In this shortened season, every game is do-or-die, especially when you start like the Blue Jackets did.
At 11-12-7, the odds aren't looking pretty for Columbus to make the playoffs. MoneyPuck has their odds at just 4.4%, with only New Jersey, Anaheim, Detroit, Ottawa, and Buffalo at lower odds. They're going to have to rip off a huge win streak to get themselves back in playoff contention, and their schedule coming up is a gauntlet. Out of their next 12 games, 10 of them are against Carolina, Florida, and Tampa Bay.
After this stretch, the Blue Jackets will either be thinking about the lottery or a playoff spot. It's looking like they'll be lottery-bound, but hey. Crazier things have happened.
In order for the Blue Jackets to succeed during this upcoming stretch, they'll need contributions from the entire roster, playing as groups of five every time they're on the ice. Two players who stepped it up this weekend against the Stars were Zach Werenski and Jack Roslovic, as the Blue Jackets took three out of a possible four points against Dallas. Of course, the problem with only playing division rivals is that the Stars also took three points out of four.
Werenski scored 20 goals last season, but this year had been a far cry from that offensive outburst, until recently. In his last four games, he's tallied 2-3-5, including the OT game-winner on Saturday against the Stars and the tying goal in the third period on Sunday.
He's still shooting just 5.3%, which is below his career average of 7.6%. Werenski shot 10.7% last season, so as he keeps taking shots, expect more goals to come.
Roslovic, on the other hand, started out hot after being acquired from Winnipeg. He tallied ten points in his first ten games, then found himself in John Tortorella's doghouse.
"He's very inexperienced at the (center) position, very inexperienced," Tortorella said last week. "I don't know if he is a center. I think that's been an inconsistency right on through with us...Through our need, we have forced him into that situation. I think we have to patient there. But I'll tell you right now, I'm not going to be patient as far as competitiveness."
Since those comments, Roslovic has turned his game around. In his last three games, he's notched 0-5-5, while improving his defensive game as well as zone exits and entries. He's a great skater, and he's been using that to his advantage.
"If I get my feet moving, I can be pretty dangerous and make plays with the puck," said Roslovic's after last night's shootout loss. "I think that will also help me without the puck, being able to skate and open things up for my linemates and trying to get them the puck as well. I like to carry it, and when I'm skating I can carry it well. Getting everybody involved is something I'll learn to do with my feet as well."
