The Blue Jackets will return to action tonight at Nationwide Arena, ending an extended holiday break. They've had the last 5 days off, which should have them refreshed as they host the New York Islanders.
The Jackets had one of the longer holiday breaks in the entire NHL, which couldn't have come at a better time. They entered the break with a win, beating the LA Kings 3-1 on Monday night.
They'll face a team that has already gotten back into the grind, and with a shutout victory no less.
The Opponent
The Islanders are one of the NHL's most pleasant surprises this season. Through 38 games, they are 21-13-4 (46 points), sitting second in the Metropolitan Division.
They hit the lottery over the summer and won the right to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer first overall. He's been even better than expected, already looking the part of a superstar with 9 goals and 24 points on the season. Reminder: he only just turned 18 less than four months ago.
He's breathed new life into an organization that was starting to stagnate. Up front, Bo Horvat (19-12-31) leads the team in scoring, with Mat Barzal (10-19-29) and Anders Lee (10-15-25) rounding out the top-3.
This isn't a team that is built to win track meet games, however. The Isles are the 5th-best team in the NHL defensively, allowing just 2.63 goals against per game.
They are missing 6 regulars from the lineup, including both of their NHL goaltenders. But, this is a well coached team that plays with structure and physicality; which allows them to continue to win low event hockey games.
They shut out the New York Rangers just last night, with David Rittich stopping all 27 shots he faced. With their main starter currently on IR, he's gotten the nod in three straight-winning the last two while allowing just one goal.
It will be interesting to see what they do against the Jackets tonight, with this one starting just 22 hours after their game last night started. Sounds like they may turn back to the big man:
#Isles battle #CBJ at 5 PM ET today. Roy will speak later this afternoon.
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) December 28, 2025
Expecting Rittich back between the pipes.
We'll see if Roy gets Duclair back in the lineup after he served as a healtyh scratch vs. #NYR, a 2-0 shutout win.
The Good Guys
The Jackets will get a big emotional boost tonight, with Mathieu Olivier returning after missing the last 13 games. Unfortunately, his return comes at the expense of Zach Werenski, who hits the injured reserve but is still listed as day to day.
Coming out of the lineup is center Isac Lundestrom, who was injured yesterday at practice. Still, the Jackets look like a much more difficult opponent on paper. Mathieu's return really helps balance out the forward lines:
tell a friend to tell a friend – OLLIE'S BACK 🤩 pic.twitter.com/1550kw2gHw
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) December 28, 2025
In goal, Jet Greaves will get the start after the week of rest. The Jackets will need him to be on the ball early, as they try to find their post-break legs.
Three Keys to Success
1. Find the legs. As mentioned, coming off of the break can be tough. The Islanders have the advantage of playing last night, so look for them to start strong. A couple of early saves will probably be required tonight.
2. Score first. We have seen it so many times over the last few years: if the Islanders get ahead of you, it's really hard to come back. They love low event hockey, and when they can dial the tone down with a lead, that's their brand of hockey. The Jackets will have a better chance playing from ahead.
3. Win the third period. For the first time in as long as I can remember, the Blue Jackets won the third period in their last game. Can they do it twice in a row?
This will be a tough challenge for the Jackets. They need these two points desperately, and they won't come easily against this team. Whatever it takes, find a way to get the job done tonight.
Let's hope they can win two games in a row for the first time in almost a month. Puck drop is scheduled for shortly after 5:00 Eastern. Let's go Jackets.