The Columbus Blue Jackets might have an offensive plethora at several positions but they need to get some of that defensive tenacity back.
When the Columbus Blue Jackets acquired Jake Bean in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes last summer in exchange for a 2021 second-round pick, it felt like Bean would be able to have a chance to make an impact on the new-look blue line.
This season he has set career-highs in games played (62), goals (seven), assists (16), and points (23), and he even has a pair of game-winning goals on the year. None bigger than during a 5-4 overtime win in Colorado on Nov. 3, a game in which the Blue Jackets scored three times in the third period before Bean's overtime winner as part of his first-career multi-goal game.
Currently, Bean is on a mini two-game point streak after his second two-goal performance against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, Apr. 17, and then he had an assist on Tuesday night against the San Jose Sharks.
Bean's first #CBJ pic.twitter.com/mAVs5p85PZ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) April 18, 2022
Here's Bean's second #CBJ pic.twitter.com/BX0o49tWvV
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) April 18, 2022
Bean has particularly flourished on the offensive side of the puck away from Nationwide Arena this season. Check out these home and road splits:
| HOME | GP | G | A | PTS |
| 30 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| ROAD | GP | G | A | PTS |
| 32 | 6 | 13 | 19 |
The offensive part of the game is something he wants to continue to push himself more in while finding that balance as a two-way defenseman.
"I do want to continue to push offensively," Bean said following his two-goal output against the Ducks. "I think that's a big part of my game. You watch (Zach Werenski), he plays a lot of offense, but he's also responsible and he has enough in the tank to play defense at the same time so I think that's something I'm trying to find at this level playing against top guys.
"I could play offense all day but it's a little harder when you play offense for 45 seconds and you've got to go defend against Ryan Getzlaf. I think finding that (balance) is something I've been working on and something I want to continue to do and that's going to help my game."
It's been a bit of a trying campaign for Bean, who missed 14 games with a groin strain and has struggled at times to find consistency in the defensive part of his game. Per Natural Stat Trick, Bean has a 3.02 xGA/60 to go with a 58.87 CA/60 in 5v5 situations. Of course, the overall team defense is worse than typical seasons, and Bean has been better since returning to the lineup in March after missing all of February.
Bean was part of a notable misplay in the Blue Jackets' end when he and Patrik Laine collided, resulting in an odd-man rush and goal for Dustin Brown in the Los Angeles Kings' 2-1 win over the Blue Jackets on Saturday, April 16. A first period goal that wound up the difference.
Dustin Brown finds the back of the net #GoKingsGo | @LAKings pic.twitter.com/vtPw3t74de
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 17, 2022
The team has set a franchise record with 22 come-from-behind wins on the season, the second-most in the NHL, but they'll need to start playing with a lead, and Bean recognizes that.
"We've done that all year," Bean said. "We've kind of played from behind quite a bit, which is good to know that you can play from behind and get back in games.
"Sooner or later we're going to have to start playing from in front if we want to be a serious contender."
Bean and the Blue Jackets have five regular-season games remaining, as they battle the Ottawa Senators on Friday night at Nationwide Arena, a team they've split the first two games with this season.
