Columbus Blue Jackets November 2018 Schedule Outlook

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 19: Chandler Stephenson #18 of the Washington Capitals skates the puck away from Ryan Murray #27 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 19, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 19: Chandler Stephenson #18 of the Washington Capitals skates the puck away from Ryan Murray #27 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 19, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Columbus Blue Jackets
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 1: Alexander Wennberg #10 of the Columbus Blue Jackets battles for the puck against Nate Thompson #44 of the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on March 1, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)

After an easy month in October, the Columbus Blue Jackets schedule ramps up in November.

The 2018 season schedule for the Columbus Blue Jackets opens with an easy month of games in October. The Jackets should be in first place in the Metropolitan Division after their 11 games in the opening month.

November though is a beast. It might be the most challenging month on the schedule. The Jackets play 14 games in November including nine on the road and eight against playoff teams from a year ago.

The first week starts in California as the Jackets embark on their annual swing through the Golden State. On November 1st the Jackets will play against the San Jose Sharks who seem to be the best team in the league on paper after the acquisition of all-world defenseman Erik Karlsson.

Two nights later, the Jackets will play the Los Angeles Kings in the city of fallen angels. Jackets fans will get their first chance to see Ilya Kovalchuk in the NHL since 2013 when he played his final year with the Devils.

The next night, the Jackets will play in Orange County against the Ducks. This is the first of three back-to-backs the Jackets have in November.

Although three games in four nights is never fun and the Sharks look unbeatable on paper, the trip to California isn’t as daunting as it has been in recent seasons. Both the Kings and Ducks continue to get older and slower. Plus the trip happens fairly early in the season. The Jackets should have plenty in the tank to get through the tough travel and playing schedule.

Week Prediction: 1-1-1