Union and Blue
Fansided

Columbus Blue Jackets Minding the Metro: Jackets on Top

By Lansing Murphy

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 09: Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Anthony Duclair (91) is congratulated by defenseman Zach Werenski (8), right wing Josh Anderson (77) after scoring the game wining goal in the third period against the Washington Capitals on November 9, 2018, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 09: Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Anthony Duclair (91) is congratulated by defenseman Zach Werenski (8), right wing Josh Anderson (77) after scoring the game wining goal in the third period against the Washington Capitals on November 9, 2018, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

For the first time this season, the Columbus Blue Jackets are on top of the Metro Division.

Riding a four game point streak, the Columbus Blue Jackets have ascended to the top spot in the Metropolitan Division for the first time all year. After a week where the Jackets earned five points in three games, the CBJ now have 20 points in 17 games.

The week included a huge road win at Washington in regulation that ended up being the points that vaulted the Jackets to the top of the division. By getting the job done in regulation, the Jackets ensured a four point swing in their favor over the Stanley Cup Champions.

While the Jackets do sit atop the Metro, the standings are tight as usual. The top seven teams are separated by only three points. The seventh place team, the Carolina Hurricanes, sit at 7-7-3 and just a few days ago were in a playoff position so plenty can change in a short amount of time.

The second place Philadelphia Flyers are riding high and find themselves just a point out of first after ripping off three straight wins. They have points in six straight games.

In third is the flailing New York Islanders. After an out of nowhere hot start, the Islanders have lost three straight games. The hot and cold Islanders are on a down turn after winning five straight, all against Metro opponents. While the Columbus Blue Jackets have been characterized as Jekyll and Hyde by their captain Nick Foligno, they are no where close to the Islanders in terms of inconsistency.

While the Meto is tight, it isn’t an elite division like it was last year. The Atlantic Division occupies both of the East Wild Card slots so far. All but two teams in the Metro have a negative goal differential.

The Division’s top team is only in 12th in the entire league. Sure, it’s still fairly early but the Metro looks like it might end up as the weakest division in the NHL.

Ryan Murray Best Season Yet?. dark. Next

The Columbus Blue Jackets have one division game this week. That will come on Saturday when the CBJ travel to Carolina to face the seventh place Hurricanes.

Home/Blue Jackets News