How bad are the injuries for the Columbus Blue Jackets?
The Blue Jackets played in Arizona last night missing 8 NHL regulars from their lineup. Which had me wondering: would all of these guys really be out if this team were competing for a playoff spot?
By Curtis Deem
The Jackets fought the good fight in Arizona last night. They held the lead over the Coyotes after 20 minutes. They scrapped back into the game, tying it up late in the second after surrendering two straight.
But the Coyotes proved to just be too much for the plucky Jackets, rattling off four unanswered goals in the third period (two shorthanded), en route to a 6-2 win.
It's the fifth consecutive loss for the Blue Jackets, a stretch where they've been outscored 28-13. It's hard not to notice the fact that this team is completely out-matched by every opponent they come up against.
Part of that is due to the fact that nearly half of the current CBJ roster is filled up with AHL players. With the Jackets well out of any meaningful race, audition season is in full effect.
Several players are vying for ice time, hoping to steal some attention and make a mark for themselves as future NHL players.
While I expected a few late season call-ups, I was left wondering last night: would all 8 players really be injured enough to miss significant time, if this team were in a playoff race?