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Columbus Blue Jackets Christmas Wishes: Return of Secondary Scoring

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) /
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All I want for Christmas: Columbus Blue Jackets edition. Please find the secondary scoring again!

The list have been made and checked twice. The Columbus Blue Jackets have been fairly nice this year and deserve a good present from Santa this Christmas. I hope that gift is the return of the once potent secondary scoring.

The Jackets early in the year had the best depth scoring in the NHL. They were at one point the league leader in players with at least 10 points, and by a wide margin.

But as the Jackets have shifted their attention to playing better defense (which is for the better), their secondary scoring has all but evaporated. Columbus is relying almost solely on Cam Atkinson, Artemi Panarin and Pierre-Luc Dubois to put the puck in the back of the net. Those three have combined for eight of the last 15 goals the Jackets have scored.

In that stretch the Jackets haven’t seen a goal from Josh Anderson, Seth Jones, Boone Jenner, Anthony Duclair or Brandon Dubinsky. These core players should be relied upon to provide a scoring punch that compliments one of the better top lines in the NHL.

Related Story. Jackets Propelled by Balanced Scoring. light

The Jackets really are hoping they wake up on Christmas day and see a big box under the tree and in it they find a couple of Seth Jones clappers from the blue line and a highly skilled goal from Duclair. There could be a few ugly bang-in goals in the crease from Boone and Dubinsky and the return of Anderson who started off the year hot.

There is hope that the secondary scoring is returning in the form of Oliver Bjorkstrand. He is playing better on the third line and scored in the Jackets final game before the Christmas break. The Jackets are hoping that this was a little preview of their Christmas gift of secondary scoring that they need to return as they play a tough Toronto squad right out of the break that will beat the Jackets if only the top line is producing goals.

Happy Holidays to all out there in the Columbus Blue Jackets universe and thank for reading this year. No matter what you are celebrating we hope you are enjoying this time of year no matter where you are.

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