The Columbus Blue Jackets had a fine week four going 2-1-0. They need to get the offense rolling in week five to continue racking up points.
The Columbus Blue Jackets accomplished one and a half of their three items on their to-do list last week. The certainly took care of home ice, taking home four points in their two games.
While the Buffalo game was a 5-1 dominate win, the Winnipeg game needed to be eeked out. The Jackets scored a third period goal to force overtime where Josh Anderson put the game away. But four points is four points.
The power play still didn’t get to where it needs to be but the Jackets did score on the power play. Oliver Bjorkstrand scored a power play goal to open up the rout of Buffalo. The Jackets then decided to revert to their inefficient ways and went 0-7 for the remainder of the week.
Related Story: Week 4 To-Do List
No one has the answer to the power play woes. It’s a bad unit and should be one of the league’s best with the talent on this team. It has to get better in order for the Jackets to start pulling away from the rest of the division.
Finally the top line didn’t find any chemistry so Torts blew up the lines. There has been so much that has changed up with the lines its dizzying to try and keep up with. Things are even more chaotic with Cam Atkinson injured. So that objective obviously wasn’t completed.
#1: FIGURE OUT THE POWER PLAY
I don’t know how many more times I can write this. The lack of movement and shots on the power play is infuriating. The solution is simple. Start pumping more pucks on net and let chaos ensue. The Jackets have enough great skaters out on the ice that they should be converting at a much higher rate.
30th in the NHL in the man advantage is not acceptable. Time to get this thing rolling this week. Two power play goals or bust.
#2: Show some chops on the road
The Columbus Blue Jackets will go on their second road trip of the year at the end of the week. They head to Florida to face two of the highest scoring teams in the league in Florida and Tampa Bay.
Although the Jackets took a trip to Minnesota and Winnipeg already, I feel this will be their first true road test. That trip was only four games into the season. The team was still relatively fresh. Now, 12 games into the season, the legs of this team will be tested. Florida and Tampa get up and down the ice very well and the Jackets will be tested.
They follow up that game with a trip to the Big Apple to start week six. Two points this weekend would be good to see.
Only two items on the list this week because of the importance of number one. The Jackets will figure out their line situation or continually rotate them. It doesn’t seem to matter thus far. Getting the power play rolling though does matter. Get it going Jackets.