After falling last night 4-1 to the Los Angeles Kings, the Columbus Blue Jackets have run into a huge Goals-Against Average problem.
Through 13 games the Columbus Blue Jackets currently sit with a record of 7-6-0 which is good enough for 3rd in Metropolitan Division just above .500%. Trailing the Pittsburgh Penguins by just one point, the Penguins ability to push games into overtime is the difference. The New York Islanders lead the division with 17 points, but also lead in a category the Jackets have struggled in this season.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have given up 48 goals this season as compared to the New York Islanders’ 30.
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Quick fun fact: The Columbus Blue Jackets have given up 2+ goals in every single game they’ve played this season besides one. This game being the San Jose Sharks game this past Thursday.
Quick fun-fun fact: The Blue Jackets have given up 3+ goals in every game besides three. The previously mentioned Sharks game, the first game of the season vs. Detroit, and Colorado in early October. This means in 10 out of 13 games, the Jackets have been atrocious at keeping the puck out of their own net.
This also comes back to goaltending. Sergei Bobrovsky in 9 games played has only won 3 of them and lost the other 6. He has a 3.33 Goals-Against Average and Save Percentage of .895. Both of these totals are good for worst of Bobrovsky’s NHL career.
Joonas Korpisalo has played and started in 5 appearances this season, winning 4 of them, and gaining a no decision on the last one against the Red Wings. Korpisalo has a Goals-Against Average of 3.98 and a Save Percentage of .881%. Worse statistics than Bobrovsky’s totals, but Korpisalo’s starts have come with results in the win column.
Either way you look at it, the Jackets goals against have been horrific early in the season and until that cleans up, the team will hover around the 3 seed, as New York and Pittsburgh have been astronomically better with their goaltending security.