The Blue Jackets are finally back in action tonight, after what seems like an eternity. It's been six days since their last game, as the team oddly has their second longest break of the season after playing just twice.
Tonight, they will host the Pittsburgh Penguins, a team that already has 4 games under their belt. We all know how these games typically go, but the Jackets should be well rested and motivated by the return of defenseman Damon Severson.
All indications point to Damon Severson making his season debut Friday vs. Pittsburgh. Completed full practice today. #CBJ
— Mark Scheig (@mark_scheig) October 8, 2026
Severson has been out since March 26th, when he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. The sluggish start to the schedule was fortuitous in that regard, allowing the team to have only 2 games before he was fully healed and ready to go.
That light schedule became more important when the team lost two more defensemen (Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro). Tonight, Sevo makes his first appearance of the season in the team's first Metropolitan Division matchup, where points are going to be absolutely critical. Here are three things we're watching for.
Do they come out sloppy again?
In the first two games of the season, the Blue Jackets looked disjointed. Passes were missing, guys were trying to do too much; and it was obviously becoming an issue by the end of that Utah game.
With 5 full days off, this team had what essentially became a second training camp. That's a luxury that no other team in this league gets. The coaching staff had plenty of time to correct these issues and dial this team back in.
After such a long break, I expect them to come out with a ton of energy tonight. The key is concentrating that energy on the right things. If they focus and play within their system, everyone pulling in the same direction; this should be a fun game to watch. If not? Well, let's just say, that other team will burn you.
Shift the momentum.
This is the biggest difference I noticed in the first two games. Against Buffalo on opening night, this team scored relatively easily. They carried momentum for a lot of that game, but when it started to shift the other way; Mathieu Olivier made something happen.
Yes, I get it, it was undisciplined. It led to a full 2 minute 5 on 3 (I believe that was a garbage call, but I digress). However, look at what happened after that moment. The Sabres had been clawing back into the game, but the Jackets found their legs again and were able to put them away.
That wasn't the case two nights later. Utah carried the momentum throughout most of that game, and the Jackets were never really in it. This is the biggest step this team needs to take this year: find that identity.
This team is built to be tough and physical. When things aren't going their way, they need to use those traits to shift the momentum. Especially in these Metro matchups. And even more especially against these Penguins.
Get the puck outta here.
The Jackets struggled to get out of their own end in each of the first two games. Severson returning tonight should help out quite a bit. They will get 20ish minutes out of him, as opposed to 8 minutes of Jake Christiansen.
This shifts everyone other than Zach Werenski down one spot in the lineup, and should make getting out of their own end quite a bit easier. They have to take some of the pressure off of their goaltender, especially when #87 is on the ice (he's still really good).
I'm looking forward to this one, and not just because it's been a long week without hockey. The Blue Jackets have a lot to prove to us, and they have no excuse not to come out swinging tonight. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 from Nationwide. Let's go Jackets!
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