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This is where “games in hand” come in handy.
The Blue Jackets’ 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre loosened their grip on the Eastern Conference’s second wild card, but it’s still a tightly packed five-team race and they’ve got 10 games remaining.
That’s the same number as the Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders, two more than what the New York Rangers (35-32-7) have left and one more than the Detroit Red Wings — the four teams battling with the Blue Jackets for the East’s final playoff ticket. All five teams are separated by three points from top-to-bottom, which means the Blue Jackets can still control their own destiny.
Here are three takeaways from their stumble in Ottawa:
After adding three points on a goal and two assists in the Blue Jackets’ resilient 7-6 shootout win over the Vancouver Canucks, defenseman Dante Fabbro was a late scratch Saturday. Not much information was shared on the FanDuel Sports Network television broadcast about Fabbro’s ailment or prognosis but losing him for any additional games would be a problem.
Without him, rookie Denton Mateychuk moved from the third defensive pairing to the first to play with star Zach Werenski and Jake Christiansen drew back into the lineup as Mateychuk replacement on the left side of the third pairing. Erik Gudbranson and Damon Severson also flip-flopped spots skating on the right sides of the second and third pairings in a full defensive shakeup.
Mateychuk wasn’t a problem playing “up” in the lineup, but Christiansen struggled getting back up to pace after missing six games with an undisclosed injury that happened March 13 against the Vegas Golden Knights. The other options are Jordan Harris, who missed his 16th straight game in Ottawa as a healthy scratch, and veteran Jack Johnson.
Fabbro, a right-handed shooter, give the Blue Jackets the option of pairing lefties and righties on all three pairings and he’s adapted his playing style to fit Werenski’s offensive tendencies.
There’s a reason Werenski leads all NHL skaters with an average ice time of 27:10 that’s almost two minutes longer, on average, than Colorado’s Cale Makur (25:35) – the closest to the Blue Jackets’ star defenseman.
Werenski is involved in so many facets of the games for the Blue Jackets that defensive assistant Steve McCarthy can’t help but continue sending him over the boards. After skating 29:49 in the Jackets’ shootout win Friday, Werenski logged another 29:16 against the Senators in a game that ended in regulation.
That’s almost a full game skated on back-to-back nights, which might be starting to push his upper limits. Werenski also finished with two assists and a +2 plus/minus rating while continuing his candidacy for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman.
After going 12 games without scoring a goal in his return from shoulder surgery, Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner has scored goals in four straight game. His season total is now up to five to go with 10 assists for 15 points in 16 games.
Jenner, the Blue Jackets’ captain, is trying to throw his team over his shoulders and carry the load during one of the most challenging parts of an NHL season. Jenner's ability to play around the net, one of the most punishing spots on the ice, could be a key factor in the Blue Jackets' final push toward the postseason.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at [email protected] and BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets stumble in Ottawa: 3 takeaways
Continue reading...
The Blue Jackets’ 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre loosened their grip on the Eastern Conference’s second wild card, but it’s still a tightly packed five-team race and they’ve got 10 games remaining.
That’s the same number as the Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders, two more than what the New York Rangers (35-32-7) have left and one more than the Detroit Red Wings — the four teams battling with the Blue Jackets for the East’s final playoff ticket. All five teams are separated by three points from top-to-bottom, which means the Blue Jackets can still control their own destiny.
Here are three takeaways from their stumble in Ottawa:
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Columbus Blue Jackets miss defenseman Dante Fabbro
After adding three points on a goal and two assists in the Blue Jackets’ resilient 7-6 shootout win over the Vancouver Canucks, defenseman Dante Fabbro was a late scratch Saturday. Not much information was shared on the FanDuel Sports Network television broadcast about Fabbro’s ailment or prognosis but losing him for any additional games would be a problem.
Without him, rookie Denton Mateychuk moved from the third defensive pairing to the first to play with star Zach Werenski and Jake Christiansen drew back into the lineup as Mateychuk replacement on the left side of the third pairing. Erik Gudbranson and Damon Severson also flip-flopped spots skating on the right sides of the second and third pairings in a full defensive shakeup.
Mateychuk wasn’t a problem playing “up” in the lineup, but Christiansen struggled getting back up to pace after missing six games with an undisclosed injury that happened March 13 against the Vegas Golden Knights. The other options are Jordan Harris, who missed his 16th straight game in Ottawa as a healthy scratch, and veteran Jack Johnson.
Fabbro, a right-handed shooter, give the Blue Jackets the option of pairing lefties and righties on all three pairings and he’s adapted his playing style to fit Werenski’s offensive tendencies.
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Zach Werenski soaking up ice time for Columbus Blue Jackets
There’s a reason Werenski leads all NHL skaters with an average ice time of 27:10 that’s almost two minutes longer, on average, than Colorado’s Cale Makur (25:35) – the closest to the Blue Jackets’ star defenseman.
Werenski is involved in so many facets of the games for the Blue Jackets that defensive assistant Steve McCarthy can’t help but continue sending him over the boards. After skating 29:49 in the Jackets’ shootout win Friday, Werenski logged another 29:16 against the Senators in a game that ended in regulation.
That’s almost a full game skated on back-to-back nights, which might be starting to push his upper limits. Werenski also finished with two assists and a +2 plus/minus rating while continuing his candidacy for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman.
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Boone Jenner trying to carry Columbus Blue Jackets to the playoffs
After going 12 games without scoring a goal in his return from shoulder surgery, Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner has scored goals in four straight game. His season total is now up to five to go with 10 assists for 15 points in 16 games.
Jenner, the Blue Jackets’ captain, is trying to throw his team over his shoulders and carry the load during one of the most challenging parts of an NHL season. Jenner's ability to play around the net, one of the most punishing spots on the ice, could be a key factor in the Blue Jackets' final push toward the postseason.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at [email protected] and BrianHedger.bsky.social
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets stumble in Ottawa: 3 takeaways
Continue reading...
