The coldest month of the season throws several tough scheduling problems at the Columbus Blue Jackets.
On-ice games will be the last thing the national media pays attention to in February when it comes to the Columbus Blue Jackets. With the trade deadline coming on the 26th, all eyes will be on whether or Jarmo goes all in, or trades away Artemi Panarin and/or Sergei Bobrovsky.
But the month holds some big challenges for the Columbus Blue Jackets including a tough road trip out west. The shortest month of sees the CBJ playing 13 games in 26 days starting with a home game against the new look St. Louis Blues.
The Blues added Ryan O’Reilly, Tyler Bozak, Patrick Maroon as well as an arsenal of top young prospects that could make an impact. This team will be a playoff squad and could make a deep run. It all comes back to how Jake Allen does in net for them.
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After the home game, the team will hit the road for a three game road trip against three squads that could all make the playoffs.
The Jackets start with a game in Colorado against the Avalanche. For my money, Nathan MacKinnon was the best player in the league last year. The top line of the Avs could be the best in the entire NHL. This will be a tough game followed up by a flight to the desert to take on the Arizona Coyotes.
To round out the three game road trip and the first week in February, the Jackets will play a Saturday night game against the defending Western Conference Champions. The Jackets were demolished in Vegas last year 6-3 and Torts had some interesting comments on how to handle playing in Sin City. We’ll see if the team handles the trip any differently this season.