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Columbus Blue Jackets To-Do List for Week Three

By Lansing Murphy

ST. PAUL, MN - OCTOBER 14: The Columbus Blue Jackets celebrate after right wing Josh Anderson (77) (L) scored in the 3rd period to tie the game at 4-4 during the regular season game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild on October 14, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Blue Jackets defeated the Wild 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - OCTOBER 14: The Columbus Blue Jackets celebrate after right wing Josh Anderson (77) (L) scored in the 3rd period to tie the game at 4-4 during the regular season game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild on October 14, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Blue Jackets defeated the Wild 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Let’s take a look at the “To-Do List” for the Columbus Blue Jackets as they head into week three of the season.

The Columbus Blue Jackets enter the third week of the NHL season right where they would like to be. They are 4-1-0 and leading the Metro Division. They have navigated two back-to-backs and are undefeated against their division rivals.

Week two also saw the Jackets go undefeated and rack up six points. It’s going to be tough for this week to go better than last. But there are a few things the Jackets need to accomplish this week.

Score on the Power Play

Should be easy right? The Columbus Blue Jackets have Artemi Panarin, Zach Werenski and Alexander Wennberg. All are studs on the man advantage.

But the Jackets have not scored on the power play since the first game of the season. They have one goal in 13 tries. That is unacceptable and cannot continue this week.

Related Story: CBJ Power Play Problems

The Jackets will meet the worst penalty killing team in their first game this week. Winnipeg has allowed six goals on 21 shorthanded situations. An opponent with a 70% kill rate is prime for this team to get off the schneid.

The week ends against the Los Angeles Kings though. The Kings have the second-best PK in the NHL thus far, allowing only one power play goal in 18 tries. The Jackets must score on the power play this week.

Integrate Nutivarra Back into the D-Corps

Gabriel Carlsson was placed on injured reserve following the Minnesota game. He will miss at least five days.

Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets /

Columbus Blue Jackets

That gives Markus Nutivarra a chance up with the NHL club to earn his spot back as he is called up from Cleveland. Nutivarra will compete with Scott Harrington to fill Carlsson’s spot with Ryan Murray on the third line.

I don’t think Harrington is the answer for the Jackets for their defensive depth. Although his contract is better than Harrington’s, Nutivarra is much better for the long-term success of this Jackets team.

Seeing Nutivarra mesh well with Murray, or any other defenseman he could be paired with, is a big step the Jackets need to take.

Four Points

Finally the Jackets need to get four points this week. Three matchups against average to above-average teams spread out over the week give the Jackets some good chances. Winnipeg Jets in Manitoba on Tuesday, and home to host Tampa Bay and Los Angeles on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

Bobrovsky will likely only start two of the games this week after playing in the back-to-back last weekend. Joonas Korpisalo will need to play better than his season debut against Chicago.

Next: CBJ Atop Metro Division

Four points is certainly doable and should be on the CBJ to-do list.

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