it seems there are just as many, if not more questions surrounding the Columbus Blue Jackets at the halfway point of the season than there were when the year began. We still really have no idea what the identity of this team is. They certainly appear to be out of a playoff race, but we’ve seen that they can put it together for a good stretch run. Who knew guys like Scott Hartnell and Kevin Connauton would become the contributors they are, while guys like Jack Johnson and Ryan Johansen have shown signs of struggle throughout the year. (And yes, I am aware Joey has had two point streaks of at least 10 games.)
While it hasn’t been the successful, league-tearing first half we all half expected it to be, it certainly could be worse. Oh yes. It could be much worse.
So, whats in store for the second half? Well, obviously, we wont know until it, you know, happens, but I’ve taken it upon myself to look into the crystal ball and predict five things Blue Jackets fans can look forward to over the coming 41 games.
You’re welcome.
- The injury woes are over.
Well, kind off. Gone will be the days of extended stints on the IR, and coming back will be the likes of Artem Anisimov, Boone Jenner and hopefully Ryan Murray, while not losing anyone for more than a week or two. You have to admit – for what this team had to work with and piece together on the fly, two games under .500 at the halfway point isn’t half bad. - Todd Richards will surprise us all and leave the “C” on Nick Foligno’s jersey after the All Star Game.
You and I know the dude has earned it. With Johansen too young to carry the position and Foligno signing his long-term deal, 71 is the ideal fit for the captaincy. When the Blue Jackets need a spark – be it from the forecheck, picking up the pace or even a key goal, Foligno is there and the bond he shares with Sergei Bobrovsky, the clear backbone of this team, is one only a captain should and can have. It makes all the sense in the world. Make it happen, HCTR. - Bob will continue his great play and will once again be named a Vezina trophy finalist. But wont win.
But, that’s okay. We’ve said it time and time again on this very site that Bob is the backbone of this club, and his first full month of action in December certainly proved it. But, unfortunately, guys like Pekka Rinne, Carey Price and Ben Bishop are having either incredible comeback years, a second great year in a row, have brought their team back from despair after last season, or all three. Bob is good, but this year, he isn’t great. But he’s still #1 in our hearts, so that’s all that matters. - The Blue Jackets will continue to be picky with their shot selection. And it’ll show in their results.
I’m not saying the Blue Jackets aren’t going to score, or have any sort of lack of success at all, but being as picky as they are in shot selection isn’t something that’s going to magically change over night. The huge disparity in shots between the Jackets and their opponents is going to be what defines 2014/15, and we’ll all look back on it and cry. Or want to throw something. Or, maybe even both! - When it’s all said and done, the Blue Jackets will miss out on the playoffs.
It pains me to say it. It really, truly does. But, frankly, I don’t see it in the cards. And, unfortunately, I think the first signs of a no-playoff appearance came at the end of December, in which the Blue Jackets tore up their schedule, only to gain a total of one point in the standings. The slow start simply will prove to be too much to overcome (its like 2013 all over again), and the Jackets will fall short, giving us a longer off-season. Boo.
While I’d be happy to eat crow on all of these (except number one. It’d be nice to have a healthy second half), I’m afraid I know this team too well, and with the way the rest of the league and division is playing, it doesn’t seem likely that any of these would be off too much come game #82.
Do you have any predictions for the upcoming second half? Let us know in a comment below or on twitter @UnionandBlue.