Opponents are racking up too many shots
Although the Blue Jackets haven't allowed a crazy amount of goals against, with an average of just over 3 per game, they are ranked 19th in the league in that category, and it needs to get better if we want to feel good about Columbus' playoff chances this year.
It has been clear so far that goaltending is not the issue, so what exactly is causing this subpar defense? The answer is that the Blue Jackets are giving up way too many shots to opponents.
Columbus is dead last in the NHL in shots against, with opponents landing 33 shots on net per game. While the superb performance from the Blue Jackets' goalies have made this stat less significant, it's still a concern and something that needs to be addressed.
A possible reason on why the Blue Jackets are allowing so many shots is because of the aggressive play from defensemen, but that approach has been paying dividends in the offensive zone, so that's not what needs to change.
The main issue is that Columbus defensemen haven't been nearly aggressive or confident enough in the defensive zone so far. In the ten combined games they have played, Erik Gudbranson and Jake Christiansen have only four total blocked shots.
Whether it's due to a lack of confidence and aggression or something deeper, the Blue Jackets need to limit scoring chances by opponents in November to keep themselves in the win column.
It could also be the fact that Columbus has faced some high-powered offenses in the month of October, as allowing 52 shots to Minnesota or 36 from Colorado and Toronto doesn't help the average.
The Blue Jackets have solidified their lines
One of the most important parts of hockey is team chemistry. Whether it's coordinating a play off of a faceoff, maintaining good positioning and awareness on defense, or making plays to open teammates, it's very important for players to work well with their line-mates.
After shuffling the forward lines, and even making a dramatic move on defense by switching Dante Fabbro and Denton Mateychuk, Dean Evason has found the best lineup that this team has, and it's working wonders right now.
In what should be Mateychuk's first full season in Columbus, he has looked like a veteran on the first line with Zach Werenski while playing against the league's best scorers, playing sound defensive hockey while playing well offensively and in transition.
Additionally, Yegor Chinakhov and Miles Wood have been a breath of fresh air on what is perhaps the fastest fourth line in all of hockey. The pair, alongside offseason acquisition Isac Lundestrom, have been aggressive, physical, and have provided a spark to the team.
Finally, the third line of Cole Sillinger, Charlie Coyle, and Mathieu Olivier had a breakout game in a dominant 6-3 win over Toronto on Wednesday, in which the line scored 4 of Columbus' goals in that game without allowing a goal against.
There's definitely some things that the Jackets need to work on if they want to cruise to a playoff spot this year, but there's also plenty to be proud of, especially now that Columbus has won three straight games.
If they can improve on the areas where they have struggled while continuing to play like a well-oiled machine, this should be an exciting November in which the Blue Jackets play 15 games.