Columbus Blue Jackets February 2019 Schedule Breakdown
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.
Week One Prediction: 1-1-2
Week Two: February 11th-17th
After a three game road trip, the Jackets are rewarded with a home game against their division rivals, the Washington Capitals. The Capitals have a peculiar schedule at the end of January and through February.
The game in Columbus will be the start of a massive six game road trip for the Caps. The road trip comes after six straight games at home. Odd to have that amount of time at home followed up by the same amount on the road.
The Jackets stay in central Ohio for a few nights as they host the Islanders on Thursday the 14th. No matter how much she says she loves hockey guys, just take her out to dinner on Valentines Day and avoid this boring game.
The week finishes up with a short trip to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks. At this point in the season the Hawks will be fighting desperately to stay relevant in the wild card discussion. This could turn out to be a difficult game for the Jackets on Saturday night.
Week Two Predictions: 1-1-1
Week Three: February 18th-24th
The Columbus Blue Jackets will open the week with a rare Monday home game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Even more rare, the game will be followed the next night with a road game in Montreal.
A back-to-back on a Monday-Tuesday might catch the team a little off guard but unless Carey Price is a stonewall, the Jackets should get some points out of these two games.
Another screwball schedule wise is thrown at the Jackets as their next game will be at Ottawa, just a three hour drive up the road from Montreal. But the game isn’t until Friday night. The Jackets will likely say in Canada and not mess with customs and the two additional flights to and from Columbus.
The middle of February isn’t a great time to be in Canada but the Jackets will make due and take care of the Senators. The need those points because they then fly back to Columbus for a Saturday night game against the Western Conference favorites, the San Jose Sharks.
Nationwide Arena will be rocking for this huge game that pits the two best defensive corps in the NHL.
Just from an aesthetic view this is an interesting looking week on the schedule. Bookending the four games are two home matchups against a possible Stanley Cup preview. Sandwiched in-between are the two worst teams in the East.
Week Three Predictions: 2-1-1
Week Four: February 25th-28th
The month closes out with two very important home games against divisional opponents that will be completely overshadowed by the trade deadline. The last week in February could see the Jackets sending off both Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, or they could add a key piece to make a run for a Stanley Cup.
The team will still have to lace ’em up for two huge games at home that will go a long way toward determining where the Jackets finish in the Metro standings.
On Tuesday February 26th, the Jackets will host the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first time all season. That could be a somber night as the team could trade both Russian superstars just hours before puck drop.
Two nights later the Jackets host the Philadelphia Flyers. Another big metro matchup that is tough to predict because of movement that could happen by the front office. Not a great two teams to have to play in a week that holds so much uncertainty.
I don’t like the way the schedule lays out for the Jackets on the back end of this month.
Week Four Prediction: 0-1-1
The month is tough for the CBJ from with the travel, quality of opponents, and the trade deadline looming over this squad. I have the team going 4-4-5 this month.
Next. 5 Reasons to be Excited for 18-19. dark
It wouldn’t be the end of the world but it would likely put them in third or fourth in the division. Much like last year, the Jackets will be looking for a big March to secure a playoff spot in 2019.
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