Three Reasons Why the Columbus Blue Jackets Are Playing Better
Don’t look now folks, the Blue Jackets are red hot. Well, red hot in the sense that they’ve gotten points in four of their last five games, including three wins. Today we’re looking at three reasons why the team is having more success since the All-Star break.
It’s not just a weak stretch of the schedule that the Jackets are having some success in right now either – since returning from the All-Star break, they hold a 3-2-1 record in games against Toronto (twice), New Jersey, Winnipeg, Dallas; and a streaking Arizona team that hasn’t lost in regulation in nine games.
In their first game since the break, they lost to Toronto at Nationwide Arena; but came back the very next night and beat the Leafs in their own barn. Next up came a tough matchup against a New Jersey team that picked the Jackets apart, winning their only other meeting this season by a 7-1 margin. But the Jackets played one of their best games of the season and looked destined for overtime, before a Devils goal with under 2 seconds remaining stole the win.
They followed up that heartbreaking loss by beating two of the best teams in the Western Conference – first, Joonas Korpisalo stole a win over the Jets; then he did it again two nights later in Dallas. Last night in Arizona, playing the second half of a back-to-back, the team went down 2-0 early before rallying back and forcing overtime.
Though they went on to lose last night’s game, it’s a positive result for a team that hasn’t had many this season. So this morning, we’re taking a look at three reasons why the Blue Jackets are playing so much better.
Goaltending …
Right away, the biggest change I’ve seen in this team lately: the goalies are playing a lot better. On the season, Elvis Merzlikins, Joonas Korpisalo, and Daniil Tarasov have combined for a team save percentage of 89.7%. But over the last six games, they’re stopping pucks at a 91.6% rate. Korpisalo has been stellar in that time, but Merzlikins has held his own as well.
While two percentage points doesn’t seem like all that much, factoring in another 1-2 goals over this stretch probably means they lose at least one more of these games – and with as young and fragile as this lineup has been all year, we can only imagine how much it might have snowballed at any point. Especially against stronger competition.
Part of this has been the team playing stingier defense. Blocking more shots, being more physical and taking away time and space. For the season, they average 34.6 shots against per game – but over the last six games, it’s less than 28 shots for the opposition. Baby steps here, but they are showing improvement.
The lines have been established …
We all love to complain when the player we’re pulling for doesn’t get the ice time we think they deserve. Or when the lines are shuffled in general, as has been the case for most of this season. But lately, Brad Larsen has stuck with his guns a little bit, which has allowed the team to develop some chemistry throughout the lineup.
Boone Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau have been two thirds of the top line for basically the whole season when healthy. But it seems like over the last few weeks, Kirill Marchenko has established himself as the third member of that line. He’s brought the talent, but also some youthful energy and I feel like there’s real chemistry with that trio.
But even with Gaudreau’s absence in the last two games, Patrik Laine has done a terrific job setting the example on that line. He’s been skating harder than I’ve ever seen him skate on both sides of the puck, and he’s getting rewarded with top line ice time. Otherwise, he’s been playing in a secondary role alongside two 19-year-olds: Kent Johnson and Cole Sillinger. This has been an odd, but effective trio since they’ve been put together, which has given the team some secondary scoring.
These combinations have assembled Jack Roslovic, Liam Foudy, and Emil Bemstrom into a third line of sorts, which has also had some strong shifts for the team. The two wingers here play simple, up and down hockey, which has allowed Roslovic to free-wheel with the puck a little bit, which seems to get his game going in a positive direction.
The only line that has stayed consistent is the Eric Robinson, Sean Kuraly, and Mathieu Olivier fourth line. They’ve been the team’s best line in at least a couple of recent games, and in my opinion have quietly developed into one of the best fourth lines in the league.
Improvement in the young players has helped make things easier for Lars when rolling his lines out. Quietly, players like Sillinger and Johnson have made improvements to their overall games, which has led to less odd-man rushes against, and more sustained offensive zone time. When your skilled youngsters are starting to show out and earn more minutes, the team will have more success overall.
Nothing Silly about this hit 🙅 pic.twitter.com/fJpGCMezEX
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 19, 2023
Not to be overlooked are the veterans, who have done an excellent job leading the way. We mentioned Laine’s improved effort, but we can’t overlook the fact that Boone Jenner has a team-best 17 goals; or that the Kuraly line has been pretty dominant as a trio. Everyone up front has established and understood their role of late, which is a big part of team sports.
The defense as a whole has been better …
Still really thin on the back-end, the Jackets have seen improvement basically across the board here. Part of this is because guys aren’t trying to do too much with the puck, which has led to turnovers and odd-man chances against all season.
Erik Gudbranson has finally stepped up and started eating up minutes in his own way – blocking shots and keeping opposing players honest in front of the net. Nick Blankenburg, Andrew Peeke, and Tim Berni have become minute-munchers as well, while Gavin Bayreuther has been steady in a depth role.
The defense has improved overall with Vladislav Gavrikov being held out awaiting a trade. Everyone seems to have slotted into a comfortable role, and they understand the assignment: just play simple hockey. But, one player has really stood out here of late, and his play has probably helped other guys settle in: Adam Boqvist.
A key part of the Seth Jones trade, Boqvist finally looks to be spreading his wings and showing the skill that saw him taken 8th overall at the draft. Injuries have slowed his development and forced us to remain patient with his game. At one point, he even found himself a healthy scratch on a defense corps that was missing two top-six mainstays.
ADAM BOQVIST 🔥 pic.twitter.com/9jrSZKoUrF
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 19, 2023
But after being held scoreless through his first six games of the season, Boqvist has quietly been dynamic for this team. He has 2 goals and 15 points in his last 19 games, and is currently riding a four game point streak (2g, 3a).
He’s helped improve the struggling power-play, giving the team a legitimate quarterback that they’ve been so desperately seeking since Zach Werenski went down early in the season. And, to all of our surprise, he’s actually been pretty good defensively. Boqvist seems to be establishing his game, which is really encouraging for this team’s long-term potential. And, his play is helping the team win games now.
This is the kind of development we have to look for out of the younger players on this team. We’ve talked all season long about the team having a late stretch of success, lessening their odds of drafting first overall; and that’s exactly what we’re witnessing here. But, I would argue that having a competitive environment for any high draft pick they land this summer, is also a very important thing for this club in the long run.
Next. Kent Johnson Finding His Way. dark